In 1963, Harriet Gibson, then a naive 17-year-old, attended an art introduction week at the Royal Court Theatre with a group of sixth formers. The group visited an up-and-coming artist in his Notting Hill studio. David Hockney, who died recently, showed them his work, including My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean, dedicated to his boyfriend in the States. When asked for questions, Gibson bravely inquired why several paintings featured the number 69. Hockney replied with a twinkle, 'Work it out for yourself, young lady.' Gibson, now living in Belgium, has never forgotten the encounter.
California's Influence on Hockney
Andrew Keeley from Warrington notes that Hockney's obituary rightly highlighted the impact of seeing California's blue swimming pools from the air on his first flight there. The late Clive James, in a BBC Postcard from LA, described the same view as 'like heaven with a higher standard of living.'
A Fire Alarm Mystery
Christine Hayes of Wokingham recalls visiting the Lightroom exhibition of Hockney's work in 2022. The guide mentioned that whenever Hockney visited, the fire alarms went off. Longtime readers of the Guardian letters page might deduce why, given Hockney's infamous smoking habit.
These letters reflect the enduring impact of Hockney's art and personality on those who encountered him.
