“Red Mirage”
25″ h x 19.5″ w; 33.5″ h x 29.5″ w in frame, monotype (signed, numbered 1/1) (2002)
This is almost certainly the most purely abstract piece I own, which currently sits over the sofa in my law school office. Despite the bold colors, it is not a distressing image — something about the swirls makes it feel more soothing than alarming, though for the life of me I can’t fully explain why. I can say that I very much appreciate it as a monotype, which delightfully combines my love of prints with the joy of owning a one-of-a-kind piece of art.
I purchased “Red Mirage” at an online auction based out of Wisconsin; one where the auctioneer genuinely had no idea what they were selling (they suggested the signature was “Taylor G.”). I was able with some sleuthing to identify the artist as Twyla Gettert, who did a stint with a master printmaking studio in Madison before moving down to South Florida (where she’s based today). It may or may not say something peculiar about me (or simply identify me as a professor) that I enjoy the “research” aspect of art collecting almost as much as I do the art pieces themselves — there is something profoundly joyful in just figuring out what something is or what “story” lies behind it.
David Schraub 