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Post #898 • November 1, 2006, 12:36 PM • 22 Comments

Urgent work needed doing on the Walter Darby Bannard Archive, which occasioned the opportunity to install his 1995 catalogue essay for George Bethea at Dorsch Gallery, and his 1987 appreciation of Clement Greenberg, The Unconditional Aesthete. Both have received only cursory proofreads, so send corrections by e-mail. I remember that show of George's like it was yesterday, and how blown away we all were by it. He's still producing excellent work.

Comment

1.

Jack

November 1, 2006, 6:24 PM

Thanks for the essay on Greenberg. Highly recommended.

2.

brice

November 1, 2006, 9:27 PM

like the 1995 work

3.

jacko

November 1, 2006, 9:48 PM

[Obnoxiously long links to bad art removed. - F.]

4.

jacko

November 1, 2006, 10:13 PM

sorry
i just couldnt believe it

5.

Franklin

November 1, 2006, 10:41 PM

I know, we live in strange times.

6.

jacko

November 1, 2006, 11:50 PM

franklin
Phillips de Pury has him ESTIMATE: $ 150,000-200,000

7.

Marc Country

November 2, 2006, 12:37 AM

The two volumes under consideration here include just about everything Greenberg wrote in the '40s, with a helpful note here and there from the editor. The index is excellent. The titles were chosen by the editor; that of the first volume, Perceptions and Judgements, is appropriate; that of the second, Arrogant Purpose, taken from a phrase Greenberg wrote about Matisse, is not. I think Art and Culture should be read before these but certainly not in their place.

So, this is a review of the first two volumes of the 'Collected Essays and Criticism', then? Could we get an explanatory note to that effect?

8.

Marc Country

November 2, 2006, 12:53 AM

"Those who attack Greenberg broadly first get him wrong and then flog their own misunderstanding"

Testify! Can I get an 'amen'?

9.

Marc Country

November 2, 2006, 1:10 AM

"In the end, it all boils down to Formalism or Pop Art"
... or, avant garde and kitsch, you might say...

10.

ahab

November 2, 2006, 2:01 AM

Really really good essay. Thank you Mr. Bannard, and thank you Franklin. Twenty years old you say? Reads nearly as much like it was written in direct response to the call for submissions released last week by the current assistant curator at the Art Gallery of Alberta (nee: EAG).

MC happens to have a studiosavant post on this in the works. Ready, MC?

11.

ahab

November 2, 2006, 2:08 AM

And hallelujah amen.

12.

Sneekie Piet

November 2, 2006, 7:19 AM

No.

13.

opie

November 2, 2006, 7:23 AM

Marc has a good point in #7. As I recall the first 2 volumes came out well ahead of the second 2, and contained most of the writimg up to 1950.

14.

eraw

November 2, 2006, 8:03 AM

best painting, best writing around

15.

serious painter

November 2, 2006, 8:19 AM

I like these paintings quite a bit, especially the latest. The writing is wonderful as well. Where can I see these

16.

max

November 2, 2006, 9:04 AM

did greenburg read bannard's writing or see bethea's paintings

17.

Franklin

November 2, 2006, 9:09 AM

Greenberg is on the record praising Bannard's paintings, and I believe his writings as well. They were longtime friends. I believe Greenberg would have had the chance to visit George's studio in Miami shortly before he died in 1994, but I don't know that he was able to do so.

18.

Marc Country

November 2, 2006, 10:04 AM

Put me on record as praising Bethea's paintings as well... I checked out his page last night, and it might have just been the liquor talking, but there were quite a few pieces I wanted to hump.

19.

opie

November 2, 2006, 10:33 AM

Damn, Marc. That's what I call Pure Esthetic Appreciation.

20.

michelle

November 2, 2006, 12:53 PM

beautiful work, especially the color of the latest series. Bannard's writing is clear and to the point ,very readable, which is unusual for art writing. Thanks for the greenburg link

21.

Bethea

November 2, 2006, 3:50 PM

I did meet Clement Greenburg in 1993. i took some work up to New York for a group show and was able to bring 2 or 3 pieces to his apartment before it was hung. We turned the paintings around to see which way was best. We talked for quite a while but he never really said very much about the painting. He'd say something like, there's some good painting in there and he'd point to a painting. I remember he said something like that in reference to a small green picture. I pressed him because i wanted to know how good he thought they were and how they compared to Olitski's . He said inf a gruff voice " they're not as good as Olitski's yet " . I won't ever forget that short meeting. He had an incredibly pure eye and is the greatest art writer I've ever read. I'd would have loved to have known him better. I like to just hang out, look at and talk about art. I think that's what also liked best.

22.

Marc Country

November 2, 2006, 11:01 PM

"I remember he said something like that in reference to a small green picture. "

See! It IS possible to make a good green abstract painting... Clem said so!

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