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Ben Blair ACTS II & III…the glitter of the unknown

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How will things turn out for Florence and Ben Blair?

Here’s where we left off in ACT I…

“Ben, forgive me. I’ve hurt you. I can’t say I love you.”

ACT II

Florence and her family left the ranch for the New York City culture and society. When Ben shows up, Florence is tormented by what is expected of her and confused by her stormy emotions.

Ben threatens Florence’s fiance, Sidwell. Unaware of what’s currently transpiring, her mind wanders to the ranch in Montana, Ben, and their childhood.

ACT III

“I want to forget Ben Blair was ever part of my life.

He overwhelms me like sleep when I’m tired. I’m helpless.”

Ben Blair, “Florence Baker, I love you. In all I’m going to say, bear this in mind; don’t forget for a moment. To me, you will always be the one woman on earth. Why haven’t I told you this before, I don’t know, but now I’m as sure as that I’m looking at you that it is so.”

Florence and Ben headed west to Montana and their familiar ranch life.

THE END

Will, Maynard, Dorthea, Frida, and Diego…

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Author/dentist—Will Lillibridge (great-granduncle) wrote the book Ben Blair. It was published by A. C. McClurg & Co., Chicago, 1905. This was the same year Will’s older brother, Lowell Stanton Lillibridge (my great-grandfather) helped settle the town of Burke, South Dakota where I grew up.

I recently discovered that the cover art for Ben Blair was done by artist, Maynard Dixon—he was married to depression-era photographer (and one of my heroes) Dorthea Lange. Only recently did I learn that Dorthea photographed churches in 1938 near Winner, SD, 39 miles west of Burke.

Three Churches of the High Plains, near Winner, South Dakota; Dorothea Lange (American, 1895 – 1965); negative 1938; print 1940s.

Dorthea Lange & Maynard Dixon became friends with Frida Kahlo & Diego Rivera in San Francisco in the 1930s. Maynard at first disliked Diego (as many people did).

A few weeks ago I toured Frida and Diego’s home and studio in Mexico City. Being in the presence of these rooms, the light, shadows, color, collected objects, art, videos, and photographs was…well, Guau (wow).

Seeing where Frida and Diego lived, worked, fought, loved, and entertained made me long for an old-timey, bohemian life without so many modern-day distractions.

Their home museum is located in Coyoacán, a village on the outskirts of Mexico City.

The photos below were taken at the Museo Casa Estudio in San Angel, also a village on the outskirts of Mexico City.

You deserve a lover who takes away the lies and brings you hope, coffee, and poetry.
―Frida Kahlo

Thank you, Uncle Will, Maynard, Dorthea, Frida and Diego!

Three Churches of the High Plains, near Winner, South Dakota; Dorothea Lange (American, 1895 - 1965); negative 1938; print 1940s; Gelatin silver print; 25.6 × 27 cm (10 1/16 × 10 5/8 in.); 2016.150.1; No Copyright - United States (http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/NoC-US/1.0/)