ROAD TRIP
Day 5, Part 1
Georgia
When Rachel and I were planning our road trip she was set on getting a private tour of Georgia O’Keefe’s house and studio while we were in Abiquiu, New Mexico- as I mentioned before she’s a big fan of her and her work. Don’t get me wrong, I like Georgia O’Keefe just fine but did I necessarily want to spend a morning touring her house? I wasn’t so sure. I said yes though because it was important to Rachel and I thought why not…how bad could it be.
This was a very good lesson in saying “yes” to things because I LOVED this tour. It was one of the most inspiring, intimate and creative mornings I have had in a long time.
The space is breathtaking-it’s a 5,000-square-foot Spanish Colonial-era Abiquiu compound perched on top of a hill overlooking the mountains of New Mexico.
When we got to the home we were welcomed by our lovely guide Pita- she had a warm, genuine and easy way about her.
First she led us through the yard which was a large green space with a big beautiful garden. Pita told us that Georgia liked to eat from her garden and took great pride in tending to it. I would too if I had a garden like that! It was a calming space that smelled like jasmine. I could see how one would find great solace in spending time in it.
After that we were led into an outdoor courtyard/patio space. The first things I noticed were the large well, sage bush and a statue. But Pita focused our attention on a door and asked us if we recognized it. I soon realized that it was “the door” that Georgia painted so many times. To see the door in person was exhilarating It blew my mind how Georgia was able to make something so simple so stunning with her paintbrush.
Her home has remained almost untouched since she passed away in 1986. Can you believe that? There are even little pieces of paper marking her favorite recipes in books in the kitchen. It’s a unique experience to see the space she lived and created so many astounding masterpieces in.
Throughout our tour Pita kept telling us little Georgia stories and I found myself thinking…how does she know that? I finally just asked her how she knew so much and was surprised to learn that Pita had started working with Georgia when she was only 20 years old- she became a companion/assistant to her. Often reading to her to put her to bed at night in her later years. To discover she had such an intimate relationship with Georgia made the tour feel so much more authentic. Pita had lived in these walls too!
The tour was a real look into the life of an American Icon.
The views from her studio and bedroom literally took my breath away. It was like nothing I have ever seen before. I was struck silent by it.
{Sadly, I could not take pictures in the house so here are some ones I found!}
See Rachel’s take here!
365til30.com 
I absolutely love to read about this trip. Your posts are full of inspiration! I hope you’re having the time of your life 🙂
That’s so sweet of you!!! Thank you. I’m delighted to have you along for the adventure!!
I love your blog! So I nominated it for a Sunshine Award. Yeah! http://project1979.wordpress.com/2012/04/23/walkin-on-sunshine-thank-you-mixed-tape-masterpiece/
-Alice @project1979