Arts District: Women of Abstract Expressionism

A look at the Denver Art Museum’s recent exhibit showcasing Women of Abstract Expressionism, and we talk to the director of the Clyfford Still Museum for more perspective on this art movement of the mid twentieth century. From Episode # 505:

[sjmsutherland]

Great video, I was introduced to women artists I didn't know where part of the AbEx movement! We need more videos like this!!

[shruggzdastr-facedclown]

It must be acknowledged that some of the female artists and promoters in the AbEx generation (Lee Krasner and Peggy Guggenheim being but a couple to be mentioned) actually helped shape the direction, aesthetics and philosophy of the movement and weren't just background players of secondary importance to the males who got the lion's share of the credit.

[melodymarks]

there is still sexism in the art world

[elizabethferrari]

This video could use some tags and in particular the NAMES of the women showcased here. #LeeKrasner #PerleFine #HelenFrankenthaler #SoniaGechtoff #JudithGodwin #GraceHardigan #JoanMitchell #ElaineDeKoonig #EthelSchwabacher #JayDeFeo #DeborahRemington

[maryporter]

I would love to see this show, so powerful

[thespringishere]

For me one of the primary keys to women not given proper historical credit was indeed the history lessons taught; as quoted here by curator Chanzit: " ...it wasn't until 1986 the even one woman was given a profile in Janson's book History of Art". I studied art & art history in college and Janson's History of Art was the #1 art history 101 book issued in every college in the USA. A number of the college faculty that taught me were women however my copy of Janson's book - pre1986 - indeed missed the historical context of women yet ironically throughout my educational life - elementary thru college - I was taught primarily by women. Seems pretty appalling now doesn't it?

[susanhales]

Amazing! Frightening.Fabulous. Working with the unconscious.

[ianhaycox]

Couldn't agree more! Why so much clyfford still? Great teacher maybe but why are we looking at his brush work and palette knife smears? Ten rooms for ten under-represented women artists and no real in depth examination of any of their techniques. Great to see some works that I'd never seen before and to see some artists that I'd been unaware of. Please, this work deserves better treatment!!! It almost seems that there was some embarrassment about examining these paintings Ian Haycox

[artemisia]

Why don’t we have a female curator talking about this subject? Well, it seems we do but she refers to them as “ladies.”

[traciabbott]

Women of Abstract Expressionism!!

Compares the women to the men the whole time

[jontelcher]

for a report on women abstract artists - there sure is a lot of talk about men...

[davidgeorgemarksergeant]

Any reason why Michael West is not included?

[ex-vagabond]

Were there no female art historians available for comment on these female artists?

[henryhallett]

Spending more time talking about Clifford Still than any of the women, its ironic!

[Blondies]

Pretty terrible - all this chatter about men, and dwelling on their paintings - and about seven seconds each for Joan Mitchell and Elaine de Kooning. Five monkeys in a room with some old film and duck tape could have done a better job.

[elizstan]

Why all the info about CS and the curator from a male dominated museum? Can't even a show about female painters be about them without this unnecessary intrusion?

[judewoodcock]

too much talk about Dean Sobel should be a female moderator not another dude.

[pamelabatesstudio]

absolutely insane and so dismissive that 'it wasn't until 1986 the even one woman was given a profile in Janson's book History of Art". ' Patriarchy alive and well, still, in the art world.

[maryporter]

There is still sexism in the art world