Bringing the Art to You Week #38 "Shape and Sympathy” , New York Times , Sunday May, 6, 195 6 Newspaper clipping. Bongé Family Archives This is one of the reviews Dusti Bongé received of her first solo exhibit at the Betty Parsons Gallery in 1956. Considering how at times critics can be less than kind, this is a very positive review. In the competitive and even outright combative climate of the New York art world, getting a good review was a remarkable achievement. This critic describes quite well what Dusti’s abstract work from that time looked like. Referring to some of her works as being of "considerable authority and inventiveness", is indeed a compliment. The writer appreciates her formal compositions, her use of color, and her juxtaposing of light and dark. It should be noted that there is no attempt at drawing comparisons to other painters, some of whom were Dusti’s friends, and who worked in the same abstract expressionist style. This shows that Dusti’s work stood (and still stands) on its own. In fact, Dusti herself always preferred working from her home in Biloxi precisely for this reason, it allowed her the independence she needed to pursue her painting in her own way, without pressure and influences from the art world, or market demands. Dusti must have been pleased with the genuinely complimentary observations, and the broad recognition this show was gaining her. She continued on to have 4 more solo shows at Betty Parsons, as well as more and more shows across the country. The work below is quite possibly one of the paintings shown in the 1956 show. Have you seen this work? Do you or someone you know have this work in their collection? If so, we would love to hear from you. We are continually working to maintain as complete a record as possible, and to determine the location of all of Dusti Bongé's work. If you have information on this, or other works, you can contact us at
[email protected] We appreciate receiving any referrals to the existence and whereabouts of artworks by Dusti Bongé. Thank you. You can now view some of these works on our website: https://www.dustibonge.org/missing-works.html Available in our store: The definitive volume on artist Dusti Bongé, by J. Richard Gruber Dusti Bongé, Art and Life: Biloxi, New Orleans, New York Hard bound, 12” x 9”, 350 pages, over 500 color and b&w illustrations Limited edition lithographs of two original Dusti Bongé drawings. Shrimp Boats & Factories, Back Bay Biloxi I and Shrimp Boats & Factories, Back Bay Biloxi II 12” x 16” drawing, 15” x 22” paper size https://www.dustibonge.org/store.html support us Our mission: to promote the artistic legacy of Dusti Bongé (1903-1993)
