Art

Fierce Poise: Helen Frankenthaler and 1950s New York

Fierce Poise: Helen Frankenthaler and 1950s New York

  • Downloads：5626
  • Type：Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
  • Create Date：2021-04-17 11:31:34
  • Update Date：2025-09-07
  • Status：finish
  • Author：Alexander Nemerov
  • ISBN：0525560181
  • Environment：PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle

Reviews

Brie ，

The book was well written but I just could not like the artist it was about so stopped reading halfway through。 I lovedher driveto succeed as an artist but disliked her personality as it was written。

Dawn ，

4。75 stars

Elisa ，

（Content 4/ Narration 1） I quite enjoyed this curtailed account of Frankenthaler's life and painting during the decade of the 1950's， though I found I needed to accompany the poetical but sometimes rather abstract descriptions of particular works with Google searches of the images so I could fully absorb the insights。 However， the book was nearly ruined for me by the Audible narrator who adopted a drawling， petulant， pretentious voice for Frankenthaler that made me want to slap her upside the he （Content 4/ Narration 1） I quite enjoyed this curtailed account of Frankenthaler's life and painting during the decade of the 1950's， though I found I needed to accompany the poetical but sometimes rather abstract descriptions of particular works with Google searches of the images so I could fully absorb the insights。 However， the book was nearly ruined for me by the Audible narrator who adopted a drawling， petulant， pretentious voice for Frankenthaler that made me want to slap her upside the head every time she opened her mouth。 It seems quite a strange （and inevitably sexist） editorial decision to intentionally trivialize the main subject of a book by constantly emphasizing how annoying she was。 Listening to it required conscious resistance to the parody I was being offered。 。。。more

Lloyd Cruz ，

Reading a good story like this one， I suggest you join NovelStar’s writing competition this April。 If you are interested kindly check this link https://www。facebook。com/104455574751。。。 for the mechanics of the writing contest this April and also， I am sharing your book in Facebook to help reach readers。 Thank you Reading a good story like this one， I suggest you join NovelStar’s writing competition this April。 If you are interested kindly check this link https://www。facebook。com/104455574751。。。 for the mechanics of the writing contest this April and also， I am sharing your book in Facebook to help reach readers。 Thank you 。。。more

Joshua Mantilla ，

Great story！ You can broaden your audience by publishing your story on Novel Star Mobile App。3。Reading a good story like this one， I suggest you join Novel Star’s writing competition on April。

Angel Mayumi ，

I really enjoyed reading your book。 I read enthusiastically and understood the story。 。。。 If you have some great stories like this one， you can publish it on Novel Star， just submit your story to hardy@novelstar。top or joye@novelstar。top

Nikita Malhotra ，

The author’s admission of not fully appreciating her work of art and growing into a space of admiring the art of Frankenthaler， who he refers to as Helen （in a very telling and organic way）， gives insight into how the book is a tale of understanding the greatness of “the artist”。 Loved the parts referencing frank o’hara （every time I go to fire island I can’t help but think of him）。

Charles Davis ，

You can publish this in a mobile app so a lot of readers can see your lovely work。 Check on NovelStar and see how other writers earn by pursuing their passion in writing。

Mandy ，

Alexander Nemerov only covers the first part of Helen Frankenthaler’s life and career in his book， but these were formative years in the development of her art and important and often tumultuous ones in her personal life。 Frankenthaler didn’t die until 2011 at the age of 83 so there is much more to be discovered， but certainly as an introduction to the artist and her work this book does a fine job。 Nemerov’s passion for his subject comes over loud and clear， although to his credit he doesn’t let Alexander Nemerov only covers the first part of Helen Frankenthaler’s life and career in his book， but these were formative years in the development of her art and important and often tumultuous ones in her personal life。 Frankenthaler didn’t die until 2011 at the age of 83 so there is much more to be discovered， but certainly as an introduction to the artist and her work this book does a fine job。 Nemerov’s passion for his subject comes over loud and clear， although to his credit he doesn’t let his obvious admiration prevent him from chronicling her character flaws。 His descriptions of her paintings are illuminating and insightful – and for me very helpful。 Although sometimes verging on a hagiography rather than a straight biography， I found the book an accessible and compelling read – although I have to admit that even with Nemerov’s excellent analysis of the work the paintings still leave me bemused and unconvinced of their merit。 。。。more

Daniel ，

Excellent biography of famous painter Helen Frankenthaler。 Not convinced of her greatness as an artist。 However， there were so few women trying to break into the men's club in 1950's NY art world。 Making art is hard on the psyche。 She was insecure but tough and commited to her art。 I enjoyed all the stories of the personalities in her circle and the rivalries of the NY art world back then。 Excellent biography of famous painter Helen Frankenthaler。 Not convinced of her greatness as an artist。 However， there were so few women trying to break into the men's club in 1950's NY art world。 Making art is hard on the psyche。 She was insecure but tough and commited to her art。 I enjoyed all the stories of the personalities in her circle and the rivalries of the NY art world back then。 。。。more

