On the occasion of the 100th birthday anniversary celebration of Esphyr Slobodkina the Slobodkina Foundation in association with the Heckscher Museum, presented a major traveling retrospective entitled Rediscovering Slobodkina: A Pioneer of American Abstraction. The retrospective commemorated the life and work of this pioneer in the development of abstract art, founding member of the American Abstract Artists, and author of the classic children’s book, Caps for Sale.
Sandra Kraskin, director of the Sidney Mishkin Gallery at Baruch College, curated the show. The exhibition spanned Slobodkina’s entire career, from her earliest artistic efforts of the 1920s to her final sculpture finished at age 93. Seventy-five objects representing the best of Slobodkina’s oeuvre were on view at four locations in the United States.
Works on loan included noteworthy pieces from the Smithsonian American Art Museum, Metropolitan Museum of Art, Philadelphia Museum of Art, Grey Art Gallery, Naples Museum of Art, Hillwood Art Museum, the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, The Grey Gallery at NYU, New Britain Museum of Art, Samuel P. Harn Museum, and Whitney Museum of Art.
“Rediscovering Slobodkina: A Pioneer of American Abstraction” offered a posthumous tribute to a remarkable creative personality who tirelessly honed her craft for more than eight decades.
Slobodkina’s numerous significant contributions to the development of American abstraction have begun to accrue more recognition in recent years. Caps for Sale, an established classic of children’s literature, is quite probably Slobodkina’s most widely known work.
The centennial exhibition and accompanying publication provided a forum for Slobodkina’s work to be seen by a whole new audience who experienced the full scope of her achievements – which stretch far beyond the conception and execution of illustrated stories to include painting, sculpture, architectural design, couture dressmaking, jewelry-making, and writing. By presenting a comprehensive survey of her life and art, the depths of Esphyr Slobodkina’s contribution to today’s community was brought to light.
A 164-page comprehensive catalog accompanied the exhibition.
About the catalog:
The catalog’s purpose is three-fold: to provide a comprehensive survey of Slobodkina’s oeuvre, to review her career as an author and illustrator, and to provide a biographical portrait of the artist as a person.
Part One is dedicated to the exhibition and includes critical essays by Sandra Kraskin and Karen Cantor. Dr. Kraskin wrote her dissertation on Esphyr Slobodkina’s first husband, Ilya Bolotowsky; she had the unique experience of meeting and interviewing Slobodkina at length in the 1970s. In her essay, Dr. Kraskin seeks to redefine our understanding of Slobodkina’s role in the American abstract art movement. Ms. Cantor’s essay specifically addresses Slobodkina’s sculptural work, positing that her three-dimensional constructions are among the earliest examples of assemblage art in the United States.
Because a full survey of Slobodkina’s accomplishments would be incomplete without attention to her notable contributions to children’s literature, Part Two offers a look at Slobodkina’s career as an author and illustrator. Covers of her twenty-two children’s books, many of them out of print, are reproduced in full color. Full-page illustrations from Slobodkina’s favorite children’s books are also included.
In his essay, noted children’s book historian and critic Leonard Marcus, who met and interviewed Slobodkina in the 1980s, demonstrates that Slobodkina’s illustrations – although representational – are grounded in modernist principles of design. In another essay, Antonia Markiet, Senior Executive Editor at HarperCollins Children’s Books, recollects her experiences working with Slobodkina from the perspective of a publishing industry professional.
Part Three presents a biographical sketch of Esphyr Slobodkina with excerpts from her 1100-page autobiography and personal reminiscences of Ann Marie Sayer, Slobodkina’s friend and assistant for eight years.
