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Analyzing The Life And Work Of Helen Frankenthaler At The Parrish

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Curator Alicia Longwell with

Curator Alicia Longwell with "Abstract Climates: Helen Frankenthaler in Provincetown" at the Parrish Art Museum. Installation view.

authorStaff Writer on Aug 19, 2019

The Parrish Art Museum is currently presenting an exhibition that takes an in depth look at the life and work of the American abstract-expressionist artist, Helen Frankenthaler. In "Abstract Climates: Helen Frankenthaler in Provincetown,” not only is her work on display, but in the coming weeks, artists like Clifford Ross will be leading discussions and presentations about the late artist that will explore her work and life.

Throughout her career and legacy, Frankenthaler's work has been exhibited in museums like the Museum of Modern Art, the Whitney Museum of American Art and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. Thirty of her paintings exploring the relationship between abstraction and landscapes are on view at the Parrish.

Artists and art historians that knew Frankenthaler personally or have a distinct viewpoint into her work will be giving the upcoming talks, among them, Mr. Ross, Amy Sillman, Alexander Nemerov and Avis Berman. The topics will cover her time in East Hampton as well as Provincetown, Massachusetts, with her former husband, Robert Motherwell. All programs are open to the public are are free with museum admission.

The presentations kick off with a talk on Thursday, August 22, at noon, titled "Brain Food: By The Sea, By The Sea, 1950s," by Alicia Longwell, the Lewis B. and Dorothy Cullman Chief Curator, who will be discussing Frankenthaler's summers in East Hampton and in Provincetown with Motherwell.

Additional events include:

Friday, August 23, at 6 p.m. Alexander Nemerov and Clifford Ross discuss Frankenthaler.

Thursday, August 29, at noon, “Brain Food: Studios Overlooking Cape Cod Bay, 1961-66.”

Thursday, August 29, 5 p.m., “Voices From the Artist's Archives” by Avis Berman.

Thursday, September 5, 5 p,m., “Brain Food: Place and Space 1967-1969.”

The exhibition is open through October 27. More information on the programs, the exhibition and the Parrish Art Museum are available at Parrishart.org. The museum is at 279 Montauk Highway, Water Mill.

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