Stephen
Foster was responsible for curating the European Franz Kline Retrospective
(Franz Kline: Art and the Structure of Identity) dating from 1994-1995.
The exhibition was hosted by the Fundacio Antoni Tapies (Barcelona) and
traveled to the Whitechapel Art Gallery (London), the Museo Nacional Centro
de Arte Reina Sofia (Madrid) and the Saarland Museum (Saarbrucken). The
exhibition provided an appropriate base upon which to compose a comprehensive
monograph for the artist and to initiate a much-needed catalogue of the
work. Although there is general awareness of Foster’s Franz Kline
project, this statement seeks to outline its objectives and further seeks
to enlist the support of individuals and institutions that are, or have
been, involved with Kline’s work.
The
project’s objectives involve creating a comprehensive, twofold (catalogue
and monograph) Kline publication which will concentrate on the post-1946/7
work and which would incorporate a definitive as possible cataloguing initiative
of the paintings and works on paper from the late '40's to Kline's death in
1962 (for practical purposes, the Egan and Janis years). The catalogue is regarded
as a private research affair and has no wish to represent itself as an "officially
sanctioned" catalogue raisonne, though it will make a major contribution
to any such future project. In keeping with the objectives of the project,
assistance will be drawn from experts in the ranks of academics with experience
in such publishing projects and as well as from respected artworld figures
on issues of authenticity. Information and images are managed through a sophisticated
database and image scanning technology.
Your serious participation in this project would be welcome. The cooperation and the generosity of parties providing information and reproductions of works in their collections (or works formerly in their collections) will involve some effort. However, the majority, in recognition of the need for the project, will care enough to participate seriously and assist in creating the Kline network that will be prerequisite to guaranteeing the success of the project. We are specifically concerned with information concerning Kline’s works such as dimensions, medium, signatures and inscriptions, labels, provenance, and publication and exhibition histories. All those participating are reassured that their records would be privileged and that any restrictions placed on the use of their materials would be honored.
Foster’s previous work in collaborative publishing has been extensive. Past and present publications include Foster’s general editorship of UMI Research Press' sixty volume "Avant-Garde Series"(1978-1988) and his general editorship of the G.K. Hall/Macmillan ten volume series entitled "Crisis and the Arts: A History of Dada) (1993-2004).
Any questions or suggestions you might have, including the identification of other individuals who, based on their past or present involvement with Franz Kline, would be welcomed. Widespread knowledge of the project will be essential to its success. If you are a current or former owner, or represent an institution holding Kline work in your collection, please contact me through the link provided on this site.
Stephen C. Foster, February 20, 2007
Photographs courtesy of the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofia.
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