Clyfford Still Museum

Image still from a computer rendering of the new Clyfford Still Museum.

Last weekend I joined two art lover friends for a visit to the new Clyfford Still Museum in Denver. We arrived just as a docent tour was beginning so we joined along.

I knew nothing of this abstract expressionist painter, so it was a fabulous introduction to his life's work. The museum quickly goes through his early depictions of the physical world, then moves through a quick succession of increasingly abstract forms, simplified use of color, finally culminating in the use of empty space of blank, unbleached canvas with minimal paint applied.

I immediately thought of the empty canvas as space for spirit to come in, a natural result of his increasing interest in reducing the physical form down to delicate, airy wisps of paint.

Later that day we happened upon a talk given by Sam Scott, a contemporary of Still's. Scott spoke of this interest in spirit exactly as I had seen it. He also spoke of how Still considered his studio work as a place to learn, and was not keen on letting his work out to be seen, or sold. Eventually he came around to letting some of his work out, but he remained true to his devotion to learning as he worked in the studio.

This idea is lost in the arts today. We are so trigger happy to create pieces that go into shows and hopefully sell. We envision that some day we can make a living selling work. Clyfford made his living teaching, and he did show and sell in major galleries, but eventually he closed his studio doors and worked in privacy for many years. Most of his later works were never seen by anyone except family who came into the studio. He rolled canvases up and put them into storage where they remained until this museum was opened.

Imagine, creating hundreds of art works and never showing them to anyone! There is a certain freedom in that.

-Bonnie Lebesch

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