26 May 2024

Lavender Iris - 1951 - Georgia O'Keefe

The fleur-de-lis, which means 'lily flower' but is stylized as an iris, has been a symbol of French royalty since the Middle Ages. It represents perfection, light, and life. Today, the fleur-de-lis is a cultural symbol of France, reflecting the nation's history and identity. Wikipedia

For me the iris conjures my Argentine aunt who was called Iris. But since she was of English extraction, the Anglo Argentines had their own way of pronouncing names. Hers was pronounced Eeris as it is in Spanish.

In our Buenos Aires Cohglan (a suburb) my mother had a long and narrow garden. She had iris and pronounced it in Spanish eeris!

When I brought iris to our Kerrisdale garden my Rosemary told me she was not too fond of bearded iris so we had all the other kinds. With her gone I grow iris as companions to my roses in their pots. They are blooming now.

Both my grandmother and my mentor Juan Manuel Sánchez said I was an artist. They did not convince me completely as to be an artist in Vancouver is to soon become bitter as you will probably die unknown. My photographic legacy is one I am not worried at all. From oblivion its own oblivion will not affect me.

I have over 3000 plant scans (scanographs). Since 2001 when I started I have only sold one. Most people do not understand the difference between my scanographs or roses and a macro photograph of a rose.

But it has been in the last few weeks that I have discovered a hybrid art method that was inspired by seeing an iris painted by Georgia O’Keeffe.  Today I printed a few and they are lovely. I do not care what the opinions of others might be. What is important is that I am excited of a new method of expressing myself. I would call it a scanner hybrid.