Yesterday I received this email from one of Atlanta’s premier art galleries, the Alan Avery Art Company, also known as Trinity Gallery . I am reprinting the email with permission from the gallery’s administrator, Maria Lundin
“It is with great sadness that we inform you that one of the great women artists of this century, Helen Frankenthaler, died Tuesday, December 27 at her home in Darien, Connecticut. She was 83 years old. As an Abstract Expressionist, her unique style and technique helped introduce what is known as Color Field painting and influenced artists such as Morris Louis and Kenneth Noland. Frankenthaler, whose 13 year marriage to the painter Robert Motherwell ended in 1971, is survived by her second husband,Stephen M. DuBrul, Jr.
Helen Frankenthaler is featured as one of the three great American women artists in our current exhibition, The Glass Ceiling Shattered.
Her long time assistant Maureen St. Onge phoned yesterday around 2:30 and stated that Helen was honored to be a part of our exhibition, believed to be the last while she was still alive. She further stated that Helen was humbled by my choice as one of the three great American artists. She noted that she intentionally left out the term "women." Knowing Frankenthaler's stand on this issue, I had to laugh. She will be missed.
Frankenthaler's work will be on view at AlanAvery Art Company through February 10, 2012. “
Helen Frankenthaler, has always been one of my favorite artist. Not only did I respect her courage to express herself in such a minimal way, but also because she opened doors for so many contemporary women artists. Helen’s recent passing, along with so many creative giants that have inspired me, is a reminder that my time is limited and I should make every moment a renewed dedication to creativity.
Me, too. I was so sad to hear this. I love her work - paintings and prints. She meant so much to me as a young art student. She was an awesome talent. A great Painter - of any generation. And even though she was/is such an inspiration to women, I take issue when she is referred to as a Woman Painter. She is a great American Artist. A great Artist. Period. Her work is transcendent. She lives on.
ReplyDeleteSharon, I agree with you about taking issue with the "Women Painter" label. Only artists near my age can understand how women, who create, have been discriminated against. For many years I only signed my work with my last name for that very reason.
ReplyDeleteEva - you really must visit the site of philip Maltman.
ReplyDeletehttp://web.me.com/philipmaltman/www.philipmaltman.com/Philip_Maltman.html
clicking on you email link doesn't work for me (probably on my end)
Happy New Year !
Hi Eva, Reading what you've said and nodding in agreement. I've always only signed with my initials.
ReplyDeleteAnd that whole 'Woman Painter' label - how condescending. How dare they. Until they refer to Picasso (and all the other great male artists) as a great 'Man Painter' then it will ALWAYS be wrong. Painter or Artist - no qualifiers are necessary or welcome. Frankenthaler owns the stand alone title of Painter or Artist. Her work is magnificent.
Thanks Tacked. I'll check him out.
ReplyDeleteSharon, things are changing, but they still have a masculine ring. Both genders who sculpt are called sculptors, and both genders who act are now now called actors.
ReplyDeleteThis is sad news. I love Helen Frankenthaler! I am very familiar with the piece Lush Spring that I've seen numerous times during my numerous visits to the Phoenix Art Museum.
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year Stan. Thank you for sharing the link to Helen's Lush Spring. I don't always look for pictorial references in abstract art, but the title and colors begged me to see a landscape with the sun cutting through the clouds.
ReplyDeleteI will look into her art, I am not that familiar with her work (I must live in a cave!) although abstract expressionists are of new interest to me. Happy New Year, Eva... maybe this will be the year you show your citra solv work, right?!!
ReplyDeleteHappiness to you this year Eva!
ReplyDeleteHelen's passing is indeed sad news. She was a magnificent and forward thinking "ARTIST".
Hi Robin, Since you are a traditional artist, I am not too surprised that you are not familiar with her work unless you took art history in school. Helen's main gift is that she had the courage to freely express herself in the art world, making it possible for other women who create to be recognized. You may not care for her art, but you must applaud her contributions.
ReplyDeleteThank you Carole, and much happiness to you also!
ReplyDeleteThank you very much for this post Eva..
ReplyDeleteMay you have a healthy, happy and creative year ahead!
Thanks Padmaja, for your comments and I wish you you the same!
ReplyDeleteI feel like the last to know...this is my first reading of Helen Frankenthaller's death. I have so liked her work! Her generation of women artists are leaving now yet it seems like we have always had women of note in the arts.Thank you for this post.
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year....M.Lehrer-Plansky
Yes, Mary Ann, her generation and a lot of mine are passing. Fortunately they opened many doors and hopefully we will see a woman president someday soon. Happy New Year to you also.
ReplyDelete