Frazz by Jef Mallett for March 11, 2025

My wife’s mother grew up on a farm in Nebraska. I think she was the first to get thrown into the storm cellar, and so spent some anxious times alone while her parents were attending to the animals etc. Curry’s painting captures the moment very well.

Life’s uncertain. (some) Art’s about life…

Tornado Over Kansas

- John Steuart Curry

Actually they weren’t running away. The invention of storm shelters…which usually doubled as protected storage for the family’s home canning, and maybe the apple barrel and pickle crocks…meant that taking cover was a much more effective course of action.

The Wizard of Oz came out in 1939, ten years after Curry did this painting, which had become famous enough to be reproduced in Time magazine in 1934. I can’t help but think that this image informed the movie makers as they designed the tornado scenes at the beginning of that film.

I’m not familiar with the artist or work, will have to check it out.

Brings back memories of many a time spent in the basement while the tornadoes raged somewhere out there. Growing up in tornado alley had its adventures.

Ironically, the only creature in that painting that doesn’t seem to be concerned about the tornado is the chicken

I like ALL the regionalist painters. Wood, Curry, and Benton being the most well-known I would say. Greatest period of USonian art, IMNSHO.

What’s so scary about a family going into the root cellar to shelter from a tornado? It’s something that happens several times a year over about half the USA. You get used to it.

If you’re not careful, life can kill you…

I tend to have reoccurring themes when I dream, and one of those happens to be seeing a tornado. I’ve always wanted to see one in real life, but only in a field, or perhaps a waterspout over the ocean where it doesn’t do any harm to anyone. Curiously, in my dreams I’m usually very close to the tornado, but never feel like I’m in any danger from it. My dreams have been vivid enough where when I do wake up from the dream, I really believe I’ve fulfilled my desire to see one before the fog of the night’s slumber lifts.

Surprised to see kid actually reading a book and not watching her phone. If that continues, she’ll wind up well educated and wise to the uses of actual written language. She’ll be unique among many.

For those wondering what the painting looked like, Wikipedia shows it here:

en.Wikipedia.Org/wiki/Tornado_over_Kansas

And, since I myself personally saw the aftermath of the tornado that devastated Colfax, Wisconsin, back in 1958 (killing 21) and the rubble that was left of Barneveld, Wisconsin, after a tornado destroyed 90% of the village in 1984, I’m here to tell you that you dämn well should be scared of them!

I took a look; it is a very intense painting. I was moved by the young man cradling the dog’s puppies, and the boy clinging to the terrified cat.

Contemporary art fave (of mine anyway) John Brosio has a series of tornado paintings. He also does dinosaurs, giant chickens, giant amoebas and more!

Just Googled that painting. It reminded me of the grandparents’ farm in Alabama. We made a few visits to that storm cellar when the weather was threatening.

In 2011 the closest town of Phil Campbell AL was almost destroyed from a series of tornadoes. Things can get serious in a hurry.

I had the very first Kansas the band album and the cover of said album is by John Steuart Curry.

Winslow Homer’s “Gulf Stream” is much more frightening IMHO.

The one that got me was a depiction of a soldier in a beach landing, who’d been too near a landmine or exploding mortar shell, barely able to stand but his right arm was literally shredded, bone showing through… Oh, and when I was reading a sea novel (Captain Horatio Hornblower?) and I was sort of identifying with the cabin boy, and then they were in a battle and the captain saw his body writhing on the bloody deck, with his head blown clean off… oooh, that was bad.

What’s even scarier is the news announced today (March 11 2025) that DOGE is cutting an additional 1,000-plus jobs at NOAA. If you have a relationship with your local news station, or can email the meteorologist who serves your area, ask what s/he thinks about these cuts. This is not a political comment (unless you want it to be).

But they are heading to the storm cellar with their pets (dog, cat, and some others), so they will be safe.