Chapter 12: Alex Katz's Wife, Ada, Meets Georgia O'Keefe

Heidi Hardin, Chapter 12: Alex Katz's Wife, Ada, Meets Georgia O'Keefe  Tune: Sweet Betsy from Pike . Tempera on Paper with Mixed Media Collage, 24” x 18”

Katharine Lee Bates wrote the original version of America the Beautiful in 1893. She wrote the 2nd version in 1904. Her final version was written in 1913. Here is a note from Katharine Lee Bates about the song: "One day some of the other teach­ers and I decided to go on a trip to 14,000-foot Pikes Peak. We hired a prairie wagon. Near the top we had to leave the wagon and go the rest of the way on mules. I was very tired. But when I saw the view, I felt great joy. All the wonder of Ameri­ca seemed displayed there, with the sea-like ex­panse." 

Now I will sing you the lyrics: 

0 beautiful for spacious skies,
For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties
Above the fruited plain!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!
I sing this song wearing my new Calvin Klein sunglasses. My name is Heidi Hardin. I come from a long line of shoe store owners, who go all the way back to a singularity at the moment of the Big Bang. I think of you, here-now-listening to me. I think ofus as one thinking of Alex Katz, his wife, Ada, Georgia O'Keefe and all the dead cows that ever were, the cows alive now, and all the cows that ever are to come. As the daughter of a shoe store owner, I always remember my cowgirl roots, my Oakie girl heritage, when I wear shoes with leather soles.

 Listen to Artwork Audio Track Here