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The Spirit of Abstract Expressionism: Selected Writings
Includes 29 critical essays, most published in ArtNews 1949-1989, and previously unpublished selections from journals and letters
- GenresArtArt History
238 pages, Hardcover
First published February 1, 1994
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About the author
Rose Slivka
16 booksRose Slivka, a writer, critic and editor and a major figure in the advancement of crafts as a serious artistic discipline in the United States, died on Thursday (September 2004) in Southampton, N.Y. She was 85 and lived in Springs, N.Y.
As the editor in chief and a writer for the magazine Craft Horizons from 1959 to 1979, Ms. Slivka helped define the philosophy of crafts and the terms in which they were discussed at a time when the field was experiencing fast-growing popularity and professionalism. She favored a shift away from emphasis on traditional skills and techniques and toward more innovative forms of creative expression.
For example, she championed the sculpture of Peter Voulkos, whose monumental and aggressively energetic work in clay has been compared to Abstract Expressionist painting. She wrote a book about the artist, "Peter Voulkos: A Dialogue With Clay" (New York Graphic Society, 1978).
Rose Charlotte Schiffer was born in New York City on Jan. 9, 1919. She received a degree in English from Hunter College in 1941, after which she worked as a writer and editor for a number of magazines and newspapers before starting with Craft Horizons. In 1980, after Craft Horizons stopped publication, Ms. Slivka started a quarterly called Craft International, but it lasted only a few issues.
In 1979 Ms. Slivka was named an honorary fellow of the American Craft Council. She later received honorary degrees from the Rhode Island School of Design and the Massachusetts College of Art.
In the mid-1980's Ms. Slivka moved to Springs, on Long Island, permanently and became the art critic for The East Hampton Star. She continued to write reviews and articles for The Star until illness forced her to stop last year.
Ms. Slivka's marriage to the sculptor David Slivka ended in divorce. She is survived by her daughter, of New York and East Hampton, and a grandchild.
As the editor in chief and a writer for the magazine Craft Horizons from 1959 to 1979, Ms. Slivka helped define the philosophy of crafts and the terms in which they were discussed at a time when the field was experiencing fast-growing popularity and professionalism. She favored a shift away from emphasis on traditional skills and techniques and toward more innovative forms of creative expression.
For example, she championed the sculpture of Peter Voulkos, whose monumental and aggressively energetic work in clay has been compared to Abstract Expressionist painting. She wrote a book about the artist, "Peter Voulkos: A Dialogue With Clay" (New York Graphic Society, 1978).
Rose Charlotte Schiffer was born in New York City on Jan. 9, 1919. She received a degree in English from Hunter College in 1941, after which she worked as a writer and editor for a number of magazines and newspapers before starting with Craft Horizons. In 1980, after Craft Horizons stopped publication, Ms. Slivka started a quarterly called Craft International, but it lasted only a few issues.
In 1979 Ms. Slivka was named an honorary fellow of the American Craft Council. She later received honorary degrees from the Rhode Island School of Design and the Massachusetts College of Art.
In the mid-1980's Ms. Slivka moved to Springs, on Long Island, permanently and became the art critic for The East Hampton Star. She continued to write reviews and articles for The Star until illness forced her to stop last year.
Ms. Slivka's marriage to the sculptor David Slivka ended in divorce. She is survived by her daughter, of New York and East Hampton, and a grandchild.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
July 30, 2020
Some gems in here.
January 23, 2025
My interest varied from piece to piece but I can't deny she was actually a really good writer.
April 25, 2022
This book is a fabulous selection of essays Elaine de Kooning wrote for the Art News journal between 1948 and 1988. De Kooning was hired by editor Tom Hess to give readers an inside perspective on art works, exhibitions and the artists given de Kooning was herself an artist and an insider with the burgeoning group (at the time of her hire) of artists known as the Abstract Expressionists. The essays are marvelous; they provide unique insights and perspectives on artworks and the artists—their technique, style motivation and personality. Scholars often question if an artist’s viewpoint or personality really matters when considering his or her work. I’d argue it does and after reading de Kooning’s essays one sees why.
Some of the highlights are essays on: Hans Hoffman, David Smith and one comparing the works of Edwin Dickinson and Frederick Kiesler—both who are very different in style but whose works were shown together in MOMA’s 1953 exhibition, 15 Americans . Another, about mosaic artist Jeanne Reynal, is different from the other artists portrayed; De Kooning delves into Reynal’s technique in creating mosaic works and sculptures with glass tiles. Reynal is the only female artist featured in the essay collection.
De Kooning’s essays were (and are) important; they gave a voice to the movement. Unlike others, there was no manifesto, theoretical principles to adhere to or a leader prescribing the way. De Kooning’s writings helped define Abstract Expressionism as only an artist could.
This book is hard to get hold of; I borrowed it from my local library via an interlibrary loan from a local university. If interested you can try the Worldcat database to find it in a library near you https://www.worldcat.org.
Some of the highlights are essays on: Hans Hoffman, David Smith and one comparing the works of Edwin Dickinson and Frederick Kiesler—both who are very different in style but whose works were shown together in MOMA’s 1953 exhibition, 15 Americans . Another, about mosaic artist Jeanne Reynal, is different from the other artists portrayed; De Kooning delves into Reynal’s technique in creating mosaic works and sculptures with glass tiles. Reynal is the only female artist featured in the essay collection.
De Kooning’s essays were (and are) important; they gave a voice to the movement. Unlike others, there was no manifesto, theoretical principles to adhere to or a leader prescribing the way. De Kooning’s writings helped define Abstract Expressionism as only an artist could.
This book is hard to get hold of; I borrowed it from my local library via an interlibrary loan from a local university. If interested you can try the Worldcat database to find it in a library near you https://www.worldcat.org.
December 10, 2014
Fascinating essays on a variety of American artists from the 1930-60s. An amazing writer, thinker, woman!! Her depth of art history and her ability to voice opinions in an easy to grasp, yet complex referential mode is amazing. Highly recommend reading for context to the period she was living in as a NY artist and writer.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews