ART-PRESENTATION:Women and Abstraction
The movement of abstraction have been dominated by larger than life male artists, in the case of abstract expressionism it is hard not to focus on Jackson Pollock or Willem DeKooning, but there were several important women working during that time as well. Moreover, discussions of minimalism are often centered on Sol LeWitt and Ellsworth Kelly.
By Efi Michalarou
Photo: Cornell Fine Arts Museum Archive
The exhibition “Women and Abstraction” seeks to shed light on the contribution of women artists to abstraction from the post-war period to the present. To diversify understanding about American art, exhibition focuses on artists active in the United States. Through representing women artists together, Women and Abstraction aims not to limit the ways we read the included artists by gender, but attempts to heighten our understanding of the abstract tendencies in American art. While works by major artists ground the exhibition, this project also highlights artists who have not received proper attention. “Women and Abstraction” offers a counterpoint to the widely accepted history of abstraction produced in the United States. Scholars, curators, and gallerists have often presented the story of abstraction through a largely male-driven narrative. Beginning with a point of emphasis on the mid-20th century with works by Mary Abbott, Ruth Asawa, and Elaine de Kooning, this exhibition aims to see women as important producers of challenging and rigorously conceived abstract forms. Furthermore, the exhibition presents a historical continuum from the nature-inspired compositions of the modernist Georgia O’Keeffe to the technology-driven work of contemporary artist Hayal Pozanti. Following an introduction of pioneering women artists, large thematic groupings of architecture, nature, and materiality add structure to the exhibition. While the medium of painting often dominates the discussion of abstraction, diverse media including printmaking, video, and photography are included. Through representing women artists together, the exhibition aims not to limit the ways we read the included artists by gender, but attempts to heighten our understanding of the abstract tendencies in American art. While works by major artists ground the exhibition, this project also highlights artists who have not received proper attention. Additional works related to “Women and Abstraction” are on view at the Alfond Inn, a not-for profit hotel located on the edge of the Rollins College campus. Additional works related to the exhibition are on view at the Alfond Inn, a hotel located on the edge of the Rollins College campus. The list of artists in the exhibition includes: Mary Abbott, Sonia Almeida, Ruth Asawa, Lee Bontecou, Rosemarie Castoro, Elaine DeKooning, Ellen Garvens, Dana Hargrove, Mary Heilmann, Carmen Herrera, Barbara Kasten, Lee Krasner, Doris Leeper, Nava Lubelski, Jane Manus, Jessica McCambly, Julie Mehretu, Joan Mitchell, Sarah Morris, Louise Nevelson, Georgia O’Keeffe, Howardena Pindell, Hayal Pozanti, Amy Sillman, Shinique Smith, Barbara Sorensen, Pat Steir, and Alma Thomas.
Info: Women and Abstraction, Curating: Amy Galpin, Rollins College, Cornell Fine Arts Museum, 1000 Holt Avenue, Winter Park, Florida, Duration: 18/4-2/8/15, Days & Hours: Tue-Fri: 10:00-18:00, Sat-Sun: 12:00-16:00, www.rollins.edu/cornell-fine-arts-museum & Alfond Inn, 300 East New England Avenue, Winter Park, Florida, www.thealfondinn.com
