MoMA Abstract Expressionism

Some of my notes from the MoMA Abstract Expressionism show:
Link to watch video of curator of Abstract Expressionism show Ann Tempkin.



Robert Motherwell "Little Spanish Prison" is a painting i spent time looking at. I loved the color combination. It is only a small painting and this image does not quite get the colors right...the red is more pink.














I am not a big fan of Barnett Newman but "The Wild" was the little "zip" on it's own was intriguing. It was as if the zip escaped from another painting and took up residence on its own wall. This painting "The Voice" by Barnett Newman was beautiful - i really love the use of white.









Lee Krasner "Untitled"
Poor Lee, in a world so testosterone filled and never got much respect. Sigh, some things remain the same. The work is lovely, with the paint applied very thickly.












Jackson Pollock "One Number 31", 1950
Of course one cannot go to an Abstract Expressionism show and not mention Pollock. I know i am going to sound sacrilegious, but i am not a fan of his work. Perhaps i am fighting the hype that surrounds the man and his work or maybe it has been done so much. I credit him for being the first to do drip paintings and i recognize that he was an innovator.




There were several Mark Rothko paintings but i will show one of my Favorites
"Number 1"














OK, i couldn't resist, another very nice Rothko, No 37/ No 19, 1958, slate blue and bown on plum.














As i turned a corner and saw this painting by Sam Francis "Big Red", it was a wow moment. I was engulfed by the size and color and marveled by his use of ultramarine blue, yellow and red.

At this point in my notes it says "do a pink painting".













Robert Motherwell "Elegy to Spanish Republic" 1908
I so enjoy his paintings...











Hedda Sterne "NeyYork VIII" 1964
She recently passed away - NY Times Obituary
It was a lovely painting, like looking through a dirty window without one's glasses.












Helen Frankenthaler "Trojan Gates"
The one Helen Frankenthaler in their show.















The one Joan Mitchell in the show.

"Ladybug"














Of course, no exhibition would be complete without an Ashile Gorky painting (or several).
"Summation"

And speaking about summation...i was a little disappointed in the show. Heavy on the Pollocks and Newmans (i don't feel that way about seeing many Rothkos however)and light on the female painters. And there were some great ones but unfortunately, collectors did not deem them to be worthy enough to purchase. There were a few inspirational moments and that's what i look for when i go to a show. What is it about the show or painters or paintings that will spark something in me to try when i get back to the studio? I returned to this show the next day and I am very glad to have seen it. But, it was the other shows i went to see during my stay in NYC that really sparked an enthusiasm that cannot be predicted and is always a welcomed surprise. More about my trip when i have another block of time i can devote to a posting. It can be challenging finding the images of the art i would like to post. For example, many of the images were not available on the MoMA website.

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