Making Peace with Hopper & Warhol

Unfortunately, I have very little positive things to say about my college experience. Although I’ve put it behind me, there was one thing I’ve been bitter about until my recent visit to MoMA.

It brought me back to an early afternoon art history class where the professor was — beside evil — also obsessed with Edward Hopper. I wasn’t sure what she would talk about more — her books on Hopper and Hopper himself. Her humiliations were part of her ugly character. This was one of the most degrading moments in my existence thanks to her:

She was the only professor that was giving me a hard time for missing class knowing my was was diagnosed with cancer again and was undergoing treatment. In order to not get kicked out of class, I left my mom getting chemo just to go to school and give her a signed letter from the doctor (which I’ll always be grateful for) confirming what I had already told her. When I got there she looked at the letter is disgust and complained that it wasn’t even on letterhead. I swallowed my rage and explained that it was the best the doctor could to given how many patients he had to see…

That was the day I lost all my respect for art and everything associated with art.

Fast forward to the day at MoMA, I saw Hopper’s “House by the Railroad” on the fifth floor and Warhol’s “Gold Marilyn Monroe” on the fourth floor. I paused and realized I’ve resented art so much that for years I had my artists crossed: what I thought was Warhol (pop art) was actually Hopper (gloomy oil paintings). HUGE difference! That’s when I insisted on getting my facts right and making peace with them both. I bought a book on Warhol so I can appreciate everything he’s ever done considering I’ve wrongfully resented him all this time. I have a lot to make up for! As for Hopper, since I technically forgot about his existence in the first place, I have an opportunity to start a clean slate with his work without that memory of that crazy…eek! No need to go there.

It’s worth mentioning that I did pass that class. I refused to fail or drop the class and have her “win”. While I don’t remember my grade I also don’t really care. I just didn’t want to go have to take that course again.

Hopper also painted “Nighthawks” which is probably his most famous work. It has many parodies featuring different characters and celebrities.

“I think this is a start of a beautiful friendship”

C