Justine Chen ，

The author is so talented， I suggest you join NovelStar’s writing competition， you might be their next big star。

Cheryl Sokoloff ，

Who was Helen Frankenthaler？ Alexander Nemerov begins his book Fierce Poise， explaining that for many years， he （and his colleagues）， were critical， as well as sceptical of the accolades Helen Frankenthaler， the modern abstract painter and creator of the soak and stain method of painting， received。 It was only many years later， Nemerov says， that he came to appreciate her work for its magical properties， as he describes so beautifully， she was able to capture the joy of a moment and transfer it Who was Helen Frankenthaler？ Alexander Nemerov begins his book Fierce Poise， explaining that for many years， he （and his colleagues）， were critical， as well as sceptical of the accolades Helen Frankenthaler， the modern abstract painter and creator of the soak and stain method of painting， received。 It was only many years later， Nemerov says， that he came to appreciate her work for its magical properties， as he describes so beautifully， she was able to capture the joy of a moment and transfer it to the canvas so that it comes alive。Nemerov describes Frankenthaler's early years。 Unlike most artists， Helen was born into a wealthy Jewish family in NYC。 Money was never an issue for her。 The youngest of three sisters， she was the apple of her father's eye。 She never ceased to amaze him， and he was certain she would achieve greatness。 Her mother， on the other hand， craved attention， and always overshadowed Helen （personality clash）。 Helen's College years were spent away from the city with like minded women at Bennington College， in Vermont， where she received her art instruction from Paul Feeley。 After college， and a visit to Europe， Helen returned to NYC to start her career。 At her first （non solo） exhibit， she meets the famous art critic， Clem Greenberg， more then 10 years her senior。 He immediately recognizes Helen's potential。 He takes her under his wing， and in 1950-51， together with Clem， Helen enters the world of modern abstract painting。 It was Clem who took Helen to Jackson Pollok's studio， where she has a revelation that leads her to create her soak stain method of painting。Fierce Poise focuses on Helen Frankenthaler in her first decade， （1950-1960）， as a modern abstract artist， from Mountain and Sea in 1952， to， Before the Caves in 1958。 But， Helen Frankenthaler continued to paint （as well as create art in many other mediums）， her entire life。 I love this book as a solid introduction to a major contributor， to the field of modern art。 Nemerov does a wonderful job bringing Helen to life in the pages of his book， so much so， I'd go to an exhibit of her work tomorrow， if I could （pandemic makes this an impossibilty）。 For now then， thanks to this book and the internet， I've garnered an appreciation and respect for Helen Frankenthaler VIRTUALLY。 Thank you #netgalley and @penguinpress for my complimentary copy of #fiercepoisehelenfrankenthalerand1950snewyork in return for my honest review。 #5stars 。。。more

Zibby Owens ，

The book is about Helen Frankenthaler， an artist。 From her graduation from Bennington through the age of thirty-one， the story follows Helen when she had her first one-person exhibition。 Over her life，。 Helen became an American artist of the postwar period in New York in the 1950s。 And this book shows us all the moments that influenced her art and her life。There is a scene when Helen is feeling depressed after a bad review。 "Starting around New Year's， 1953， Helen became depressed。 She was payin The book is about Helen Frankenthaler， an artist。 From her graduation from Bennington through the age of thirty-one， the story follows Helen when she had her first one-person exhibition。 Over her life，。 Helen became an American artist of the postwar period in New York in the 1950s。 And this book shows us all the moments that influenced her art and her life。There is a scene when Helen is feeling depressed after a bad review。 "Starting around New Year's， 1953， Helen became depressed。 She was paying sick calls to her mother， who was increasingly ill。。。Sinking into lethargy， Helen found herself thinking that in her whole life， nothing mattered very much。 Even her psychoanalytic sessions on which she usually placed great store struck her as boring。 She was 'not taking myself or life or plans too seriously。' Not caring enough， she found herself taking afternoon naps。 'The sleep is wonderful， but the habit bothers me。 Helen was depressed because she felt like her life was at a standstill。" This captures a moment when a legend is doubting herself。 I love that this is an Upper East Side book， and I spent a whole summer at Bennington， so I felt like I could experience Helen's journey。 I also love how the author portrayed Helen as just another girl in her twenties in New York， yet she became an art legend。 To listen to my interview with the author， go to my podcast at:https://zibbyowens。com/transcript/ale。。。 。。。more