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9 p u;K 8 Fl AlMltALtH -FRIDAY. OCTOBER 17,1980 The Fi f t ies A Troubled Decade For Art Many remember the 1950's as a comfortable decade, an era of prosperity, progress and tranquility, the years of the silent generation. But for those involved in the in­ fluential New York art scene during the 1950's, it was a period of unprecedented creative turmoil and change "It was a great, tumultuous period, the fifties." art dealer Ivan Karp remembered in an oral history interview recorded by the Smithsonsian's Ar­ chives of American Art, a research center based in Washington, DC. "I was caught up in that tremend­ ous enthusiasm , when American art seemed to become so important." Responsible for this development was a style of painting called "Abstract Expressionism", America's first art movement of in­ ternational significance. Inspired by the actual Pi Renters... are you insured? 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"There was a complete abolition of form in art, the first time that's ever hap­ pened," recalled artist Jack Youngerman in another Archives of American Art taped interview Rather than setting out to paint a picture or image, these artists tried to capture the energy of the creative act itself in their work. Though ' many of these paintings now command six- figure prices, at first there was "no audience" for them and "nobody cared" about the artists, dealer Leo Castelli recounted TITe Abstract Expressionist movement, said Lee Krasner, one of its mem­ bers, "went from a handful of artists to thousands of artists, hundreds of collectors and dozens of galleries." By 1960, the world center of con­ temporary art had ef­ fectively shifted from Paris to New York, where stylistio innovation was no longer the exception but the norm. Though some artists such as Fairfield Porter and Milton Avery, both of whom are identified with the so- called "New York School", persisted in painting recognizable figures-but figures which, like the ab­ stract canvases, seemed to express emotional feeling- the decade is generally remembered for the bold, often radically abstract compositions of Jackson Pollock, Franz Kline and others creating in that vein. In a 1949 interview, available to researchers at the Archives, Pollock ex­ plained the basis of his work; whereas the classical artist expressed his world by representing ob­ jects about him, the modern artist expressed his world by the effect of objects upon him. "The modern painter", he said, "cannot express this age, the airplane, the atom bomb, the radio, in the old forms..." Others disagreed. For all its following, they viewed Abstract Expressionism as narrow and restrictive. Raphael Soyer, for instance, was so put off by the new abstraction that he had a group of artist colleagues started a new magazine entitled "Reality". Its aim was to keep the art com­ munity mindful of traditional values in art. William Kienbusch, another artist who described himself in an Archives oral history as "a man on the edge" of the New York '50s scene, expressed deep reservations about the art of the time: "It completely cut off the past, it seems to me." "Oh God, it was so over­ done at times," Kienbusch continued. "If you weren't working like that, they (the Abstract Expressionists) had no pity on you what­ soever. Except for the really outstanding artists, it was style. It was a kind of method. I think what started out to be genuine impulse became after a while a kind of deliberate shock, a business to shock the public." Still others were dismayed by much of what actually emerged during that period. "I think," artist Will Barnet recalled, "that there was a great deal of terribly sloppy painting derived from and , not the responsibility of the original creators of this movement, but in the vein of Abstract Expressionism." As with other historical periods, it is often left to the next generation to sort out what was really going on. This was curator Phyllis Rosenzweig's task when she began, three years ago, an exhibition project for the Smithsonian's Hirshhom museum and Scufpture garden in Washington, D C. "Thumbing through