A Woman Divided

About the Book

Stunned by an exhibit of Georgia O’Keeffe at the National Gallery of Art in the late ‘80’s, I became intrigued by one of America’s great artists. Responding to the images in her paintings and her fascinating life with husband, Alfred Stieglitz, the famous photographer, I began an imaginary poetic biography. She suffered conflicts still pertinent to women artists of any genre today: How to fulfill one’s gifts and be in relationship. Her love for Stieglitz and his obdurate refusal to join her when her creative path led to New Mexico created “a woman divided.” With pain we are unable to measure, she crisscrossed the country between Alfred in New York and her beloved West. After Alfred’s death, still haunted by her choice, she worked into her nineties painting the Western landscape. Her vibrant body of work remains a legacy to us all.

About the Author

Poet Judy Longley has three books of poetry: My Journey Toward You, Parallel Lives and Rowing Past Eden. Her poems appeared in Paris Review, Poetry, Western Humanities Review, and Southern Review. She was poetry editor five years for Iris: A Journal for Women, published by the University of Virginia. Currently she’s poetry editor for Tough Times Companion, published by the Virginia Foundation for the Humanities.