Pioneers of American Modernism: George LK Morris – Harry Holtzman

 In 2014 Harry Holtzman (1912-1987) and George L.K. Morris (1905-1975),  founding members of the American Abtract Artists are paired in an intimate 2-man exhibit,  curated by Kinney Frelinghuysen and Madalena Holtzman, and designed to evoke an informal conversation between the two artists.

George L.K. Morris Harry Holtzman Pioneers of American Modernism: Points of Contact.

Essays by T. Kinney Frelinghuysen, Madalena Holtzman, Wietse Coppes.

Catalogue published on the occasion of the exhibition from June 26 to October 12, 2014 at the Frelinghuysen Morris House & Studio, Lenox MA.

This exhibition marks also the beginning of a collaboration between the Estates of George L.K. Morris and Harry Holtzman, with support of the RKD – Netherlands Institute for Art History.

Piet Mondrian was visited in the mid-30s by both the American Artists Holtzman and Morris.

Morris bought, while  visiting  the studio of Mondrian, the painting Composition with Double Lines and Blue (B259) from 1935; Holtzman grew from his visit in December 1934 to become one of his best friends.

The collaboration aims at sharing, editing and exhibiting new historical materials related and connected to the world of abstract art of the seminal period of the 30’s and 40’s in Europe and in the USA.

Harry Holtzman, Untitled, Oil on mat 13 3/4 x 9 7/8 inches, Circa 1933

For this reason in this first show are  present also the works of other European protagonists of the time like

Jean Hélion, Cesar Domela, and Ben Nicholson.

In the exhibition is present also a watercolor on paper by Jean Harp, published on the cover of  book: The World of Abstract Art, 1957, edited by The American Abstract Artists, George Wittenborn Inc New York.

George L.K. Morris, Abstract Composition, Fresco, 44 1/4 x 36 1/2 inches, n.d.

A project, that duly enlarged and in the details curated will be evolving into a wider exhibition iniziative.

George L.K. Morris, Composition, Oil on canvas, 37×27 inches, 1944

 

Harry Holtzman, Untitled, Tempera on paper, 19×25 inches, 1934

More information here

http://www.frelinghuysen.org/

Harry Holtzman, Untitled, 1984, painted wood and stone, 83 3/4 x 31 in.

For a dutch version

http://www.mondriaan.nl/news/view/tentoonstelling_morris_holtzman