Mother O'Keeffe: The Other Georgia O'Keeffe

Richard Startzman's documentary on Georgia O'Keeffe (1887-1986), one of the best-known artists of the American Southwest, features a fair amount of general biographical data, but the emphasis is on an overlooked aspect of her life in the New Mexico village of Abiquiu. Narrated by actress Marsha Mason, the film argues that although the artist is often described as a near-recluse, O'Keeffe was deeply involved in the tiny community, even taking a maternal interest in one of the local boys named Jacobo “Jackie” Suazo, whom she even tried (unsuccessfully) to adopt during the 1940s. O'Keeffe taught Suazo to paint, and he claims that he had a major role in the creation of the so-called “Canyon Suite” of 28 watercolor paintings that were previously dated to a much earlier period (1916-17) in O'Keeffe's career and sold in 1993 after her death for millions (the paintings were declared bogus in 1999 by experts at the National Gallery of Art). Combining archival footage and stills, recreations, and interviews, the film implies that a bit of chicanery was involved in the effort to pass off the watercolors as O'Keeffe's alone. Mother O'Keeffe uncovers an important facet of the artist's years in New Mexico, while also investigating a controversial episode in modern art history. Recommended. Aud: C, P. (F. Swietek)