Selected Art Writings

Art Criticism. Following The Diary of James Schuyler (declared by the New York Times as a treasure), Black Sparrow has brought out Selected Art Writings of James Schuyler, edited by poet Simon Petit, this book presents Schuyler's essays and articles composed mostly for the influential trade periodical Art News during his tenure as associate editor (1957-1962). It is a vivid composite portrait of the New York art scene of that time. This selection includes pieces on such artists as Gorky, Pollock, Rothko, Kline, Frankenthaler, Rivers, Rauschenberg and Fairfield Porter. Many articles are illustrated with photographs of the work. The selection and the precise arrangement of the notices and reviews that comprise Selected Art Writings represent a final draft of a project begun and sustained with the active engagement of the author (Simon Petter). A violet-blue, the border of the glass over the pieta, emerges as an echo, as though if you squeezed a leaf hard enough a little sky blue would ooze out. The whole thing has the musical look of a clock (Joe Brainard: Quotes and Notes). As John Ashbery has said, Schuyler is simply the best we have.