10 Comments

Wonderful. Elaine might be my favorite character in NINTH STREET WOMEN, and I’ve long admired the purposeful energy of her work. The sports paintings are new to me. What a discovery. I wonder what she’d do with breaking.

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Yes! She was my favorite too. She’s actually the reason I picked it up, because I wanted so badly to read about her, and I’m glad I did. But now you’ve got me in a tailspin! I would LOVE to see how Elaine would paint Breaking!!

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Aug 17Liked by Luka Benegas

Elaine was also my favorite in Ninth Street Women--which is still by far my most-cherished book! I need to reread it again to be able to experience her life another time. I cried when I finished the book because I felt like I had to say goodbye to these new, expanding friendships of mine!

Thank you for writing this, Luka! It's incredibly special.

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That’s EXACTLY how I felt! By the end I cherished the women I read about so much that I didn’t want it to end. I refuse to put it in my Read bookshelf because I want to dive in again. But honestly Elaine I was just amazing. I want more Elaine books! And thank you for commenting :)

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Aug 13Liked by Luka Benegas

I discovered her through her cave paintings and had no idea about her sports work. These are so amazing! They feel so ahead of their time, really contemporary in subject and color and style.

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You’re so on the ball! They feel so fresh and new. It’s a shame she’s not more well known, she was so far ahead of her time.

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Hi again, Luka. Back from the AKG Buffalo, where Imsaw a scrimmage painting by Elaine and thought of you. Marisol was sublime.

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I am SO delighted you thought to share this with me!! Thank you!! ♥️

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Thanks for opening my eyes to Elaine’s wonderful sports paintings. This was new territory for me, and it was a pleasure to wander through guided by your Philadelphia enthusiasm.

One quick note about the male American gymnast who closed his eyes. He wasn’t really napping. He told the Today Show he was visualizing his routine, repeating it over and over in his mind. When it was his turn, he stepped into the perfect routine he had already seen and made a space for within that special private realm of the self.

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First off, thank you for correcting me. That just makes me like him more, and I’ll go ahead and correct that. I’m so glad you like the art! And yes, I think I’m very much fueled by Philadelphia enthusiasm haha!

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