Tour Dates
| Venue | Dates |
| Heckscher Museum of Art, Huntington, NY | Jan 10, 2009 – March 24, 2009 |
| Samuel P. Harn Museum of Art, Gainesville, FL | June 16, 2009 – September 6th, 2009 |
| Naples Museum of Art, Naples, FL | October 1, 2009 – December 29, 2009 |
| Sheldon Museum of Art, Lincoln, Nebraska | January 26, 2010 – April 18, 2010 |
Checklist
| Title | Year | Medium | Dimensions | Collection |
| Park Bench in Harbin | 1927 | Oil on cardboard | 8 5/8 x 12 3/4″ | Heckscher Museum of Art, Gift of the Artist (1997.012.001) |
| Autumnal Procession in Ancient Russia | ca. 1929-31 | Oil on etched shellac-coated glass | 8 x 15 7/8″ | Heckscher Museum of Art, Gift of the Artist (1997.012.004) |
| Self Portrait | 1932 | Oil on canvas | 27 x 12″ | Courtesy Kraushaar Galleries, New York |
| Ilya | 1933 | Oil on canvas | 15 5/8 x 14 3/4″ | Heckscher Museum of Art, Gift of the Artist (1997.012.012) |
| Cornelia Street Bedroom | 1933 | Oil on canvas | 21 x 16 1/2″ | Collection of the Slobodkina Foundation |
| Flowers in the Sink | 1934 | Oil on canvas | 20 x 16 1/8″ | Collection of the Slobodkina Foundation |
| John Cheevers’ Studio, Yaddo | 1934 | Oil on panel | 9.5 x 12″ | Heckscher Museum of Art, Gift of the Artist (1997.012.009) |
| Studio Table | 1934 | Oil on board | 15 x 17″ | Hillwood Art Museum, Long Island University. |
| The Sink | ca. 1934-5 | Oil on canvas | 27 x 16″ | Heckscher Museum of Art, Gift of the Artist (1997.012.013) |
| Construction No. 3 | 1935 | Mixed media collage/construction | 24 x 32″ | Naples Museum of Art, Naples, Florida |
| Boat Construction | 1935 | Mixed media collage/construction | 14.25 x 25.25″ | Naples Museum of Art, Naples, Florida |
| Latest Styles for Unemployed Men and Women | ca. 1936 | Pencil on manila paper | 8 1/4 x 10″ | Collection of the Slobodkina Foundation |
| Angelo Herndon Petition | 1936 | Oil on canvas | 20 x 28 1/8″ | Collection of the Slobodkina Foundation |
| The Pot-Bellied Stove | ca. 1936-7 | Oil on canvas | 35 x 24″ | The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Purchase, Clarence Y. Palitz Jr. Gift, 1985. (1985.30.2) |
| Boat Abstraction | 1938 | Oil on masonite | 24 1/4″ x 40″ | Naples Museum of Art, Naples, Florida |
| Mural Sketch No. 1 | ca. 1938 | Oil on gesso on composition board | 9 1/2 x 23 1/2″ | Samuel P. Harn Museum of Art, University of Florida, Gainesville |
| Abstraction with Red Circle | ca. 1938 | Oil on canvas | 28 x 12″ | New Britain Museum of American Art |
| Night | 1938 | Paper collage | 16 1/4 x 12 1/4″ | Collection of the Slobodkina Foundation |
| Tabletop Gazelle | 1938 | Wood construction | 24 1/2 x 11 3/4 x 18 1/2″ | Collection of the Slobodkina Foundation |
| The Derelict | 1938 | Wood construction | 39 x 30 x 8 1/2″ | Collection of the Slobodkina Foundation |
| Composition | ca. 1940 | Oil on gesso on masonite panel | 12 1/4 x 9 1/4″ | Philadelphia Museum of Art, A.E. Gallatin Collection |
| “Caps for Sale” original illustration | ca. 1940 | Paint and paper collage | 7 x 51/2″ | Collection of the Slobodkina Foundation |
