Rosie O'Donnell's Art

The world may see Rosie O'Donnell, photograph left, as an actress, comedienne, television host and guest, theater maven, author, blogger, activist, and troublemaker. But to the right is her self-portrait, in oil. It is one of 27 paintings by Rosie O'Donnell, artist, being presented at The Gallery at New World Stages in New York City, from October 9th through December 2nd. 2007.

The title of the exhibition is "Rosie O'Donnell: Solace." This particular painting she called "Double Mammo."

"Eyes Opened." New World Stages, a theater that is the home for such Off-Broadway plays and musicals as "Altar Boyz" and "My First Time", is featuring O'Donnell's artwork in two floors of exhibition space.

"Lochness." In a statement, Beverley D Mac Keen, the executive director of New World Stages, declared herself impressed with "the unbelievable development of Rosie O'Donnell from 'hobby collage maker' to stunning visual artist."

"Martha."

"Nearly Norman." O'Donnell wrote a poem to explain how she started painting: "9/11 happened --
something cracked open inside of me
i bought canvas
i bought all they had in the store

i had never felt that i was a real artist deserving of a canvas...."

"Peace." Her poem continues:
"my art was my journal ripped paper - glue and tape
headlines and photos
crayons & magic markers

a soulquake
the tremendous toxins released during 9/11
spilled out of me
onto the blank stretched whiteness...

"Queen"

"Scream"

"The View"

"TPOTC" ("The Passion Of The Christ"?)

"Wicked 1 - I close my eyes"

Her poem continues, focusing on the events after September 11th:
"how could it be i was raising children in a war
as i was raised during a war...
i was going to have to explain it to my children
and the truth is
it had never been explained to me...

"Wicked 4 - Because I knew you."

..."the new rhetoric of r nation
blame and shame
evildoers
fight em there or fight em here
terrorists

it was unreal 2 me
it still is
i did not know what to do about it

so i threw some paint around..."