Facing Out, Facing In: Figurative Works from the Michener Art Museum Collection
January 15 through May 1, 2011
Fred Beans Gallery
Please note: This exhibition is now closed.
Most often, exhibitions in museums feature text panels written by curators. They seek to provide factual information on the art or artist based on extensive research, but also to provide a platform to critique and provide opinions about the artist or the artwork being presented. These text panels are written not only to inform visitors, but also to prompt visitors to reflect upon and provide questions to think about when viewing a work of art.
The exhibition opening January 15, 2011, Facing Out, Facing In: Figurative Works from the Michener Art Museum Collection, will be approached in a different way – it will be an exhibit that will ask visitors to respond to the works and these responses will be essential to the outcome of the exhibit. As a result of this participation, changes may occur in the exhibit based on visitor feedback. In essence, the visitors will act as the “curatorial voice” in this exhibition, inviting a new, compelling dialogue and approach with some of the works from the Museum’s permanent collection.
The premise of this exhibition is quite simple. Based on the idea that some 20th century artists explored the human figure as the primary source of inspiration in their work, these figurative artists displayed different approaches – both in style and temperament.
Some of these figurative artists loved the ancient art of portraiture, which looks beneath the surface and tries to capture that mysterious quality that makes each of us unique. Other artists were talented storytellers who used their work to comment on both the comedy and tragedy of life, as well as celebrate the experiences that define us as a culture and a nation. Some figurative artists faced inward, toward the personal and the intimate. Other artists faced outward, toward the grand dramas of war and politics. These “outward” artists also revealed moments that often go unobserved, that sometimes say more about the experience of being alive than a battle or a parade.
This exhibition draws on the Michener’s extensive holdings of figurative art, especially in paintings and photographs. In addition, this exhibition will feature a visitor response kiosk, that will invite visitors to respond to the ideas of “facing out” and “facing in” by reflecting on their own qualities regarding these main ideas. This page will also be available on our blog.
Be sure to visit our Flickr page to contribute an image of an artwork that you feel applies to these ideas!
Image Credits: Ricardo Barros (b. 1953), Isaac Witkin, 1996, carbon pigment digital print on paper, 25 3/8 x 24 inches. James A. Michener Art Museum, museum purchase funded by the Bette and G. Nelson Pfundt Photography Endowment.
Facing Out, Facing In
Facing Out, Facing In: Figurative Works from the Michener Art Museum Collection
January 15 through May 1, 2011
Fred Beans Gallery
Please note: This exhibition is now closed.
Most often, exhibitions in museums feature text panels written by curators. They seek to provide factual information on the art or artist based on extensive research, but also to provide a platform to critique and provide opinions about the artist or the artwork being presented. These text panels are written not only to inform visitors, but also to prompt visitors to reflect upon and provide questions to think about when viewing a work of art.
The exhibition opening January 15, 2011, Facing Out, Facing In: Figurative Works from the Michener Art Museum Collection, will be approached in a different way – it will be an exhibit that will ask visitors to respond to the works and these responses will be essential to the outcome of the exhibit. As a result of this participation, changes may occur in the exhibit based on visitor feedback. In essence, the visitors will act as the “curatorial voice” in this exhibition, inviting a new, compelling dialogue and approach with some of the works from the Museum’s permanent collection.
The premise of this exhibition is quite simple. Based on the idea that some 20th century artists explored the human figure as the primary source of inspiration in their work, these figurative artists displayed different approaches – both in style and temperament.
Some of these figurative artists loved the ancient art of portraiture, which looks beneath the surface and tries to capture that mysterious quality that makes each of us unique. Other artists were talented storytellers who used their work to comment on both the comedy and tragedy of life, as well as celebrate the experiences that define us as a culture and a nation. Some figurative artists faced inward, toward the personal and the intimate. Other artists faced outward, toward the grand dramas of war and politics. These “outward” artists also revealed moments that often go unobserved, that sometimes say more about the experience of being alive than a battle or a parade.
This exhibition draws on the Michener’s extensive holdings of figurative art, especially in paintings and photographs. In addition, this exhibition will feature a visitor response kiosk, that will invite visitors to respond to the ideas of “facing out” and “facing in” by reflecting on their own qualities regarding these main ideas. This page will also be available on our blog.
Be sure to visit our Flickr page to contribute an image of an artwork that you feel applies to these ideas!
See the full exhibition description here.
Image Credits: Ricardo Barros (b. 1953), Isaac Witkin, 1996, carbon pigment digital print on paper, 25 3/8 x 24 inches. James A. Michener Art Museum, museum purchase funded by the Bette and G. Nelson Pfundt Photography Endowment.