Today would have been Georgia O’Keeffe’s 124th birthday.

As one of the first women to break into the male dominated scene, her contributions to 20th century art history are unquestionable. She mesmerized with her gorgeously surreal New Mexico landscapes and stark New York cityscapes, but, somehow, her name has become synonymous with vaginal flowers. This they were not. How unfortunate. To celebrate the misunderstood artist and her woes, we’ve rounded up a few incidents of misinterpretation from the lives of famed big shots, elder greats, and new, spunky contemporaries. Find out what Georgia O’Keeffe’s flowers truly mean, why Francis Bacon really thrust a syringe into his subject’s arm, and why people who don’t get James Franco are “morons.”

From Powerhouse Event Page:

Wednesday, November 30
7:00pm – 9:00pm
powerHouse Arena
37 Main Street
Brooklyn, NY

Internationally exhibited artist Romeo Alaeff will discuss and sign copies of his new book which pairs detailed line drawing of animals with overheard snippets of angst-ridden human conversation. http://www.illbedead.com/

We’re teaming up with halcyon, NYPress.com, and Antenna Magazine to present this exclusive signing and exhibition featuring original work by the artist on display and special edition prints for sale. Wine will be served, along with beer courtesy of Narraganset and scotch courtesy of Glenfiddich. Music provided by halcyon featuring DJ Jason Zotos.

About I’ll Be Dead by the Time You Read This:

Let’s be honest: people have issues. You’ve undoubtedly realized this while eavesdropping on conversations, talking to your friends, or listening to your own thoughts. But nobody considers the possibility that animals have the same existential crises…until now! Romeo Alaeff, an internationally exhibited artist, was inspired after writing down the many seemingly irrational things he’d overheard said by people and that he himself had felt. With a unique combination of anthropomorphism and irreverence, Alaeff shares what the range of human emotions would look like through the eyes of animals in I’LL BE DEAD BY THE TIME YOU READ THIS: THE EXISTENTIAL LIFE OF ANIMALS (Plume Original; December 2011).

Originally part of his project “The Evolution of Despair,” and featured in the book Stuck up Piece of Crap: Stickers: From Punk Rock to Contemporary Art, Alaeff’s animal drawings explore the hilarious and heartbreaking neuroses that overwhelm humans. In I’LL BE DEAD BY THE TIME YOU READ THIS, Alaeff compiles his gorgeously drawn animals that have thoughts and outbursts as insane as ours. Alaeff’s unique images with their ironic sensibilities truly showcase his ability to point out the idiosyncrasies of the human experience.

Reminiscent of Andy Riley’s darkly amusing The Bunny Suicides, Alaeff captures the sentiments which make us distinctly human and highlights their absurdity.

Praise for I’ll Be Dead by the Time You Read This:

“Every morning, next to my bathroom mirror, Romeo’s anxious goldfish reminds me of the fullness of existence; for to be afraid of dying is not to lead a fearful life, but one so precious you don’t want to lose it.”
–Christian Rattemeyer, Curator of Drawings,The Museum of Modern Art, New York

”I love Romeo’s animals. I’m looking at one right now—a stoic little eagle saying, ‘don’t pity me.’ Personally, I like being pitied, but I appreciate the sentiment.”
–Moby

About the Artist:
Romeo Alaeff studied biomedical engineering and mathematics at Tulane University before receiving his masters of fine arts from the Rhode Island School of Design. His artwork has exhibited internationally in major museums, galleries, and film festivals. He lives in New York City and can be contacted through his website: illbedead.com.

“For those who are a little bit depressed and believe their lives are over, this book might be good for you. It might be a good gift to give to somebody who needs a little “snapping out” of it too. At least, it might help people realize how silly we sound some times. Especially if you see a seal say: “The pills aren’t working.” We are often too tortured with our minds that we loose sight of what truly matters in life. Animals have emotions too but often than not, they are not as wacky as ours.

I think Alaeff’s book advocates that finding the humor and irony in our own situations is one step closer to healing whatever it is that is bothering us. There is no better way than to have wildlife expose our crazy, existentialist crisis.”

Lion, "I've been happier"