Charles E. Burchfield (1893-1967)

(It seems I cannot really paint until I become desperate from inactivity) – One of the plants was the one Bengert’s gave us for Christmas – a red cyclamen, - the pot hideously dressed in a Christmas red straw mat – my problem was to convert this bit of vulgar coloring into something of significance. ; Picture completed on Tuesday – Jan. 23 –; Bored & exhausted from the effort – I went into the harbor, and found my vigor & enthusiasm suddenly restored. Hamburg Turnpike (Fuhrmann Blvd.) closed to traffic – Park by Ford plant, and walk down railroad to “Black Iron” Bridges – a fine exciting walk – Study of fading winter sun seen thru the westernmost bridge. [The R.R. worker who gave me a box-end to stand on while painting “Black Iron” came out, and told me he still remembered that painting as a swell picture. I promised him a photograph of it.]; Before coming home I stopped at a lunch wagon for sandwich & coffee – I was chilled thru. Jan 24 – 25 – an attempt to paint the Bridge & Sun subject but it misfires.; About this time Holdemillers bring a friend (Dr. Lonsberger – 2 years from Germany) who “was interested in music” – A common “interest in music” does no insure congeniality. He thought Sibelius not a significant composer because he was not an innovator in method, whereas Stravinsky was greater because his method was new and revolutionary. It was a strange boring evening, nobody seemed to listen to the music, - or to each other, for that matter –