| “Caps for Sale” original illustration | ca. 1940 | Paint and paper collage | 7 x 51/2″ | Collection of the Slobodkina Foundation |
| Monochrome in Gray | ca. 1942 | Oil on gesso on masonite | 15 x 29.5″ | Courtesy Kraushaar Galleries, New York |
| Crossroad #2 | ca. 1942-5 | Oil on fiberboard | 43 1/2 x 33 1/2″ | Smithsonian American Art Museum |
| Crossroads | 1943 | Oil on board | 35 x 27″ | Naples Museum of Art, Naples, Florida |
| Tamara Abstraction | 1945 | Oil with mixed media attachments on wood board | 19 1/2 x 41 1/2″ | Museum of Fine Arts, Boston |
| Crossroads | 1948 | Paper and foil collage | 5 x 7″ | Collection of the Slobodkina Foundation |
| Shopping Industry | 1948 | Mixed media on fabric | 7 x 5″ | Courtesy Kraushaar Galleries, New York |
| The Spangles | 1948 | Mixed media collage | 5 x 7″ | Collection of the Slobodkina Foundation |
| The Small Familiar Personage | 1949 | Metal and wood construction on wood base | 10 1/4 x 7 1/4 x 4″ | Courtesy Kraushaar Galleries, New York |
| Circuit in Pink (Hytron Abstraction) | 1950 | Acrylic on paper | 13 x 11″ | Heckscher Museum of Art, Gift of the Artist (1997.012.026) |
| Circuit in Yellow (Hytron Abstraction) | 1950 | Acrylic on paper | 13 x 11″ | Heckscher Museum of Art, Gift of the Artists (1997.012.027) |
| Elements of Music | 1950 | Oil on gesso on board | 32 x 46 1/2″ | Collection of Nahama Walsey Reinherz |
| The Levitator | ca. 1950 | Oil on gesso on plywood | 25 x 35″ | Courtesy Kraushaar Galleries, New York |
| Turboprop Skyshark | 1950 | Oil on gesso board | 16 x 50 1/2″ | Courtesy Kraushaar Galleries, New York |
| Japanese Abstraction | ca. 1950-3 | Oil on gesso board | 54 x 38 1/2″ | Collection of Emmy van Stolk and Elam Lantz |
| Abstraction with Black Shape | 1952 | Oil on gesso on masonite | 38 1/4 x 27″ | Collection of Nahama Walsey Reinherz |
| Composition with White Ovals | 1952 | Oil on composition board | 34 1/2 x 20 3/4″ | Whitney Museum of American Art, New York |
| Monochrome in Pink | 1953 | Oil on masonite | 42 1/2 x 37 7/16″ | Heckscher Museum of Art, Gift of Mr. Dohn Samuel Schildkraut (2005.004) |
| Monochrome in Yellow | ca. 1953 | Oil on gesso on masonite | 30 1/2 x 43 1/4″ | Heckscher Museum of Art, Gift of Dohn Samuel Schildkraut (1997.012.022) |
| Composition in an Oval | ca. 1953 | Oil on gesso board | 32 1/2 x 61 1/2″ | Grey Art Gallery, New York University Art Collection, Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Irving Walsey 1962.19 |
| Escape No. 2 | 1960 | Mixed media construction | 12 x 9.5 x 18″ | Collection of the Slobodkina Foundation |
| Typewriter Bird | 1960-1 | Mixed media construction | 17 1/2 x 15 1/2 x 7 1/2″ | Heckscher Museum of Art, Gift of the Artist (1997.012.061) |
| Deus Ex Machina (oil study) | 1961 | Oil on gesso on masonite | 10 x 12 1/4″ | Collection of the Slobodkina Foundation |
| A Triptych in Old Rose | 1964 | Oil on canvas | 51x 49″ | Hillwood Art Museum, Long Island University. |
| Monochrome in Beige | 1968 | Oil on gesso board | 45 1/2 x 40 3/4″ | Collection of the Slobodkina Foundation |
