2005 Writers Notes Book Award Notable Herskovic overviews American ab-stract expressionism with this hefty volume of plates. Beyond the names you'll immediately recognize (Pollack, DeKooning, Gorky, etc.) this alphabetically arranged set takes a fair and complete look, including commentary from the artists that helps to illuminate an often moody and pensive style. We like Kline's ideas on size and space and also when DeKooning says, "spiritually I am wherever my spirit allows me to be." American Abstract should be a fixture in libraries and the homes of the lovers of the form. --Writers Notes Magazine Book Editor
--Writers Notes Magazine, 2005
Illuminating View Through a Very Special Window.The window is the eye of a devoted scholar who rips through the red-tape and pitfalls of dealing with artist's estates, galleries and the art world in general! It takes guts and grit to create a second book of the underknown Abstract Expressionists. This volume centers on the Abstract Expressionists of the 1950's, throughout the USA. It adds 80+ artists to the first tour d'force titled, New York School Abstract Expressionists: Artists Choice by Artists. Fortunately, many of the superb African American painters are represented. Ms. Herskovic mentions in her introduction that there were NO painters of African descent in the 9th Street show or any of the artist's annuals. This shocking revelation shows just how NEW integration really is. Norman Lewis, Hale Woodruff, Alma Thomas, Charles Alston, and Edward Clark are a fine quintet whose work shines through the pages of this fantastically researched volume of exceptional quality. As far as I am concerned, they are American Abstract Expressionists who just happen to be of color. Underknown Abstract Expressionist artists in the 1950's had a tough time getting known. After all, there were the meteors with names like Pollock, Rothko, Still, and de Kooning, to easily overshadow you. Not necessarily in quality, but in fame. Painters of African descent naturally had a very difficult time. America might have been avant-garde about this new art but was backward regarding equality of its people.
The West Coast is also represented by some fine painters. Elmer Bischoff, Budd Dixon, Hans Burkhardt, Richard Diebenkorn, Ernest Briggs, Hassel Smith, Richards Ruben, John Saccaro, and Robert McChesney are just a few from the West Coast!
Curators take note: This, the 2nd volume concerning the Abstract Expressionists in America, is a must have. Both volumes have to be included in your museum's library. These volumes are a researcher's dream! Plus, what great exhibitions are possible!
The size and quality of the reproductions are excellent. The book has the same 12 1/2 x 9 1/2" format as the first volume. This time, the dust jacket is gold, in nice contrast to the first volume's silver cover. There are 88 artists represented, and each has an artist's statement which is so important. The statements back-up their precious works. Listed opposite the artist's two large examples, are biographies, where the artist studied or taught, Solo Exhibitions as well as Group shows. A nice touch are the quasi-tributes to two important Fathers of Modern Art and Abstract Expressionism; There are writings by Kandinsky which are very "today", and there is an homage to Arshile Gorky, possibly the most revered American artist before Pollock(according to painters of the NY School).
This scientifically researched 372 page volume will surely be the barometer that all future studies will use. --Amazon.com
--Stuart Friedman, Granite Springs, NY
OUTSTANDING ACADEMIC TITLE ~CHOICE, 2003
"This excellent publication builds on the earlier publication. It has broadened the scope to include artists from throughout the US, rectified...omission of African American artists...and concentrated on 88 artists...Excellent layout and superb photographs. Highly recommended. ~CHOICE,
CURRENT REVIEWS FOR ACADEMIC LIBRARIES July/August 2003. --CHOICE MAGAZINE,CURRENT REVIEWS FOR ACADEMIC LIBRARIES July/August 2003.
Marika Herskovic, Ph.D is a scientist by training. She received her MSc. and Ph.D from the Graduate School of Arts and Science of New York University, NYC.
She produced 27 videos on the art and lives of the artists of the New York School. These videos, repeatedly shown on cable TV, were listed in «Art on Screen, A joint venture of the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the J. Paul Getty Trust.« She hosted numerous video taped artist seminars and spent the past two decades documenting the New York Painting and Sculpture Annuals, the participating artists and their art.
She was the editor of the book titled:
New York School Abstract Expressionists: Artists Choice by Artists, Published by New York School Press, 2000. Printed by Cantz in Germany.