books," Rosenzweig said, "I noticed reproductions of paintings by Robert Ranschenberg, Helen Frankenthaler and Jasper Johns-all artists whose work I associated with the 1960s. I found myself very surprised by the dates of some of the works-- from the 1950s, a decade I had associated almost ex­ clusively with Abstract Expressionism." With more investigation, Rosenzweig realized that the New York art scene of the 1950s was indeed complex. Working at the time of the Abstract Expressionists were not just' figurative artists, but also artists who helped spur the later emergence of pop art, hard- edge abstraction and color- field painting. The New York art scene flourished as never before in the 1950's, as the inter­ national center of contemporary art. Franz Kline's untitled 1951 composition (above) epitomizes the bold, "gestural" style of Abstract Expressionism, the decade's dominant movement. And yet a strong figurative tradition persisted in the 1950's, as seen in this detail of Fairfield Porter's 1955 painting, "Katie and Anne." COAL CONVERSION Gov. Thompson's Task Force on energy Con­ servation and Coal Con­ version has proposed con­ version of select state facilities to Illinois coal use and the implementation of e n e r g y c o n s e r v a t i o n measures throughout state- operated facilities. From an analysis of 94 of the state's largest facilities with central heating plants, 16 have been initially targeted as p o t e n t i a l c o n v e r s i o n projects. If 10 of these facilities convert to coal, an estimated yearly savings of $16 million would be the result. C r, McHBNFfY McHENRY 385 0144 ALL SEATS $|00 Bargain Mat. Sat. A Sen. •ill 5 PM Burt Reynolds Sally Fields SAT. & SAT. 2.304:30-79 FRI. ft M0N. THURS. 79 SHOWPLACE CRYSTAL LAKE 1-2-3-4 815-455-2000 815.455-1005 ADULTS $2.50, CHILD (11 • under) FREE OPEN FRIDAY-SATURDAY- SUNDAY ONLY SCHIZOID. *» THE DAY AFTER HALLOWEEN. SHOWPLACE 5 DOLBY STEREO •• ORDINARY PEOPLEr Fll. t SAT. 1:4546:30 *11 SUN THRU THUDS 1:454«»9 HOPSCOTCHr Fll. I SIT. 24^:454 4510:45 SUN IHKU THUDS 2-4445445 MY BODYGUARD* FDI. t SAT. 2:1547 9-1045 SUN. THRU THUDS 2:1547 9 OH,GOD! BOOK Hi SAT. ISM. 2*431 71 Fll. I MM. TMU IMS . 71 PRIVATE BENJAMIN R FDI. t SAT 2:3043tt.3M:»»J0 SUN. THRU THUDS. $1.50 BARSAM MATINEE AT SP 1-1-0-4 MOM. TURN FRI. UNTIL S PM. $1.50 BARCAIN MATINEE AT SP 1-2-3-4-5 SAT. t SUN. UNTIL 2:30 PM. ADULTS $3.00 YOUNS A MILTS (12- l«) $2.00 CHILD (I I I UNDER) $1.50 ADULTS $2.50, CHILD (111 under) FREE OPEN FRIDAY-SATURDAY SUNDAY ONLY 7.30 SUPER VIXENS R 9*i CHERRY, HARRY, IRAQUELR IO* THE VIXENS R Workshop Session For "Keywomen Educators" Mrs. Nancy Tober, newly- elected president of Alpha Theta chapter, Delta Kappa Gamma International Society, presided over the first meeting of the bien- nium. The meeting was held at Canterbury school, Crystal Lake, recently. Ruth Beard and Margaret Nienstedt, co-chairmen of the Program committee, designated this first meeting as a workshop session. Chapter members made plans to fulfill the year's program theme, "Selecting the Design: Designing Quality Living." Program highlights of the year include a progress report of the Crisis center, an update on the Teachers' Retirement system, estate planning for women, and a special Christmas musical program. A memorial service for Mrs. Lucille Scott, a retired teacher from Harvard, was conducted by Mrs. Jeanne Ludwig, Miss Delores Kruger, and Mrs. Pat Seaton, all from McHenry. Chapter members restated their intention of continuing financial support for ' Vernia Swenson's educational expenses. Miss Swenson has been the recipient of the chapter's scholarship the past three years. Delta Kappa Gamma is an international organization of "key women educators". As leaders they are referred to as "architects of the future". Their yearly projects, ac­ tivities, and ac­ complishments all help to achieve that status. Lite Health Auio Haw WEEKLY SPECIALS PRICES GOOD: FRIDAY, OCT. 17-THURSDAY, OCT. RC COLA & ktc lOfli SERVICE TRASH CAH LIHERS NABISCO SHACK CRACKERS SHURFRESH BACOH 1 LB. 8-16 OZ. BOTTLES 48 COUNT PLUS DEP I I 500" XL WIHDSHIELD •WASHER! CITGO MOTOR OIL 10W30 & 10W40 CITFIFL AHTI-FREEZE