The Block Museum of Art at Northwestern University is set to host an exhibition titled “Pouring, Spilling, Bleeding: Helen Frankenthaler and Artists’ Experiments on Paper” from September 17 to December 14. This exhibition highlights the innovative printmaking techniques of Helen Frankenthaler, known for her "soak-stain" technique in painting. The event showcases a recent gift of 34 works from the Helen Frankenthaler Foundation as part of the Frankenthaler Prints Initiative.
Lisa Corrin, Ellen Philips Katz Executive Director of The Block Museum, emphasized the significance of this exhibition: “This exhibition exemplifies how a university museum can serve as a catalyst for fresh approaches to scholarship, curation and teaching.” She added that the transformative gift from the foundation opens new doors for student research and interpretation.
Curated by Stephanie S.E. Lee and Corinne Granof, the exhibition includes prints, drawings, and watercolors by artists such as Grace Hartigan, Joan Mitchell, Robert Motherwell, and David Smith. It also features contemporary artists like Lynda Benglis and Amy Sillman who have drawn inspiration from Frankenthaler's approach.
Stephanie S.E. Lee expressed her experience with studying Frankenthaler's working proofs: “In many ways, these working proofs show what the editioned print cannot: they are traces of decision-making, experimentation and artistic dialogue between Frankenthaler, her circle and the print workshop.”
Corinne Granof highlighted The Block’s commitment to works on paper: “Frankenthaler’s prints disrupt the idea that control is essential to the printmaking process.”
The museum will host various public programs related to this exhibition including gallery tours and talks by experts such as Alexander Nemerov from Stanford University.
The initiative by the Helen Frankenthaler Foundation supports university museums with gifts of prints and funding for research. At The Block Museum, this has led to new research opportunities and interdisciplinary learning experiences.
“Pouring, Spilling, Bleeding” receives support from both the Helen Frankenthaler Foundation and The Alumnae of Northwestern University.
The Block Museum aims to drive questioning and collaboration across fields with visual arts at its core. For more information about their programs or exhibitions visit their website.