September, October, November 2006 @ DeCordova: Exhibitions and Events

(Please note that DeCordova’s hours have changed - click here for details.)

Exhibitions

Going Ape: Confronting Animals in Contemporary Art
Joyce and Edward Linde Gallery, Phyllis and Jerome Lyle Rappaport Media Space, Arcade Gallery, First Floor Lobby, Grand Staircase, Third Floor Lobby
September 2, 2006 – January 7, 2007
Opening Reception: Thursday, September 7, 6 – 9 pm

What a zoo! This fall, be sure to see the museum menagerie in Going Ape: Confronting Animals in Contemporary Art. This exhibition brings together 20 artists/artist teams from around the country who take on the animal world from a wide range of points of view, and in a wide spectrum of media – both traditional and contemporary. The exhibit features 90 artworks and 99 monkeys.

A great many artists these days create images of animals, and indeed animals have been a constant fascination for artists throughout the entirety of art history. Animals have appeared, traditionally, as decorative motifs, sacred beings, moral symbols, attributes of portrait subjects, and in hunt scenes and bucolic or romantic visions of nature. In recent years, artists have expanded the range of animal-related artwork to include issues such as animal-human relationships, distinctions between wild and tame, habitat loss, bio-engineering, and anthropomorphized animals. The artists in Going Ape deal with all of these themes, as well as several others, in painting, sculpture, drawing, photography, video, and installation art. Come see dogs, chimps, cockroaches, squirrels, elephants, goats, tigers, raccoons, a stairwell full of monkeys, diverse denizens of the deep, and birds galore!

Organized by DeCordova Curators Rachel Rosenfield Lafo, Nick Capasso, and Curatorial Fellow Dina Deitsch, Going Ape is accompanied by a full-color exhibition catalogue, and includes work by Deborah Brown, Catherine Chalmers, Walton Ford, James Grashow, Catherine Hamilton, John Harden, Henry Horenstein, Mary Kenny, Vitaly Komar & Alex Melamid, Neeta Madahar, Barbara Moody, Josie Morway, Gwynn Murrill, Frank Noelker, Barbara Norfleet, Shelley Reed, Amy Ross, Peter Smuts, Brad Story, and Kitty Wales.

This exhibition is funded by a generous grant from the Lois and Richard England Family Foundation.

William Tucker: Horses
James and Audrey Foster Galleries, Fourth Floor Hallway Gallery, Sculpture Terrace
September 2, 2006 – January 7, 2007
Opening Reception: Thursday, September 7, 6 – 9 pm

William Tucker is an internationally-renowned contemporary sculptor who had already established a significant career as an artist in Britain before moving to the United States in 1978. In the 1980s, Tucker first created a series of highly abstracted, expressionist bronze sculptures of horses’ heads. In 2003, Tucker returned to the theme, producing several new sculptures and a group of charcoal drawings. This exhibition, organized by Director of Curatorial Affairs Rachel Rosenfield Lafo, brings together the work from this series, and includes Chinese Horse, a large sculpture that has been on view on DeCordova’s Sculpture Terrace for the last two years.

Tucker, who now lives in western Massachusetts, has had solo exhibitions at the Tate Gallery, London; the Storm King Art Center in Mountainville, New York; The Art Museum at Florida International University; and the Yorkshire Sculpture Park in Wakefield, UK; among others. The exhibition is accompanied by an illustrated catalogue.

Great Buys: Museum Purchases
Dewey Family Gallery
Through September 22, 2006

Ten years after establishing the Art Acquisition Fund, the Museum celebrates with an exhibition selected from the many purchases made since that time; DeCordova has been a collecting institution since its opening in 1950. Director of Curatorial Affairs Rachel Rosenfield Lafo has selected more than 40 artworks by 35 New England artists. The show includes paintings, works on paper, sculpture, and photography by artists such as Ahmed Abdalla, Allan Rohan Crite, Nicholas Kahn and Richard Selesnick, Annette Lemieux, Laura McPhee, and Roberta Paul, among others.

