Lawrence Journal World
TV Chatter
By Alan W. Petmcelli
July 27-August 2, 1986
Bette Midler has done a lot for her art: She’s shocked, scintillated and stupefied audiences with her titanic – and sometimes tacky – talents. But off stage, Midler the artist turns into Midler the art lover.
“I don’t really like to talk about this because I’m not educated,” she says, “but I like real trashy paintings – the stuff that everyone else sneers at. I like the old-timers – the Impressionists, Modernists and post-Modernists; people like Frida Kahlo, Vaaily Kandinsky and Paul Klee. And I loved the pre-Raphaelites until I saw an exhibition at the (London art gallery) Tate.
Then it got silly,” adds the 41-year-old entertainer. “All those paintings of Jesus on the cross, with Mary wiping His feet with her hair. Those were just too vile.”
Yay! She likes Paul Klee, too? We’re destined to be besties!