The life story of any artist is of great interest to those who wish to gain a better understanding of the artistÆs work. Don McDonagh has provided the means to understand the work of one great artist in his volume titled simply, Martha Graham: A Biography.
Martha Graham was the oldest of the three daughters of George Greenfield Graham and Jane Beers Graham. She was born on May 11, 1894, in Allegheny, Pennsylvania. Her father was a physician whose practice provided a comfortable life for the family. In those days it was common for young girls to take an interest in the theater. Martha was no exception. One of her early attempts at costume design involved dressing up the familyÆs reluctant terrier in doll clothes. This episode is telling of her deep and lifelong interest in animals. She was especially fascinated in observing the way they moved.
MarthaÆs sister, Mary, had been afflicted with chronic athsma for most of her young life. By 1908, her health had degenerated to the degree that the family decided to move to a climate that would not further aggravate her condition. After a search for agreeable places to relocate, they settled in Santa Barbara, California. Santa Barbara was much more diverse than Allegheny. It was home to substantial populations of Chinese, Latinos and African-Americans, each of which presented a unique cultural component. In addition, there existed the traces of the original Native-American culture. It was in Santa Barbara that the 14-year-old Martha began to develop the broader sense of cultural awareness that would have such a strong influence on her lifeÆs work.
In 1911, Graham's father took her to Los Angeles to see a concert by Ruth St. Denis, who was then one of the greatest and most famous exotic concert dancers in the world. It was the first dance performance of any kind that Graham had ever seen. Overwhelmed by the experience, Martha immediately recognized her aspiratio...