75 Reasons to Live: Ellen Arenson on Clyfford Still’s Untitled, 1951-52

Longtime SFMOMA docent Ellen Arenson speaks about Clyfford Still's Untitled (1951-52). She evokes the artist's working process and his belief in the intensely individual experience of viewing a painting as well as making a painting. His lack of titles for his works reflects his insistence on using “no crutches“ to understand art, says Arenson.Remember the end of Manhattan, when Woody Allen asks himself what makes life worth living? In January 2010, during SFMOMA's three-day 75th anniversary celebration, 75 people from the Bay Area creative community gave extremely short talks — 7.5 minutes or less! — on a single collection work of their choosing. Someone called it “manic splendor“ — and it was. You can view all of the talks on The Anniversary Show exhibition page. Or look for them here, on Open Space.