<< the paintings are by Joan Mitchell, an American artist >> Doh! I didn't even think it might be *Joan* Mitchell. My heart used to jump every time I saw her name in print until I learned who she was. I know she is a pretty well regarded artist, but I used to feel sorry for her having to *almost* share a name in the last decades of her life with someone who was much more famous.
(Shades of the Etta James false death alert a few months ago.)
--Bob
