Style Imitating Art: “Grand Canyon from the South Rim”

Welcome to the first edition of 2024 for SIA! Style Imitating Art comes from Salazar and Shelbee. Terri retired at the end of last year. You can think of this series as fashion meets art museum! Style Imitating Art challenges people to find inspiration in different art works, create looks based upon that art work, and share them with the curator for that piece. Every other Monday one of the three selects an inspiration piece of art and posts the image on their blog. They then invite others to interpret that art work through their style. The following Monday, they share their outfits. The curator shares submissions the following Wednesday on her blog. Shelbee chose this week’s art work for her final round of Style Imitating Art. If you’d like, you can read why she chose it here. Style Imitating Art is an interesting way to inspire your outfits. I know it does that for me! You can see a few of my looks here, here, here, and here.

Inspiration art work…

About the artist…

Dr. Robert T. McCall was born on December 23, 1919 in Columbus, Ohio. Did you know Ohio is considered the “Birthplace of Aviation? After reading about McCall, you’ll think it’s because of him, but it’s actually due to the Wright Brothers. McCall’s father was a teacher, but his grandfather was a country doctor who was a contributing editor for the American Medical Journal. With this background, the young McCall was expected to become a doctor, too. Within a few years, however, the family quickly realized his heart was somewhere other than medicine.

A little more…

McCall had an intense interest in science and technology, but his love for drawing soon won out. His specialty was warcraft, especially knights and armor. After graduating from high school, he attended the Columbus Fine Art School after winning a scholarship. Of course, there wasn’t a space program at this time, and airplanes were still relatively new. One of McCall’s first experiences was going to the Ohio State Fair and seeing World War I bombers. He was thrilled by their size and could only imagine the sounds they made. During the second World War, McCall joined the Army Air Corp and was stationed in Albuquerque, NM where he met his wife, Louise. He continued to paint. After the war, the family of four (two daughters) moved to Chicago so he could pursue a career in advertising art.

Still more…

Within three years, the family relocated to New York City where McCall began illustrating magazines like Life, The Saturday Evening Post, and Popular Science. In the 50s, McCall began his work with the space program. He would go on to create paintings for the Air Force. Eventually, this would lead him to NASA where he would document Alan Shepard’s historic flight when he became the first American to travel into space. McCall also painted Neil Armstrong as well as countless other missions. In fact, McCall’s name was on the list of “civilians” to participate in a space mission until the tragic explosion of the Challenger in 1986.

Even more…

McCall’s abilities didn’t just lie in the space game in the US. Have you seen any posters advertising the original Stanley Kubrick film, “2001: A Space Odyssey?” McCall painted those. I would be remiss to forget the six-story-high mural in the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C. painted by McCall. In addition, he was the production illustrator for Star Trek: The Motion Picture. You may have also seen his work at Epcot in Orlando. “The Prologue and the Promise” was one of many murals created for Horizons in 1983. Unfortunately, the pavilion no longer exists.

 “It’s fun dreaming up strange, out-of-this-world vehicles and environments. Through it all is a feeling of wonder and excitement about the universe, an overwhelming conviction that we’re not alone, that the universe is teeming with life and that we someday will make contact. It could be a thousand years from now or it could be tomorrow-or tonight (source).”

A skosh more…

McCall was enthralled with space and the possibilities of living there. He had an optimism that’s seen in his art as well. Rather than seeing a future filled with “doom and gloom,” McCall saw one that was a bright as the stars upon which he gazed.

Finally…

Dr. Robert T. McCall received an Honorary Doctor of Visual Arts Degree from Columbus College of Art and Design in 1998. I always enjoy learning about new artists, and I think Dr. McCall may be one of my favorites. He passed in 2010 of heart failure in Scottsdale, AZ. I love these words from his biography on his website (here):

“At first glance you might think he’s the local football coach: a burly, enthusiastic bear of a man who peppers his speech with “gee” and “golly” and exudes all the restless animated spirit of a grown Huck Finn. Yet if you watch him closely, if you study that expressive face, you see that there is a far look in his blue eyes, a gaze that sees into the future. At the easel, his expressiveness moves to the tips of his fingers. He falls silent. He stands before the easel or perches on a high stool for hours on end, as he paints.”

