As today is the birthday of Ed Harris, I'm re-airing a post of mine from 2007, tidied up and with a few additions:
An actor/director and a maverick artist born a generation + a couple of months apart: Ed Harris born 28 Nov 1950 Englewood, New Jersey. Jackson Pollock born 28 January 1912, Cody, Wyoming.
Ed Harris starred in and directed the 2000 movie "Pollock". We're told that Harris's father once bought his son a book about Jackson Pollock. He felt that Ed bore a strong resemblance to the painter. That book no doubt kick-started the actor's apparent fascination with the artist.
Jackson Pollock's art is very much an acquired taste. From biographical notes, and from the movie, it appears that Pollock was a veritable poster boy for Aquarius Sun. His natal Uranus, modern ruler of Aquarius, is very close to his Aquarius Sun - just barely in Capricorn, in the last minutes of the sign, and his Sun is at 7.31 Aquarius. That's close enough to combine forces.
Pollock was never satisfied with the status quo, always trying for something different. I used to think of those later Pollock works, the paint splatter ones, as a cynical money-grabbing exercise. I changed my mind, after seeing one or two originals on visits to art galleries. There's a lot of skill involved - more than one might initially appreciate. These pieces have a regular "rhythm", yet Pollock danced around his canvas on the floor, slinging paint hither and thither in seemingly random fashion - even so, the finished product looks somehow planned - the colour distribution, the clever choices and mixes of colours. An example:
"Lavender Mist"
It seems logical that the actor/director would need a deep understanding of the real-life character he portrays, and that somewhere in the natal charts of the two men there'd be a link. There are several.
(The inner chart is Ed Harris's, the outer that of Jackson Pollock. Click on image to enlarge.)
I can find no time of birth for Pollock. Astrodatabank gives 5.32am for Ed Harris.
I think Ed Harris's natal chart indicates a kinder and warmer character than Jackson Pollock seems to have been. Still, there ought to be some link which enabled Harris to give such an outstanding portrayal of the artist on screen. The actor seemed to understand Pollock's oddball nature so well.
Pollock's natal Venus lies at 9 Sagittarius. Ed Harris's natal Jupiter at 9 Sagittarius.
Ed Harris's natal Venus is at 28 Sagittarius Jackson Pollock's Jupiter at 29 Aquarius- in harmonious sextile aspect.
Their natal Suns are at 7 Aquarius and 5 Sagittarius (also sextile).
Harris's natal Moon at 17 Cancer is close enough to be termed conjoined to Pollock's natal Neptune at 21 Cancer. The Cancer/Capricorn opposition in Pollock's chart, Mercury/Neptune is echoed in Harris's by Moon/Mars.
These connections must surely have significance. The "feel" of a connection is there for me, without resorting to individual interpretation of the links.
I reckon that astrology is stranger than anybody realises - stranger even than Jackson Pollock.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ED HARRIS!
An actor/director and a maverick artist born a generation + a couple of months apart: Ed Harris born 28 Nov 1950 Englewood, New Jersey. Jackson Pollock born 28 January 1912, Cody, Wyoming.
Ed Harris starred in and directed the 2000 movie "Pollock". We're told that Harris's father once bought his son a book about Jackson Pollock. He felt that Ed bore a strong resemblance to the painter. That book no doubt kick-started the actor's apparent fascination with the artist.
Jackson Pollock's art is very much an acquired taste. From biographical notes, and from the movie, it appears that Pollock was a veritable poster boy for Aquarius Sun. His natal Uranus, modern ruler of Aquarius, is very close to his Aquarius Sun - just barely in Capricorn, in the last minutes of the sign, and his Sun is at 7.31 Aquarius. That's close enough to combine forces.Pollock was never satisfied with the status quo, always trying for something different. I used to think of those later Pollock works, the paint splatter ones, as a cynical money-grabbing exercise. I changed my mind, after seeing one or two originals on visits to art galleries. There's a lot of skill involved - more than one might initially appreciate. These pieces have a regular "rhythm", yet Pollock danced around his canvas on the floor, slinging paint hither and thither in seemingly random fashion - even so, the finished product looks somehow planned - the colour distribution, the clever choices and mixes of colours. An example:
"Lavender Mist"
It seems logical that the actor/director would need a deep understanding of the real-life character he portrays, and that somewhere in the natal charts of the two men there'd be a link. There are several.
(The inner chart is Ed Harris's, the outer that of Jackson Pollock. Click on image to enlarge.)
I can find no time of birth for Pollock. Astrodatabank gives 5.32am for Ed Harris.
I think Ed Harris's natal chart indicates a kinder and warmer character than Jackson Pollock seems to have been. Still, there ought to be some link which enabled Harris to give such an outstanding portrayal of the artist on screen. The actor seemed to understand Pollock's oddball nature so well.
Pollock said several times that he couldn't separate himself from his art. Not knowing much about modern art when I began to read about him, it was much more his persona - his struggles as a human being - that was interesting to me.Harris's Mars and Pollock's Mercury are both at 16 Capricorn.
(Ed Harris).
Pollock's natal Venus lies at 9 Sagittarius. Ed Harris's natal Jupiter at 9 Sagittarius.
Ed Harris's natal Venus is at 28 Sagittarius Jackson Pollock's Jupiter at 29 Aquarius- in harmonious sextile aspect.
Their natal Suns are at 7 Aquarius and 5 Sagittarius (also sextile).
Harris's natal Moon at 17 Cancer is close enough to be termed conjoined to Pollock's natal Neptune at 21 Cancer. The Cancer/Capricorn opposition in Pollock's chart, Mercury/Neptune is echoed in Harris's by Moon/Mars.
These connections must surely have significance. The "feel" of a connection is there for me, without resorting to individual interpretation of the links.
I reckon that astrology is stranger than anybody realises - stranger even than Jackson Pollock.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ED HARRIS!
I admire them both, T. Most interesting post on their similarities.
ReplyDeleteXO
WWW
As you know Harris and Pollock are two of my heroes. Not wholly because of who they were but for what they have accomplished. I think Pollock worked blindly forward following an idea, and in the end, changed art forever. I think Harris recognizes this too and tries to present this in the movie of Pollack’s life. The Ed Harris portrayal of Pollack is one of many parts he has played well in the movies of our time. He is one of those few actors that doesn’t seem to require the adulation of the fans.
ReplyDeleteYour analysis seems right on target me.
WWW ~~~ Thanks. Me too - Ed Harris rather moreso than Pollock. He was a wee bit too left-field for my taste - though very talented.
ReplyDelete:-)
anyjazz ~~~ Yes. I wasn't familiar with Pollock's work until I came to the USA, but I was familiar with Ed Harris's roles in movies.
ReplyDeleteHe's one actor I'm always very happy to see, and will always go out of my way to see one of his films. He never disappoints, never goes over-the-top, just gives us a quality 24 carat performance - always.