https://artcritical.com/2011/12/29/helen-frankenthaler/ Tue, 21 May 2013 19:42:25 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=5.5.3 https://artcritical.com/2011/12/29/helen-frankenthaler/#comment-14161 Sun, 01 Jan 2012 01:06:12 +0000 https://artcritical.com/?p=21635#comment-14161 Thanks, Ms.Halasz,for your commentary on the life and times of Helen Frankenthaler,certainly amongst the greatest artists,I have ever known and possibly one of the top on my list ,of all times.She was the reigning Queen of Abstraction.For me as an artist, she was open, welcoming, candid, truthful in her appraisal of art, often giving of her time and advice ,to young artists,like myself coming along behind her. I loved hearing her stories of the early days, and she treated me as an older sister,but it was hard to not put her on a pedestal(which she richly deserved)because she was did not consider herself as a “woman” artist, but rather “an artist”,only. She cut a big path for women though, whether intentionally or not.The other examples of professional women artists,could be counted on two hands when we first met,in 1978. A great deal has changed since then.Her talent,even today,has not yet been fully recognized,by the world at large.I expect that will come with time.We had much in common,both early,young out of the gate,but I had the advantage of her knowledge,whereas there really was no female example when she arrived on the “scene”.We both shared common ground being close to world famous art critics, her, of course, with Clement Greenberg , me with Kenworth W. Moffett,and there were times when we took “the painting bath” together (or should I say 4 person jacuzzi? ) looking at art,in the galleries, especially at her exhibitions ,which were unfailingly wonderful!!Many visits with her, at the openings,dinners conversations were always fascinating,surprising, enlightening. She was smart , witty and curious all at once, and was kind enough to invite me to her studio and home and came to visit me in mine.She did have a “schoolgirl” charm,but one was always aware of her greatness as an artist.She will never be forgotten, least of all by me,as a teacher,in the school of life.

]]> https://artcritical.com/2011/12/29/helen-frankenthaler/#comment-14156 Sat, 31 Dec 2011 19:46:34 +0000 https://artcritical.com/?p=21635#comment-14156 A lovely, thoughtful, and sensitive essay about an inspired artist and a remarkable woman, fully appreciated here.

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