Jacqueline Herrmann Gourevitch, Cloud Painting #94, circa 1980, oil on canvas, 68 ¼ × 44 inches. Black Mountain College Collection, gift of the Artist, 2012.36.21. © Jacqueline Gourevitch. Dreamy clouds float by in this work from Jacqueline Gourevitch’s ongoing series of cloud paintings, which she started in the 1960s. Her practice of working from “observation, memory, and invention” began while she was a student at Black Mountain College in 1950 and continues today as she paints the New York cityscape and sky from high floors of skyscrapers.
LINDSEY’S TAKE
It’s interesting to know that Gourevitch paints this series from high up in tall buildings, because before reading about artwork or talking to a curator or guide, I first like to get my own impression. And when I look at this painting, I always think: Was she looking up? Was she looking out? Was she lying on the grass searching for animal shapes in the clouds? I search for animal shapes in the clouds. Do you see any? Without any horizon this sky could be anywhere, but I never thought of this as a big city sky. I like that the artist surprised me. I like when art surprises me, especially with such a seemingly simple subject matter. When has art surprised you?
~Lindsey Grossman, Communications Manager
