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Website
PBS

Pbs News Hour: Rothko's Legacy

For Students 9th - 10th
Transcript of NewsHour's Paul Solman interviewing the art historian and Rothko biographer, Dore Ashton. Provides insight into the life and work of abstract expressionist Mark Rothko. Interview dated August 5, 1998.
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Handout
BBC

Bbc: Simon Schama's Power of Art: Rothko

For Students 9th - 10th
From the BBC's documentary series on art "Simon Schama's Power of Art", this is the web-page synopsis version of the program on the American abstract-expressionist painter, Mark Rothko.
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Handout
Other

Wolf Kahn

For Students 9th - 10th
Once into the site you can choose to take two paths. You can either explore Kahn's pastel art or his paintings. Both take you to a colorful gallery full of works. You can also read his biography from either path.
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Handout
Martin Lawrence Galleries

Martin Lawrence Galleries: Sam Francis

For Students 9th - 10th
One of the masters of abstract expressionism. His works are highly related to color field painting and the drip paintings of Jackson Pollock. Here there is a biography and a collection of works from a variety of media.
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Website
NPR: National Public Radio

Npr: Color as Field: American Painting, 1950 1975

For Students 9th - 10th
Slideshow that highlights paintings exhibited at the Smithsonian American Art Museum done by artists whose works are classified as color field painting.
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Handout
Cool Fire Technology

Brain Bank: Art Movements and Periods

For Students 9th - 10th
This website alphabetizes and briefly describes all the major movements in the history of visual arts. Good for use as a general reference for Art History studies and the study of historically based painting and art.
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Handout
Smithsonian Institution

Smithsonian American Art Museum: Kenneth Noland

For Students 9th - 10th
From the Luce Foundation Center at the Smithsonian American Art Museum, this is a portrait photograph and biography for the color field painter Kenneth Noland.
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Article
Khan Academy

Khan Academy: Helen Frankenthaler, the Bay

For Students 9th - 10th
Helen Frankenthaler was known for using a specific process of pouring paint on to the canvas rather than painting the colors onto the surface with a brush. View a picture of "The Bay" and read about her technique in this essay.
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Handout
Other

Fondation Beyeler: Mark Rothko

For Students 9th - 10th
This resource presents a wide variety of Rothko's work available for viewing, individually or hanging on a virtual museum wall. It also includes a biographical note of the artist's life.
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Handout
Other

Fondation Beyeler: Ellsworth Kelly: Works 1956 2002

For Students 9th - 10th
Kelly uses bold color and simple shapes to create both paintings and sculptures. View examples of his abstract work and read his biography.