July, 2010

Dear Mr. Parker:

I am the curator of the art collection at Kettering University in Flint, MI. We have a piece by "Fred Parker". I would like to know if it's your work. I've attached an image of the piece. Could you let me know if you remember it please?
Thank you,

Mary Ellen Zang


Dear Mary Ellen:

Yes, I am the artist. Thank you for contacting me. Could you tell me how you acquired the artwork and when?

You might find it interesting to know more about the pastel. It is part of a series I did in 1976-78 (not 85) investigating the photographs of Alfred Stieglitz.

He had done a series of black and white photographs he entitled "Equivalents" ... a series of cloud images... done between 1925 and 1934. I was interested in how color might effect his compositions.

Attached are images of two other pastels done about the same time.... and one of Stieglitz's photos for comparison.

I hope you find them interesting.

Thank you,
Fred Parker


Dear Fred,

We received your piece in 1980 from Victor Zink, an art collector who had connection to General Motors. Kettering University was originally General Motor Institute (FMI). Mr. Zink is the primary donor to our collection. We are entirely dependent on donations for our collection.

Your piece "Untitled" measures 13 1/4" x 16 1/8". It is a beautiful addition to our collection.

Thank you for your help in identifying it and giving further insight into its creation.

 

Mary Ellen Zang
Curator of Collections
Kettering University
Flint, MI

 

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