Approaches to Narrative
Dewey Family Gallery
October 7, 2006 – October 2007

Stories can be found in just about every aspect of our lives in the form of personal histories, childhood fairytales, or a favorite film. In the visual arts, the narrative impulse is as old as the oldest paintings and, in the past 30 years, has re-emerged in contemporary art as a mode for artists to convey personal, social, and political issues. Approaches to Narrative highlights artworks from DeCordova’s Permanent Collection that use imagery to “tell” stories. The paintings, prints, photographs, drawings, and digital images on display ask viewers to consider how artists use basic storytelling components, such as character, plot, and setting, to create visual narratives. Narrative approaches represented include documentary photography, expressionist figuration, realism, surrealism, collage, and illustration. Fifty-eight works by 29 New England artists will be on view. The themes explored in this show are linked to the educational content of the Art ExperienCenter. Organized by Curatorial Fellow Dina Deitsch with input from the DeCordova Education Department.

Social Studies: Documentary Photography
Charles “Teenie” Harris (1908-1998)
Photographic Study Space
Ongoing

As staff photographer for the Pittsburgh Courier, one of the pre-eminent black news weeklies in America, “Teenie” Harris chronicled the African-American community
in Pittsburgh for over 40 years. His images create a historically and sociologically accurate record of his hometown during a complicated era of desegregation and then re-segregation from 1931 through 1975. DeCordova has 192 Harris photographs in the collection, all gifts of Arlette and Gus Kayafas. This small selection pays homage to the photographer’s career with the Courier as well as his ability to produce remarkable and provocative compositions.

Nina Levy: Headlong and Big Baby
Phyllis and Jerome Lyle Rappaport Roof Terrace
Ongoing

Fall Events and Programs

Wild About Art!
DeCordova’s Annual Benefit and Auction
Saturday, September 30 from 5:30 – 11:30 pm
For ticket information, visit: www.decordova.org

Purchase your tickets now and attend DeCordova’s gala fundraiser! Your participation—through purchasing tickets and bidding on artwork—directly supports DeCordova’s educational mission and exhibitions. Funds raised through Wild About Art mean public programming in the arts!

Skinner, Inc., CEO and auctioneer Karen Keane will accept your bids in the Live Auction—which includes trips to fabulous locales such as the island of Anguilla; Tuscany, Italy; and Vail, Colorado! Also, bid on behind-the-scenes studio visits to the studios of renowned sculptor Joseph Wheelwright and contemporary artist Pat Keck—while accompanied by DeCordova’s Curators, Rachel Rosenfield Lafo and Nick Capasso! These are just a few of the Live Auction items awaiting your wild bids! A scrumptious sit-down meal by Tiger Lily Caterers, and entertainment by 35th Parallel will make this a wild night to remember!

Art for Lunch: Conversations with DeCordova’s Curators
DeNormandie Art Library
October 12 and November 4 at 11:30 am

Meet DeCordova’s Curators in an informal setting that provides an intimate view of their role in the Museum. Bring your curiosity and questions about art, artists, and exhibition planning. Participants meet the Curator at 11:30 am for a tour of Going Ape: Confronting Animals in Contemporary Art followed by a discussion over lunch. On October 12, Curator Nick Capasso will be your host. On November 4, Director of Curatorial Affairs Rachel Rosenfield Lafo will lead the event. $15 for DeCordova Members and $20 for Non-Members. Fee includes lunch from The Café @ DeCordova. Space is limited. Call 781/259-3604 for reservations.

New! Sculpture Park Animal Tours
Sculpture Park
September and October dates
Free with Campus admission

In search of animals! Take an expedition through the Sculpture Park with DeCordova Museum Guides. They will lead your family on a walk through the wilds to study the animal-related sculptures nestled in our Park habitat. The 45-minute tour is free with Campus admission; DeCordova Members free. Reservations are required. Contact tourguide@decordova.org or call 781/259-3619.

The Sculpture Park Animal Tours will be held on:

September 6 at 3:30 pm
September 14 at 10 am
September 19 at 10 am
September 28 at 3:30 pm
October 4 at 10 am
October 11 at 3:30 pm
October 20 at 10 am
October 24 at 3:30 pm

Other Sculpture Park tours are offered on Saturdays and Sundays at 1 pm (through October) and are free with Campus admission.

Gallery Talks: Meet the Artists
Third Floor Lobby
Saturdays at 3 pm
Free with Campus admission

The act of creating artwork can be just as exciting as looking at the final product. Meet New England and regional artists to discuss their work on view at DeCordova in Going Ape: Confronting Animals in Contemporary Art and William Tucker: Horses.