About the art work…

This beautiful piece of art is in a private collection. I hope whoever owns it is someone linked to science or space. I always wonder about private collections. Do the collectors own the art just for the sake of owning it? Or, do they own it because they love it? This piece measures 40” x 60” (102cm x 152cm) and is oil on canvas. It was painted in 1981.

My interpretation…

What struck me first about this art were the soft blues and the pops of color. In the back of my mind, I kept seeing a dress that fit this description. And, I was right! I’d bought this Dahlia Ruffle dress late last fall. I linked it in case some pop back into stock. I hung it in my closet and promptly forgot about it. It wasn’t exactly an impulse buy because I had some rewards expiring. OK, it was totally an impulse buy, but I had rewards expiring! I love the print, the tiers, and the ease of this dress. The only thing it really lacks is…wait for it…pockets! Loft is terrible about pockets. The other problem is the daggone vanity placket doesn’t stay put (just ignore the skin showing between the buttons). I thought the blues in the dress as well as the background pattern gave off an otherworldly vibe. The dahlias provide those pops of color in the art work. Does the dress work with the navy tights? Yes, I think it does. Do the navy tights work with the boots? Hmmm…I’m not sure. In some of the photos, it’s a definite yes. In others, it’s a definite no. So, I guess the answer is a definite maybe!

The Lewk!

Oh, yes, another new pair of boots! As I mentioned here, I’ve been on the lookout for a pair of navy boots. I got these Galop Boots in the Buy More, Save More sale at Spring Step. They’re a wee bit big, but with my orthotics and maybe even a pair of socks over the tights, they’ll be perfect. The lace cuff and earrings are from Stella & Dot. If I recall correctly, the lace pattern is based upon scraps of lace the designers found in France. They don’t really show up as such, but all of the jewelry is rose gold. The bracelets are all Kendra Scott.

Wrap it up, Marsha!

I honestly really enjoyed reading about this artist. I encourage you to explore his site. It’s full of all kinds of wonderful information. One of the things that struck me when reading about Dr. McCall was that planes weren’t commonplace when he was a boy. It seems like there are so many things we take for granted that are truly amazing. So, can we talk? Are there any items that are commonplace now, but you can remember when they were first around? Were you into the space race? Do you remember where you were when the Challenger exploded? Please leave me a comment or two, and we can talk. I promise I do respond as quickly as I can.

Thank you!

I want to thank all of you from the bottom of my heart for reading, commenting, subscribing or emailing! It truly means so much to me! If you’d like to follow me on Instagram, you can find me here.

Affiliate links, discount codes, and such:

Just a reminder that Marsha in the Middle may use an affiliate link. Those links are usually italicized. If you click or make a purchase from an italicized link I provide, I may receive a small commission at no cost to you. Thank you for your support. I am an April Cornell Brand Ambassador for another season. You can use my code, MARSHA15, for $15 off any order over $100. Use Marsha12 for 12% off any order of $65 or more at Buykud. I also have an affiliate code for Kantha Bae! Use MarshaintheMiddle in the promo code box for $5 off any order (excluding Bestie restocks)! I have also become a Halftee Partner. Use the code, MARSHA2098, for 20% off any purchase. I am also an affiliate with Clara Sunwoo. You can use my code, MARSHA10, for 10% off your entire order. For the Zuvi Halo Hair Dryer, use Marsha12 to get 12% off your order at this link: https://www.zuvilife.com/products/buy-zuvi-halo-hair-dryer?sca_ref=4039595.v4RNNsWxxF. If items are on sale, you can use Marsha5 for an extra 5% off sale prices. In case you didn’t know, bloggers must disclose the use of affiliate links. That’s why I include this in each post.

Where you can find me:

Linking up with Nancy’s Fashion Style,  Fine-Whatever, Is This Mutton, Shelbee on the Edge, Chez Mireile, The Grey Brunette, and Away from the Blue as well as Deb’s World and A Fresh Cup of Coffee. I also link up with This Blonde’s Shopping Bag, Doused in Pink, I do deClaire, Mummabstylish, and Style Splash. Please check out these wonderful ladies and their blogs! I also am a co-host for Ageless Style on the third Thursday of the month and Songful Style on the last Monday of the month. I co-host Traffic Jam Weekend every Thursday with Melynda, Lisa, and Sue. I also host Final Fridays on the last Friday of the month as well as 10 on the 10th on the 10th of the month! I do hope you’ll check out all of these blogs and link parties!

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