I have to backpedal a bit more and admit, of course, that the field of Fantasy Art has been in an aura of a golden age for many years, with Frank Frazetta as the patron saint of the genre. Fantasy illustrators are some of the most talented creators of all time, continuously transporting us to realms far beyond our mundane world. Every year that is confirmed and kept alive for us by the wonderful Spectrum annual of The Best in Contemporary Fantastic Art, published by Underwood Books.
Speaking of Frazetta — Doc Dave, if you're looking in, as I know you sometimes do, please email me. I'm concerned about what happened with your blog.
Frank Frazetta — Spectrum III — 1996
5 comments:
I cannot agree more about the field of fantasy art in general and Frank Frazetta in particular. And, yeah I share your concerns about Doc Dave's blog. The whole thing just -- poof! -- gone!
Yes, that was very strange!
Mr. Door Tree— I know what you're saying--his last two posts were disturbing.
But I felt that this information was coming from a person in a unique position— so close to the inner workings of an artist that many think of as a god. Winiewicz's posts, throughout his blog, broke through the slick PR blurbs, revealing facets of a man, so talented, yet torn with tensions that many of us can identify with. It made me, for one, more empathetic with Frank AND Ellie, and what they were up against, with Frank's indifference to his fame, and Ellie wanting to create a lasting legacy.
I thought Winiewicz did make an effort to be objective, in bringing forth positive affirmations as well.
I, for one, haven't had much opportunity to sit around with a few collectors telling stories, and was fascinated with the opportunity to see the Frazettas as real people.
Again, I know what you mean about airing private information to the whole world—a scary thing to do, and a scary thing to read. I wouldn't have been surprised for the posts themselves to be removed, as perhaps an error in judgement. But to take down the entire site is a drastic move that, in itself, is a scary thing that hints of intimidation and censorship.
To amend my last comments:
I have just read the actual final post on Winiewicz's blog before it was destroyed, which is as disturbing as the previous two, but not making it any less informative or important. I find that I am being naive and simple in my previous comment of "Frank's indifference to his fame, and Ellie wanting to create a lasting legacy". It was a much more complex situation than that.
I believe that rebuttals could and should occur over Winiewicz's memoirs, but he set it straight at the beginning that these are his experiences set forth in an informed and accurate way, and that others are more than welcome to share experiences from their point of view. I believe that because the family's turmoil was made public at the time of Frazetta's death, that this information is pertinent to the historical context of Frazetta's legacy.
At some point, an authoritative and comprehensive biography of Frazetta will be written, and all of this information will need to be available for consideration.
What's still truly disturbing to me, at this point, is that Winiewicz's blog was destroyed.
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