Author Stephenie Meyer's novel "Twilight" has become one of the most popular books in the history of young adult literature. The story of two lovers from different worlds is reminiscent of a modern day "Romeo and Juliet".
I worked for a library at the time "Twilight" was published, and drawn by the vampire subject matter (I love vampire stories) I sat down to read it one evening and didn't put it down until the next morning when I was finished. Then I promptly turned to the first page and read it again.
This was in 2005, before the majority of the world had taken notice of the novel. I was lucky enough to live near a bookstore where Stephanie Meyers was having a book signing, and was able to attend and have her autograph my book. I asked her how she keeps up her enthusiasm for the story- as an amateur writer myself I find the most difficult part of creating a story is revisiting the same characters day after day while the plot unfolds- she replied that she writes the "good parts" first. By the time the climactic scenes are finished most of the novel is complete. She only needs to write in the filler between chapters.
Stephenie and I are roughly the same age, and I found her advice and the beauty of her novel inspiring. The artwork presented in these slides remind me of scenes from "Twilight". I hope that if you haven't read "Twilight" yet you will be inspired to read it after viewing this presentation.
All excerpts quoted here are from Stephenie Meyer's novel "Twilight" published in 2005 by Little, Brown and Company.
But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.
Genesis 2:17 (From the preface of "Twilight")
Artist: Artist Unknown (United States)
Date: 19th century
Medium: Dolls, Toys and Games
Size: 3 1/4 x 3 5/8 x 3 5/8 in. (8.26 x 9.21 x 9.21 cm)
Institution: Minneapolis Institute of Arts
Accession #: 2003.236.1090
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It was too green- an alien planet. It was beautiful, of course; I couldn't deny that. Everything was green: the trees, their trunks covered with moss, their branches hanging with a canopy of it, the ground covered with ferns. Even the air filtered down greenly through the leaves.
Artist: Katayama Bokuyo_
Date: 1928
Medium: Paintings, Painting
Size: 74 1/2 x 93 1/2 in. (189.23 x 237.49 cm) (image)77 x 95 1/4 in. (195.58 x 241.94 cm) (overall with frame)
Institution: Minneapolis Institute of Arts
Accession #: 2007.22
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"Hello," said a quiet, musical voice.
I looked up, stunned that he was speaking to me. He was sitting as far away from me as the desk allowed, but his chair was angled toward me. His dazzling face was friendly, open, a slight smile on his flawless lips. But his eyes were careful.
"My name is Edward Cullen."
Artist: Nathan Oliveira
Date: 1960
Medium: Paintings
Size: unframed 82 x 62.125 x inches
Institution: Walker Art Center
Accession #: 1962.15
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I'd been to the beaches around La Push many times... so the mile-long crescent of First Beach was familiar to me. It was still breathtaking. The water was dark-gray, even in the sunlight, white-capped and heaving to the gray, rocky shore. Islands rose out of the steel harbor waters with sheer cliff sides, reaching to uneven summits, and crowned with austere, soaring firs.
Artist: Bertha Lum
Date: 1912
Medium: Prints, Print
Size: 11 1/16 x 6 1/4 in. (28.1 x 15.88 cm) (image)11 1/4 x 6 7/16 in. (28.58 x 16.35 cm) (sheet)
Institution: Minneapolis Institute of Arts
Accession #: P.64
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"Another legend claims that we descended from wolves- and that the wolves are our brothers still... the wolves that turn into men... you would call them werewolves."
Artist: Artist Unknown (Bambara)
Medium: Decorative Arts and Utilitarian Objects, Mask
Size: 19 9/16 x 8 x 6 1/2 in. (49.69 x 20.32 x 16.51 cm)
Institution: Minneapolis Institute of Arts
Accession #: 2003.21.10
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Then there are the stories about the cold ones... the cold ones are traditionally our enemies. But this pack that came to our territory during my great-grandfather's time was different. They didn't hunt the way others of their kind did... there's always a risk for humans to be around the cold ones, even if they're civilised like this clan was. You never know when they might get too hungry to resist.
Artist: Artist Unknown (Ijo)
Date: late 19th century
Medium: Sculpture
Size: 37 1/2 x 28 x 9 3/4 in. (95.3 x 71.1 x 24.8 cm)
Institution: Minneapolis Institute of Arts
Accession #: 74.22
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About three things I was absolutely positive.
First, Edward was a vampire.
Second, there was a part of him- and I didn't know how dominant that part might be- that thirsted for my blood.
And third, I was unconditionally and irrevocably in love with him.
Artist: Rufino Tamayo
Date: 1977
Size: 19 1/2 x 27 1/2 in. (49.53 x 69.85 cm) (sheet)
Institution: Minneapolis Institute of Arts
Accession #: P.98.26.16
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I reached the edge of the pool of light and stepped through the last fringe of ferns into the lovliest place I had ever seen. The meadow was small, perfectly round, and filled with wildflowers- violet, yellow, and soft white. Somewhere nearby I could hear the bubbling music of a stream. The sun was directly overhead, filling the circle with a haze of buttery sunshine. I walked slowly, awestruck, through the soft grass, swaying flowers, and warm, gilded air... Edward seemed to take a deep breath, and then he stepped out into the bright glow of the midday sun.
Artist: David Charles Read
Date: c. 1830
Medium: Drawings and Watercolors, Drawing-Watercolor
Size: 4 x 6 3/4 in. (10.16 x 17.15 cm) (sheet)
Institution: Minneapolis Institute of Arts
Accession #: 80.51.5
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"And so the lion fell in love with the lamb...," he murmured.
"What a stupid lamb," I sighed.
"What a sick, masochistic lion."
Artist: Arcade Manufacturing Company
Date: c. 1910-1913
Medium: Dolls, Toys and Games
Size: 3 13/16 x 5 1/4 x 1 3/8 in. (9.68 x 13.34 x 3.49 cm)
Institution: Minneapolis Institute of Arts
Accession #: 2003.236.170
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His eyes, merely intent before, now burned with an uncontrollable need. The blood- spreading crimson across my white shirt, pooling rapidly on the floor- was driving him mad with thirst. No matter his original intentions, he couldn't draw this out much longer.
I heard, as if from underwater, the final growl of the hunter. I could see, through the long tunnels my eyes had become, his dark shape coming toward me.
Artist: Francis Bacon
Date: 1955
Medium: Paintings
Size: unframed 24.125 x 20.125 x 0.5 inches
Institution: Walker Art Center
Accession #: 1995.71
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I touched his face. "Look," I said. "I love you more than everything else in the world combined. Isn't that enough?"
"Yes, it is enough," he answered, smiling. "Enough for forever."
And he leaned down to press his cold lips once more to my throat.
Artist: Maurice Denis
Date: 1896
Medium: Prints, Print
Size: 14 7/16 x 12 5/16 in. (36.67 x 31.27 cm) (image)16 11/16 x 13 15/16 in. (42.39 x 35.4 cm) (sight)
Institution: Minneapolis Institute of Arts
Accession #: 2004.21.1
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