For ecogradients

From Cynthia Dantzic

On the Relationship Between Growth (artistic) and Debt (mine):

As usual, the seemingly enigmatic theme of this issue appeared  impenetrable at first, yet, on further reflection, and spurred by the passing into the great and unknown beyond of one of the iconic figures in 20^th Century art at the age of 101, Will Barnet, the relationship between my own growth as an artist and the incalculable debt I owe to him, through his teaching, his work and his unflagging eloquence, made sudden sense.

On the morning of Saturday, the tenth of November this Fall, while I was helping to install the Annual exhibition of the Society of Scribes at New York’s National Arts Club. Will, who resided at the club for many years, passing by in his wheelchair, stopped to say hello and to see what I was doing. I had been a student of his long ago, and had remained in touch with him over the years, even including his work in a recent book, “100 New York Painters,” for which I had made his portrait, and showed a number of his major works, as his style of painting had grown through the decades.

Often, when I had works in exhibitions at the NAC in photography, calligraphy or other mediums, Will would stop by and I would make a photograph of him in front of the piece. Recently it had been a large woodcut , “Do Shapes Create Edges or do Edges Create Shapes?” from a book called “What Can You See?”.

This time, I was delighted to show him a new work in Chinese calligraphy, and as he wheeled over to get a closer look, I thought I’d make a snapshot to record the event. Just one more in a continuing series, or so I believed. Will seemed pleased with the work, and said he’d try to come to our opening reception on Tuesday the 13^th. 

On Tuesday morning, the 13^th of November 2012, Will Barnet passed away.

It may well be that the photograph accompanying this brief essay is the last photograph ever taken of him. There is no way I will ever be able to express the debt I owe to this splendid man who was my teacher, my inspiration and a major source of my own growth as an artist and as a teacher. Growth and debt, inextricably bound together, captured for a brief moment in this image.

Cynthia Maris Dantzic