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Jeanne Reynal: Abstract Expressionist Mosaic Artist

Jeanne Reynal Mosaic, Untitled
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Jeanne Reynal Mosaic, Untitled

 

I admit that my heart beat a bit faster when I saw reference to mosaic artist Jeanne Reynal(1903-1983) at the Arshile Gorky Exhibit at the Philadelphia Art Museum.  It was exciting to read about a mosaicist in context, a friend of Gorky’s wife Agnes, a collector of both Gorky and Rothko’s work, and a part of a period of art making called abstract expressionism.

In fact, Reynal is known more as a collector than as an artist in her own right, according to Elaine de Kooning, and several of the pieces in the Gorky exhibit were originally in Reynal’s collection.  I was interested to discover that Reynal used a “direct” or “action” method of mosaicing, placing the bits of glass or stone directly into a bed of mortar, akin to Jackson Pollack drizzling and dripping paint onto his canvasbut not exactly.  The Webb Gallery which offers the Evening Sonata mosaic, quotes Reynal as saying “The medium of mosaic is not painting with stones, and not sculpture, but an art essential quality of which is luminosity.”

The Anita Shapolsky Gallery had an exhibit, Art Couple: Work of the 1950’s, with mosaics by Jeanne Reynal and paintings by her husband Thomas Sills.  The description of the show mentions that Sills was inspired by his wife’s collection of abstract expressionist art, and reminds me of how contemplating art by others is a form of sustenance for many artists, collecting being a kind of art in and of itself.

Jeanne Reynal and Thomas Sills
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Jeanne Reynal and Thomas Sills

 

Thomas Sills, Man
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Thomas Sills, Man

 

In the late 1990’s, I went on a retreat at the Jesuit Spiritual Center is Wernersville, PA.  This is where I first witnessed Hildreth Meiere’s mosaics in the chapel, and felt a longing to make such a thing.  I also remember walking the halls, unable to sleep, and coming across a print of a Mark Rothko painting, in dark blue, deeply still yet vibrant.  I suddenly felt at home, at peace.

Abstract expressionism is an awkward term, but I do understand that expression can come through color and form, simple bars of paint.  The word “abstract” comes from the Latin abstractus, meaning “drawn away,” separated from practical matters or material objects.  But it also has the connotation of “a smaller quantity containing the virtue or power of a greater” like an abstract of an article, the essential points summarized.  I come away from art like Rothko’s or Reynal’s with a sense of witnessing something essential.

9 comments

  1. Brewster E. Fitz says:

    I am glad to read of your enthusiasm for Jeanne Reynal. Both she and Tommy Sills were friends of my father, who was an artist, art teacher and art dealer in Amarillo, Texas. Reynal’s portrait of Martha Graham was exhibited in his gallery in Amarillo, as was a large three-section mosaic wall entitled Nineveh. Although he was obviously not God, my father had good judgment about art, and actually taught his students in the panhandle of Texas and Northwestern Oklahoma to appreciate the abstract expressionts. Some of these artists (Elaine de Kooning, Louise Nevelson, James Brooks)came to Amarillo or to Taos, New Mexico, where they taught workshops for his students. After my father’s death, my family donated Nineveh to Oklahoma State University. Judgment is still impending.

    • Welcome Brewster! Thank you so much for sharing this story about your father and Jeanne Reynal and art in the panhandle of Texas. Discovering these connections is one of the delights of blogging. I am fascinated that the piece was called Nineveh! Sounds like a short story in the making. My father’s side of the family is from Paris, TX, and frequently the stories sound stranger than fiction.

  2. Angela Sanders says:

    Hello Margaret;
    I have just discovered your blog and love reading about Jeanne Reynal. I too am a mosaic artist and would love to know where I can find more information about her life. I have picked up her book “The Mosaics of Jeanne Reynal” but would love to know more. I was very excited to see that there was an inscription on the cover to her dear friend Betty Childers. Do you know where I could see any of her mosaics. I am on a quest! Thank you so much,
    Angela

    • Arvis Sills Abban says:

      Angela
      I happen to be the granddaughter of Thomas Sills who was married to Jeanne Reynal. Her works were recently on show at the Eric Firestone Gallery in NYC. I’m confident that should you Google the gallery you will have a plethora of info and art at your finger tips.

      Thank you for your interest and enthusiasm in her works. She was a phenomenal person and artist.

      Arvis Sills Abban

  3. Donetta Schoedinger says:

    In the early 1960’s I was in New York attending Fashion Design School and rooming at a YWCA met and became friends with Adele Norris who was Jeanne Reynal’s niece . Adele and I would visit Jeanne and Thomas at their home for dinner etc. At the back of their home was a glass enclosed porch with lovely tropical plants and a beautiful parrot. One evening while visiting Jeanne showed us around her in process works in the studio. There was small (7″ x 19″) mosaic standing against the wall that I enjoyed the colors of. Jeanne stated that she would frame it for me as it was a model for a large church wall in Florida that she had finished. A couple months later , Adele and I attended a showing of art works by both Reynal and Stills at a Benefit for the New School for Social Research. All items were for sale except 1 Mosaic piece titled Flame. Flame was the piece that I had enjoyed . Wondering why it was NFS , Jeanne Reynal told me it was because she have promised it to me. At the time this young 19 year old was in another world of Joy. I’m 73 and walk by Flame every day in my home. I still even have the hand bill the Art Showing.

    after

    • Arvis Sills Abban says:

      Donetta
      I’m the eldest granddaughter of Thomas Sills. You have a beautiful memory of the studio in which Jeanne worked and the aviary where “Harry” the parrot lived.
      Jeanne was a very generous person and giving of her works was normal. So glad you have a personal piece…..May you have many more year of continued enjoyment.
      Arvis Sills Abban

  4. Oh my goodness! I just saw the response from Donetta Schoedinger. How lucky are you! I was excited to see that she had spent a year living in Soda Springs which is about five minutes from where I live. As if some how her creativity might rub off just a little due to proximity! I can only imagine how you feel owning one of her pieces. I am sure it is cherished as it should be. Thank you for the great story! I have purchased more copies of her books, most of which have been signed, and sent them out to other mosaic artists around the world. Spreading the word one eBay book at a time!

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