Artists You Should Know: Helen Frankenthaler

George Jacobson wrote and asked if I would please consider featuring one of his favorite artists, Helen Frankenthaler. Happy to comply, George, and thank you for the suggestion. I think Ms. Frankenthaler is witty and brilliant, and her work always makes me visualize a Beat generation writer - only with an open can of paint. As a product of the 50's myself, I think it's splendid that she had the confidence to create something new and exciting - and so non-conformist - in an era where housewives dressed in heels to vacuum, women wore mandatory girdles and other such "female" social norms that look really annoying from here. Way to go, Helen! (grinning)