Sheila Heti, an acclaimed author known for her insightful explorations of art, grief, and motherhood, joins the discussion. They analyze iconic female artists like Berthe Morisot, reflecting on how their experiences shape artistic narratives. Heti emphasizes the profound impact of friendship on creativity and the evolving perception of everyday beauty in art. The conversation also touches on the intimate relationship between art and emotion, underscoring the significance of personal expression in challenging conventional norms.
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insights INSIGHT
Learning from Artists
Sheila Heti interviewed artists to understand the possibilities for female artists.
She wanted to learn about their choices, insecurities, and struggles.
insights INSIGHT
Visual Art's Influence on Writing
Visual art inspires Heti's writing by providing a different lens to view creation.
She considers how visual artists approach their work and applies those ideas to her novels.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Sherry Boyle's Influence
Toronto sculptor Sherry Boyle's miniature sculptures of women influenced Heti's work.
Heti saw them as totemic objects, inspiring her to explore similar themes in her writing.
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Sheila Heti's Pure Colour is a novel that explores themes of grief, art, and the passage of time. The story follows two art critics grappling with loss and the complexities of human relationships. Heti's writing style is characterized by its honesty, introspection, and willingness to confront difficult emotions. The novel's exploration of art criticism and its connection to personal experience adds another layer of depth to the narrative. Pure Colour is a poignant and thought-provoking work that resonates with readers who appreciate introspective fiction and the exploration of complex emotional landscapes. The novel's unique blend of personal reflection and artistic exploration makes it a compelling read.
Alphabetical Diaries
Sheila Heti
Sheila Heti's Alphabetical Diaries is a unique and experimental work that reorders a decade's worth of diary entries into alphabetical order. This unconventional approach challenges traditional notions of time and narrative, creating a fragmented yet compelling exploration of self-discovery and the creative process. The book delves into Heti's personal life, thoughts, and experiences, weaving together seemingly disparate entries to reveal a deeper understanding of her artistic journey. The alphabetical structure forces the reader to engage with the text in a non-linear way, prompting reflection on the nature of memory, identity, and the passage of time. The book's experimental form and introspective content have garnered critical acclaim and established Heti as a significant voice in contemporary literature.
Motherhood
Calamity Mom\Tabloid Baby\A Daddy For Her Daughters
Diana Palmer
This anthology, 'Motherhood: An Anthology', features stories by Diana Palmer, Candace Camp, and Elizabeth Bevarly. It delves into the complexities and joys of motherhood, presenting a collection of romance tales that highlight the emotional and personal journeys of mothers and their families.
Welcome to the FINALE of Season 12! I am so excited to say that my guest on the GWA Podcast is the acclaimed writer, Sheila Heti.
Born in 1976 in Toronto, where she lives today, Heti is the author of eleven books, from novels to novellas, short stories and children’s books. Most recently, her acclaimed books have included Alphabetical Diaries, that ordered a decade worth of diaries in alphabetical order; Pure Colour (2022), a novel that explores grief, art and time; Motherhood (2018), a meditation on whether or not to become a mother in a society that judges you whatever the outcome. Heti’s writing is some of the most honest, thoughtful I’ve ever read, and throughout weaves in the broad subject of art, whether it be paintings or her protagonists’ professions…
Heti also wrote for the literary journal the Believer, and has conducted many long-form print interviews with writers and artists, including conversations with Joan Didion, Elena Ferrante, Agnes Varda, Sophie Calle, who are among some of the artists we are going to be, very excitingly, discussing today.
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THIS EPISODE IS GENEROUSLY SUPPORTED BY THE LEVETT COLLECTION:
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https://www.instagram.com/famm_mougins // https://www.merrellpublishers.com/9781858947037
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Katy Hessel: @thegreatwomenartists / @katy.hessel
Sound editing by Nada Smiljanic
Music by Ben Wetherfield
The Great Women Artists 
