The Groundbreaking Artist Who’s Not Slowing Down at 93

Jan 28, 2020 · 38 comments
Gerry S (Westchester)
Wonderful!
Frederique (Portland, Oregon)
So inspiring on many, many levels. Thank you for sharing.
seinstein (jerusalem)
Beautiful. An inspiring person. Creating. Art- “putting things together.” Stimulating and helping each viewer to create his/her own story. “What’s your story?” Klee: “ I take a kind for a walk.” Bette: SHE enables chosen objects to quest in their derived questions. Thank you for BEing.
Pat Post (Louisiana)
This artist and beautiful story provide respite and inspiration during such challenging times in our world. Thank you for this breath of fresh air that we all need.
Hasnat (Dubai)
Thank you NYT for sharing this! A gem of an artist and human.
Patty (Sammamish wa)
@Hasnat I love her art ! Thank you for this wonderful film.
Hope Anderson (Los Angeles)
We Angelenos have loved Betye Saar’s art for decades, and now people everywhere will. Thanks for this spectacular film. (By the way, her eldest daughter Lezley Saar has a brilliant show running at the Walter Maciel Gallery in Los Angeles. There are echoes of Betye’s work in it.)
Belasco (Reichenbach Falls)
Wonderful woman. Beautiful art. I would have loved to hear more about her personal history as well. She was married to noted white ceramic artist Richard Saar from 1952-1970. They had three children. It's hard to capture everything in an 8 minute documentary but there is much more this story worth telling.
Allison (Sausalito, Calif)
Thank you for this! Her work is awesome, so exciting. Yes, Beye you are an inspiration for sure! Thank you!
SC (Birch Bay, Washington)
What a treat to watch! Never heard of this artist before, but I LOVE her vision... and the variety of forms that she's worked in. Her work is beautiful and thought-provoking. And apparently she has access to a fountain of youth, so I think we have much more to look forward to. Rock on, Betye Saar, you are an inspiration!
jessicamurphy (beaufort, nc)
I love her so much! Now I have to do some research because I want to see her work in person.
Nancy (Maine)
So much beauty and inspiration in such a humble human being. I'm close to eighty and this piece is my introduction to her. I would love to see her work in L.A. This goes on my bucket list...
Lucian Fick (Los Angeles)
@Nancy “Betye Saar: Call and Response” is a retrospective of some of her major works and is at LACMA until early April.
Fonda Vera (Dallas, Texas)
What a beautiful, talented, and inspiring woman. I do not know what impresses me most, her art or her spirit; perhaps both.
AlNewman (Connecticut)
I love her spirit, and that she uses her art as a weapon for political change. Those are the artists who inspire me the most.
GB (NY)
Gee, Moma should have shown her sculptures. They could have shown them in 1970.
Wa8_tress (Chico, CA)
The Omniverse thanks Betye Saar for her patience and its' benefit to all Humans.
NessaVa (Toronto)
I can’t wait to see this doc. Btw: Her voice hasn’t aged.
NessaVa (Toronto)
Fascinating, dynamic woman. So inspiring!
Hortencia (Charlottesville)
This moves me to tears. Bless you Bettye. You’re my hero.
Jan Johnson (San Francisco)
Thanks so much for this documentary. Inspiring. Wanted more!
Jamie (Los Angeles)
Thank you NYT for introducing us to Betye. What a beautiful, talented, youthful soul. May we all be this phenomenal and vital at 93.
Virginia Rechtschaffen (Northampton MA)
I hope I get to see her art in person soon. I love it.
Gloria (Boston MA)
What a wonderful woman and artist! I love the video and the artwork. I aspire to be as vital and youthful as she is now when I'm 80!
NessaVa (Toronto)
She’s 93! Sounds, looks and lives with a vibrant youthfulness and profound wisdom.
Gloria (Boston MA)
@NessaVa I know! But she doesn't look it or act it. I'm just managing my expectations. My mother is 94, and, while she looks great and is very vital and curious, she doesn't look that young!
Caroline (Rhode Island)
Ms Saar you have a new fan. Great video, thanks.
A Falcon's Flight (San Francisco)
I am in LOVE! Until now I had not the knowledge of Betye Saar and now that I do I feel all the better whole. Brilliant work—such sensitivity. Thank you Sundance Film Festival and NY Times!
Jayne De Sesa (Paris)
Dear Ms. Saar, I remember seeing some of your small works in an also small L.A. gallery circa 1977. As tiny as they were, they cast a powerful magnetic force. Like you do. Thank you for being “selfish” enough to share your work with the world.
Jeff (Needham MA)
It is important to note that her work is currently on exhibit at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art through April 20. I saw the exhibit, and it is interesting and engaging. Her spirit, as reflected in her art, is amazing. Age, clearly, has not dampened it; rather, age has focused it.
Susannah (Syracuse, NY)
She is an inspiration! For someone getting up in years, As I am, this is wonderful.
dmac (The Berkshires)
Wonderful and truly inspiring!! Such talent.....
Diane Phipps Simpkins (Fort Wayne, IN)
This interview made me feel 40 years younger. I will finish the quilt I started. Thank you, Ms. Saars.
Mireille (Montreal)
How spectacular. When I lived in The Bay Area in the '80s/'90s as an artist myself, I saw exhibits of this amazing artist who I discovered through the work of her daughter Alison. Both superb.I think that the first time was at the Oakland Museum with a joint exhibition.That in itself was very exciting. So happy to see that Betye is still alive and going strong. I am in awe. This article will not get the number of comments as anything having to do with Trump but it is a welcome relief. Art is long and life is short.
RD (Houston)
Really interesting. A very COOL lady. Her vision and imagination are stunning. She has a streak of humility that keeps her grounded through her success.
Carol (Sydney)
Just wonderful.
winchestereast (usa)
Wonderful artist. Thanks
Gerald (Philadelphia)
Absolutely wonderful: both the art and the piece! Great work, ladies!