Altitudes, a 1978 lithograph on paper measuring 22 1/4 × 30 5/8 inches by Helen Frankenthaler is one of the pieces in the Frankenthaler Prints Initiative. Image: Georgia Museum of Art

The Georgia Museum of Art celebrates the Frankenthaler Prints Initiative gift, featuring Helen Frankenthaler’s groundbreaking prints and educational programs.

BY KAZEEM ADELEKE, ARTCENTRON

The Georgia Museum of Art at the University of Georgia has received the esteemed Frankenthaler Prints Initiative. This initiative has a commitment to enhancing education in the visual arts and art history. Included in the gift are 22 exquisite prints by Helen Frankenthaler and a generous $25,000 grant to develop an educational program centered around these remarkable works.

The museum intends to leverage this gift to do a deeper interrogation of Helen Frankenthaler’s artistic legacy. An upcoming exhibition and publication will highlight her experimental sculptural ceramics, which have significantly influenced her prints and paintings.

The collection of prints spans from 1967 to 1991 and showcases a variety of techniques. They include including lithography, etching, screen printing, aquatint, and woodcut. Remarkably, several prints feature hand additions, and 12 are trial proofs for Frankenthaler’s “Bronze Smoke.” As an collection, they provide insight into her creative process.

Frankenthaler Prints Initiative: Connecting Generations

“The gift of prints allows us to look deeper into the legacy of Helen Frankenthaler and see the ways that her work is still resonating with contemporary artists and us today,” stated Kathryn Hill, the museum’s associate curator of modern and contemporary art.

These gifts and grants from the Frankenthaler Prints Initiative will enable the Georgia Museum of Art to continue its tradition of using its collection as a vital teaching tool. Over its 75-year history, the museum has consistently integrated its works on paper into numerous University of Georgia classes. This integration allows students to engage with original works of art firsthand.

The recipients of the Frankenthaler Prints Initiative are selected for their dedication to collecting prints and utilizing them as educational resources. The foundation’s mission is to bolster visual arts through education and philanthropy. Since its inception in 2018, the initiative has spurred nine exhibitions, three academic courses, and four symposia in its first round alone. Other distinguished recipients include the Block Museum of Art, Grey Art Gallery, and Cantor Arts Center.

Helen Frankenthaler: An Artistic Legacy

Helen Frankenthaler was a pioneering American abstract painter celebrated for her soak-stain technique and innovative approach to art. Her philosophy was encapsulated in her belief that “there are no rules… that is how art is born, that is how breakthroughs happen. Go against the rules or ignore the rules, that is what invention is about.”

The Georgia Museum of Art’s participation in the Frankenthaler Prints Initiative underscores its commitment to enriching art education. But more importantly, preserving the legacy of influential artists like Helen Frankenthaler. This prestigious grant and the accompanying prints will undoubtedly enhance the museum’s educational programs and exhibitions. Above all, it will help to inspire future generations of artists and art enthusiasts.