Jaune Quick To See Smith on Katherine Porter

An Appreciation from a Renowned Artist to Another

By: Jaune Quick To See Smith - Jul 11, 2024

 

In the mid 1970s I started going to NY to visit the museums, I had travel money from my teaching jobs. That's where I discovered incredible women painters like Elizabeth Murray, Susan Rothenberg, Martha Diamond, Jennifer Bartlett, Joan Mitchell and Katherine Porter. I think her shows always smelled the best, of drying oil paint's linseed oil.

 I would purchase a catalog if there was one. Always thinking someday there will be a big retrospective and a gigantic catalogue.

 I followed her exhibitions and would try to plan trips around her shows. Then it was like she disappeared from sight and I had no idea where she might have gone. No one else seemed to know either. Someone told me she had health issues that had stalled her career.

 Then a couple years ago they were selling a painting here or there on the web. I thought wow, maybe she was painting again. I saw a video from a German gallery of Katherine being interviewed by the gallerist. She seemed to not be in good health.

Then one day in February of this year, LewAllen Gallery in Santa Fe announced a show with her. I planned on going, excited at the thought of seeing a show of her work. None of the young painters use oil paint the way Katherine does. And excited that I might possibly be able to meet her and tell her that I've been a long time fan.

I figured that there would be a big crowd there to meet her. Momentarily I thought maybe I shouldn't go, I wouldn't be able to see her work with so many people.

But Andy encouraged me to go and said we'll go early so you can see the work and maybe say hello. So my son Neal, his wife, an artist friend, Andy and I all went to the opening.

Hardly anyone was there and we spent the evening viewing her incredible work and taking turns visiting with her in a seating area where she let us all know she was uncomfortable because of her arthritis.

We purchased a small painting and she seemed pleased. I asked if she would come to dinner and she could see it hung. She seemed happy with that and said she would be delighted to do that since she now lived in Santa Fe since it was better for her arthritis.

Well, two weeks later the gallery curator called me to tell me Katherine had passed from a massive heart attack. I was devastated. So the gallerist told us Katherine had 2 small paintings in the backroom, recent ones and she didn't want just anyone to have them, it had to be someone special. So Andy and I chose another one and promised if she ever has a retrospective we will loan them. I have one hung in my studio.  I say good  morning to her and good night.

 I hope someone at Bowdoin curates a retrospective for her, she certainly deserves at least one nice catalogue with some insightful writing.

Your article yesterday was more in depth and more interesting than the obit in the NY Times. That person had no idea about Katherine's incredible painting.