Research-Travel Funding for L'Atelier de L'Amour

Hello, my name is Tyrus Clutter and I’d like to briefly share with you my current project. This campaign aims to fund the travel expenses associated with researching artists for the exhibition “l’atelier de l’amour”—or the workshop of love—focussing on selected artist couples from the highly influential 20th century printmaking workshop, Atelier 17.

The printmaking workshop Atelier 17 was a major component in introducing European modern art principles and practices to American artists. Founded by British artist Stanley William Hayter in Paris, in 1927, this experimental engraving and etching workshop was a place where such artistic giants as Miro, Calder, and Picasso worked alongside artists, both male and female, from around the world. During WWII Hayter brought the workshop to New York City in 1940 and some of these same artists followed, impacting the next generation of American artists such as Pollock, Rothko, and Nevelson. The workshop returned to Paris in 1950.

The influence of Atelier 17 on the trajectory of 20th century art has still not been fully explored. In recent years much needed attention has been placed on the women within the workshop. However, there has not yet been an exploration of the romantic relationships that arose within the close quarters of the atelier. I have begun to focus research on a dozen of those relationships and the impact they had within the larger scope of Atelier 17, as well as the workshop’s wider influence.

The summer of 2023 will be the ideal period for me to do the necessary travel to France and London, as well as New York and Washington DC, to work in artist archives and meet with and interview the few remaining artists and Atelier 17 associates who can shed light on this fascinating but under-researched segment of 20th century art. The ultimate goal is an exhibition with catalogue and essays to be mounted in 2027, the centenary of the founding of Atelier 17. I hope you will consider donating to this effort. Thank you for taking time to look over this campaign.

There are three urgent reasons why I need to fund these research trips for the summer of 2023.

First, the exhibition is being planned for 2027, the centenary of the founding of Atelier 17.

Next, because of my teaching schedule, I can only do significant travel during the summer months and next summer, 2024, is the Summer Olympics in Paris, making the research there nearly impossible.

And finally, the generation of artists and others who were around Atelier 17 in the 1960s and 70s is aging. The video below explains these reasons in greater detail.

The video below is an overview of the couples that will be covered in this research and subsequent exhibition.

I am not starting this research from scratch; I am building on a couple decades. I have been collecting and researching work by Atelier 17 artists since the late 1990s. Below is a video describing that process. You can also view proposed works for this exhibition and a previous Atelier 17 exhibition on my website.

This fundraiser started with a huge boost when I received a substantial gift from Grace Episcopal Church in Ocala, FL. I am overwhelmed by the generosity from my home church. However, they didn't even know about the Episcopal connection to this story! Below is a small prayer book that I was given while researching Stanley Hayter and Helen Phillips. It is inscribed by an Episcopal priest in NYC who baptized their son in 1950. It is wonderful how things come full circle.

When I discussed this project and its funding with friends over the past couple months, there were some Frequently Asked Questions that came up in the conversations. I have addressed these in the video below.

My travel plans for the summer of 2023 are specific and extensive--not a vacation in the least. The video below details the people and places I plan to visit and the importance of these in the greater research for the L'Atelier de L'Amour exhibition for 2027.

Finally, I would like to suggest some giving levels in keeping with the theme of this project. The following amounts are correlated to Atelier 17 and the 100th anniversary of its founding in 2027. If you can give at one of the following levels, in keeping with your generosity and ability, this goal can certainly be reached. $17, $27, $67, $117, $517, and $1017. Thank you for browsing (and giving to) this project. And please SHARE this project with people you know who might find an interest in contributing to its success.