| Boat Building (original working drawing) | ca. late 1960s or early 1970s | Pencil on paper | 16 1/4 x 11 3/4″ | Collection of the Slobodkina Foundation |
| Boat Building (oil sketch) | ca. late 1960s or early 1970s | Oil on gesso on masonite | 12 x 13 5/8″ | Heckscher Museum of Art, Gift of the Artist (1997.012.09) |
| Abstraction with Pierced Shapes (oil sketch) | 1975 | Oil on gesso on masonite | 10 1/8 x 15 7/8″ | Heckscher Museum of Art, Gift of the Artist (1997.012.028) |
| Inner Sanctum | 1978 | Oil on canvas | 41 3/4 x 24″ | Hillwood Art Museum, Long Island University. |
| Journey into Future | 1978 | Oil on gesso on canvas | 48 x 48″ | Collection of the Slobodkina Foundation |
| Subzero Technology (Work study) | Date unknown. | Black and white magazine clipping | 4 x 3 3/4″ | Collection of the Slobodkina Foundation |
| Subzero Technology (Work study) | 1978 | Pencil on tissue paper | 4 1/2 x 9 1/2″ | Collection of the Slobodkina Foundation |
| Journey into Unknown (Work study) | ca. 1978-1982 | Oil on canvas board | 5 3/4 x 5 3/4″ | Collection of the Slobodkina Foundation |
| Journey into Unknown (Work study) | ca. 1978-1982 | Oil on canvas board | 5 x 5″ | Collection of the Slobodkina Foundation |
| Subzero Technology (Work study) | ca. 1978-1982 | Oil on canvas board | 10 1/2 x 6″ | Collection of the Slobodkina Foundation |
| Black Crosses | 1982 | Oil on canvas on masonite | 13 1/4 x 7 3/4″ | Collection of the Slobodkina Foundation |
| Still Life with Balalaika | 1985 | Oil on canvas | 22 x 38″ | Hillwood Art Museum, Long Island University. |
| Peacock Garden | 1986 | Oil on linen on masonite | 12 x 38″ | Collection of the Slobodkina Foundation |
| Within the Mysterious Parameters of Privileged Information | 1988 | Mixed media construction | 29 1/2 x 23 1/2 x 20″ | Hillwood Art Museum, Long Island University. |
| The Sadly Sagging Educational Spiral | 1988 | Mixed media construction | 10 1/2 x 11 3/8 x 9″ | Heckscher Museum of Art, Gift of the Artist (1997.012.060) |
| Trophy No.1 | 1988 | Mixed media wall construction | 9 1/2 x 6 x 3 1/4″ | Collection of the Slobodkina Foundation |
| Trophy No.2 | 1988 | Mixed media wall construction | 10 x 4 x 2 1/2″ | Collection of the Slobodkina Foundation |
| Triangle in an Oval | 1989 | Oil on gesso board | 11 x 12 3/4″ | Courtesy Kraushaar Galleries, New York |
| The Last Countdown (preparatory work) | 1990 | Mixed media collage | 5 1/4 x 19 1/2″ | Heckscher Museum of Art, Gift of the Artist (1997.012.036) |
| Vortex Study | 1991 | Pencil on graph paper on paper board | 8 1/4 x 8 1/2″ | Collection of the Slobodkina Foundation |
| Vortex No.2 | 1991 | Oil on masonite | 48 x 48″ | Heckscher Museum of Art, Gift of the Artist (1997.012.023) |
| Flying Objects Immobilized | 1998 | Oil on gesso board with pen and ink | 10 1/4 x 19 1/2″ | Collection of the Slobodkina Foundation |
| Thrust Trophy No.3 | 1998 | Mixed media wall construction | 8 1/2 x 7 3/4 x 5 1/2″ | Collection of the Slobodkina Foundation |
| Ahead with Fair Winds No. 2 | 2001 | Mixed media construction | 23 1/2 x 10 1/4 x 11 1/2″ | Collection of Ann Marie and Scott Sayer |