Joseph Cornell, birthday boy

Today is a busy one. Getting ready for the whirlwind known as Christmas. Lots of cleaning and cooking to be done, so I'll be brief.

Joseph Cornell, one of my favorite artists, would have been 105-years-old today. Criminally under-appreciated during life and after his death, he is best known for his amazing assemblage shadow boxes, some of which can be seen below. 

Cornell was a solitary individual. He spent his entire life living with his mother and brother Robert, who had cerebral palsy, in Flushing, Queens. His time was split between his art and caring for Robert, who died in 1965. Because of this dedication, Cornell did not find himself in many social circles.

He was devoted to Lauren Bacall and other unattainable women, who he would include in multiple pieces to over his life. As he gained fame, he found his comfort zone in speaking with the wives of those interested in his work and neighborhood children. In fact, shortly before he died, Cornell had an exhibition of his work that was designed solely for children, with all of the art displayed at their eye level.

In addition to his shadow boxes, Cornell also completed several avant-garde films.

If you're interested in learning more about Cornell, I highly recommend Diane Waldman's book Joseph Cornell: Master of Dreams. It contains some great reproductions of his work and offers a decent biography of the artist.