More than Gorky's Muse - Michael (Corinne) West @ Art Resource Group

Hi everyone,  I am back from my travels (it's great to be back in the OC) and have lots to share. Some of you probably know what a huge supporter I am of female artists, so in honor of supporting my peeps I suggest you put this one in your calendar. . .   see you there!  Michael Corinne West Iguana, 1964 Painting, oil on canvas 50"x35"  Michael Corinne West: More than Gorky's Muse Art Resource Group presents premiere exhibition of Michael (Corrine) West, Gorky's fellow artist and confidante, to coincide with 'Arshile Gorky: A Retrospective' at Museum of Contemporary Art Los Angeles On view from June 5- September 30, 2010  Opening Reception : Friday June 4, 2010   5-8pm

A new look at the courageous innovations of one of Abstract Expressionism's unsung talents Newport Beach, CA - Art Resource Group is pleased to present Michael Corinne West: More than Gorky's Muse from June 5 through September 30, 2010.  This will be the first West Coast solo exhibition of works of art by Michael Corinne West, a mid-20th century American artist who was a participant in the onset of Abstract Expressionism, but whose contributions to art history have been largely overlooked. Art Resource Group has assembled a comprehensive selection of West's paintings, drawings and poetry to exhibit in retrospective format, accompanied by an illustrated catalogue.  The exhibition will run concurrently with Arshile Gorky: A Retrospective, a major summer art event at the Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles. Michael West (1908-1991) was an active figure in the avant-garde New York School, instrumental in the development of Abstract Expressionism. She made an exceptional contribution as one of the early proponents of Abstract Expressionism or Action Painting through her artwork, poetry, and friendships with the many other early members of the New York School.  The Abstract Expressionist movement was decidedly dominated by males. It was with Arshile Gorky's (Armenian-born American Abstract Expressionist Painter, 1904-1948) encouragement that Corinne West changed her name to Michael in 1941, hoping to find more opportunities in the art world under a masculine name, as did her contemporaries Grace (George) Hartigan and Lenore (Lee) Krasner.  West also turned down Gorky's repeated marriage proposals: she knew that such a union would mean forgoing her own artistic career, a sacrifice she could not make.  Give Miriam Smith a call if you have any questions (949) 640-1972 Arts Resource Group Newport Trade Center 20351 Irvine Avenue, Suite C-1 Newport Beach, CA 92660 t. 949 640 1972 f. 714 371 0103 msmith@artresourcegroup.com http://www.artnet.com/artresource.html -Joanna