Going Ape Gallery Talks:
September 16: Shelley Reed
October 14: Catherine Hamilton
October 28: Barbara Norfleet
November 18: Henry Horenstein

William Tucker Gallery Talk: October 21

Eye Wonder Family Programs
Museum Galleries
Drop-In Sundays from 1 – 3 pm on September 24 and November 5
Free with Campus admission

Come to DeCordova with friends and family to discover an ever-changing world of art! The newly renamed Eye Wonder focuses on “seeing” and “doing” in art museums and combines careful looking with creative art projects centered on DeCordova’s changing exhibitions. Each month, Eye Wonder offers a different focus that celebrates the uniqueness of contemporary artists and their processes with family-friendly guided tours and hands-on art activities. This drop-in program is perfect for families with children ages 6 and up. On September 24, Going Ape guest artist Amy Ross will be featured; on November 5, Going Ape guest artist Kitty Wales will host.

Artists of the Month at The Store

September Artist of the Month: Chloe Sachs
The Store @ DeCordova
Opening Reception: Sunday, September 3 from 12 – 2 pm

Once a physics and math major, jewelry artist and sculptor Chloe Sachs brings her fascination with the form, rhythm, and structure of spirals to the creation of her latest pieces of “sculpture to wear.”

October Artist of the Month: Jennifer Chin
The Store @ DeCordova
Opening Reception: Sunday, October 1 from 12 – 2 pm

Jennifer Chin uses elements inspired by the forms of stars, flower petals, pine needles, birds’ wings, and mechanical parts to fashion elaborate yet delicate strands of kinetic elements in her exquisite sterling jewelry.

13th Annual Artists’ Market
The Store @ DeCordova
November 11 – December 31

Thirteen will be your lucky number when you shop the Annual Artists Market at The Store for all the names on your holiday list. More artisans, new artisans, extended hours—and remember, DeCordova Member’s receive a discount of 10 percent!
What luck!

So knock on wood, throw some salt over your shoulder, and head on over to the 13th Annual Artists’ Market!

The Store @ DeCordova’s Holiday Hours (November 11 – December 31):

Monday – Thursday, 9:30 am – 9:30 pm
Friday – Saturday, 9:30 am – 5:30 pm
Sunday, 10:30 am – 5:30 pm

Museum School Gallery Exhibitions
Whimsy Exhibit
August 5 – September 10
Reception: Sunday, September 10, 2 – 3 pm

Safe Haven
September 16 – November 5
Reception: Sunday, November 5, 2 – 3 pm

The School Gallery exists as an environment for students to show and celebrate both finished works and explorations in process. These exhibits also encourage students to tap into their own artistic experience using disciplines learned at the School in any medium(s) they choose. The Whimsy Exhibit is a chance for DeCordova’s students to have fun and exhibit their most creative art. The Safe Haven exhibition challenges students to explore their own environments of mind, spirit, and place that evoke feelings of home, belonging, and security.

Images for these exhibitions and events are available electronically; please contact Corey Cronin at ccronin@decordova.org or 781/259-3628.

NOTICE!
The Museum and The Café @ DeCordova will be closed for exhibition installation from Monday, August 21 through Friday, September 1, 2006. The Sculpture Park and The Store @ DeCordova will remain open during this time.

The DeCordova Campus is open on Labor Day (9/4).

General Information

DeCordova Museum is open Tuesday through Sunday, 10 am to 5 pm (New Hours!) and on selected Monday holidays. General Campus admission during Museum hours is $9 for adults, $6 for senior citizens, students, and youth ages 6–12. Children age 5 and under, Lincoln residents, and Active Duty Military Personnel and their dependents are admitted free. The Sculpture Park is open year round during daylight hours. The Store @ DeCordova and the School Gallery are open Monday through Thursday, 9:30 am to 7:30 pm, Friday through Saturday, 9:30 am to 5:30 pm, and Sunday 10:30 am to 5:30 pm (New Hours!). The Café @ DeCordova is open Tuesday from noon to 3 pm, and Wednesday through Sunday from 11 am to 4 pm. Guided public tours of the Museum's main galleries take place every Thursday at 1 and Sunday at 2 pm; these are free with Campus admission. Guided tours of the Sculpture Park are given on Saturday and Sunday at 1 pm from May to October; these are free with Campus admission. Visit www.decordova.org or call 781/259-8355 for further information.

2006 marks the 100th anniversary of the American Association of Museums and has been designated the Year of the Museum.