JO QUART CASE $11.40 GALLON GALLON II ASSORTED CANDY BARS WHITECLOUD BATHROOM TISSOE MERKT'S CHEESE SPREAO ASSORTED COLORS c 16 OZ. TUB OR 20' EACH 4 PACK FROZEN PIZZAS SNACKS & CHIPS ^ *MILK & EGGS •ICE SUNDRY ITEMS •COOKIES || MON. FRI. 6 TO 10 SAT. 710, SUN. 810 4502 W. RTE. 120 McHENRY. IL CITGO PRICES SUBJECT TO SUPPLY ALL ITEMS PLUS TAX McHENRY 90* F r o n t St 385-3232 Courthouse Squares FIGHTING INFLATION with INSULATION SALE! SALE! SALE! SALE! SALE! Perma-Cell Insulation (WOOD CELLULOSE) *650 ,J30 LB. BAG OR $625 WITH COPY OF THIS ADVERTISEMENT-- SALE OFFER EXPIRES OCTOBER 31 OREN Professional Type Blower $20 per day with insulation. $25 per day without insulation ED'S RENTAL 4 SALES. INC. OPEN DAILY 7:30 • 6 SUNDAYS 9• 1 CRYSTAL LAKE 5407 Terra Cotlo Ave (Hwy. 176) 455-3232 Vaccines Halt Ills The current popular em­ phasis in health care is posi­ tive health programs and preventive medicine. Positive health programs for the most part are up to you. Keep your weight down, exercise regularly, eat a wide variety of foods in moderation, don't smoke, use alcohol sparingly, seek a healthy menta^ approach to stress. But preventive medicine involves your doctor and in­ cludes immunizations. Of course, here again it's up to you to go to the doctor and ask about immunizations. But he or she will give them. Immunization is a price­ less health asset, says a pamphlet from the Ameri­ can Medical Association. Vaccines to • prevent diphtheria, tetanus and typhoid fever have been available for many years. The smallpox vaccine worked so well that the dis­ ease has been eliminated, and this vaccination no longer is needed. Whooping cough, polio and flu vaccines were added in later years. And now we have vaccines to protect TAXES HERE IT DOESN'T HELP MV EGO ANY TO <N THAT COFFEE IS WORTH MORE POUND THAN I AM / against measles, German measles and mumps. Diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (whooping cough) is given in one dose, begin­ ning as early as age two months, with occasional booster doses. Polio vaccine also is given starting at two months, with boosters later. German measles (rubella) is given after one year of age and boosters probably are not needed. Mumps also is given at the age of one year, as is measles (rubeola). Typhoid vaccine is given only when needed, during exposure to unsafe water supplies. This vaccine is not given routinely in the United States. Influenza vaccine is rec­ ommended annually for per­ sons with chronic debilitat­ ing conditions. It is not given to those who are hypersensi­ tive to eggs. A pneumococ- cus vaccine is also available now to protect the elderly and chronically ill against pneumonia. For foreign travel, other vaccinations may be rec­ ommended, such as yellow fever, plague, cholera and typhus. Local health de­ partments or your doctor can give details. Prevention of disease through immunization is a personal health responsibil­ ity. Every family is respon­ sible for the adequate pro­ tection of its own mem­ bers against those diseases for which immunization is available. Your doctor can give the shots only if you go and ask. GARDEN Aechmea The aechmea plant comes from the bromelaid family and receives most of its nourish­ ment through its leaf surfaces rather than through the root system. The overlapped, gray- green leaves, in a rosette shape, form an open funnel in the center. The flower spike arises from the center of the funnel shaped leaves and will last for several months. After bloom­ ing, the plant will send up new shoots from its base then grad­ ually weaken. The plant will only bloom one time. Aechmeas require a loose, porous soil free from lime. An ideal mixture for the soil can be made by mixing pine needles, leaf mold, peat and sand. They prefer a bright and moderately warm area. Avoid placing them in the di­ rect sunlight or where they will be exposed to draughts. Water sparingly in the win­ ter months and increase the amount of water in the spring and summer. Allow the water to seep through the cup formed by the leaves. The new shoots that arise at the base of the plant can be detached and repotted. They in turn will have a flower of their own.