Huntsville Museum of Art February-May 2014 artViews IN THIS ISSUE: Adrián Villeta: Romantic Portraitist March is Youth Art Month Mario Buatta Kicks off Gala 2014 New 2014 Voices of Our Times Series welcome Dear Museum Members, Museum Board of Directors Chairman: John Wynn et me begin by telling you confidently that Vice Chairman: Richard Crunkleton Secretary: Walter (Tod) Dodgen L2014 will be a year to remember for the Treasurer: Charlie Bonner Huntsville Museum of Art. Honestly, this year’s Dorothy Davidson Betsy Lowe roster of talent in the visual arts and beyond, is Sarah Gessler David Nast Joyce Griffin Virgina Rice as impressive and diverse as any you’d care to see Patsy Haws Herman Stubbs and one to make you, our members, proud. Some Carole Jones highlights…. Foundation Board President: Bobby Bradley I won’t be the first to refer to the artist and Vice President: Dee Kowallik photographer, Adrián Villeta, as a “visual poet Secretary: Parke Keith Heather Baker Blake Mitchell with a refined visual sensibility and the eye of Dane Block Bronwen Murray a connoisseur.” I believe that you’ll agree after Kerry Doran Melanie Murray Micah Fisher Lisa Noah soaking in the unabashedly romantic vision of Villeta, whose evocative exhibition Patrick Fleming Shannon Raleigh is guest-curated by the museum’s champion, Gloria Vanderbilt. Greg Gum Keyke Reed Tharon Honeycutt Dianne Reynolds The 2014 Voices of our Times Series will present a year of truly talented and Rosemary Lee Mark Spencer accomplished women including the artist Edwina Sandys, whose monumental Susan Linn Dana Town Michele Lucas Lori Webber sculptures, commemorating The Year of the Child, grace the United Nations Dabsey Maxwell Charlotte Wessel headquarters in New York, Geneva and Vienna; Joyce Carol Oates, who has Women’s Guild Officers authored more than forty novels, numerous novellas and short story collections President: Carole Anne Ellers President-elect: Suzanne Barnes and won the National Book Award, the O. Henry Award, and the National Secretary: Kathy McCool Humanities Medal,; and Louise Hirschfeld, theater historian, president of the Treasurer: Ellie Sternberg Assistant Treasurer: Michele Rife Al Hirschfeld Foundation and widow of the best known and most respected Museum Travel Committee caricaturist of the past century, Al Hirschfeld (an exhibition of Hirschfeld’s work Beth Biez Andrea Karwoski will open on May 29, in conjunction with Ms. Hirschfeld’s presentation). Bill Emerson Bill Klus Robbie Hallisey And let’s not forget about GALA, which brings so much richness and variety Museum Staff to the museum and its programs. This year’s GALA luncheon, which kicks Executive Director: Christopher J. Madkour the whole week of festivities off, will feature the man who has, over the past Director of Curatorial Affairs: Peter J. Baldaia Development Director: Amy Cornelius fifty years, designed interiors for the truly rich and famous – a short list would Director of Education/Museum Academy: include Mariah Carey, Henry Ford II, Malcolm Forbes, Barbara Walters, Nelson Laura E. Smith Accountant: Wendy Worley Doubleday, Mr. and Mrs. S.I. Newhouse, Charlotte Ford and Billy Joel – the Curator of Exhibitions and Collections: David Reyes Prince of Chintz himself, Mario Buatta. Mr. Buatta’s keynote will educate, inform Communications Director: Stephanie Kelley, APR Education Associate: Libbie Adams Rentz and amuse you to no end, and warm you up for all of the treasures you’ll find at Facility and Event Manager: Lil Parton the 2014 GALA’s live and silent auctions. Curator of Exhibition Interpretation/Registrar: Finally, I wish to extend my special thanks to the City of Huntsville, our Deborah Taylor Security Supervisor: Linda Berry staff, our many sponsors and partners, the Foundation Board – and especially Guest Services Representatives: Linda Nagle, Foundation Board member Dane Block, who had the singular notion that ice Mary D’Arienzo Executive Assistant: Amy Mata skating in Big Spring Park was an idea whose time had come – for another Social Media and Online Coordinator: Katie Martin tremendous season of family fun on ice. Accounting Assistants: Kayley Beth Osborne, Mary Chavosky Thank you once again for your continued and generous support and please Membership and Annual Giving Coordinator: continue to enjoy the unique artistic and cultural asset that you make possible, Andrea Petroff Membership Associate: Anita Kimbrough the Huntsville Museum of Art. Saying “We couldn’t do it without you!” is an Museum Academy Assistant: Lisa Roth understatement. Facility Rental Assistants: Markesia Carter, Christine Kennedy Sincerely, Museum Store: Rachael Stone Christopher J. Madkour Volunteers: Museum Store Coordinator Janell Zesinger; Jerry Brown, Billie Muhl Executive Director Security Guards: Britney Boles, Hayden Herfurth, Rich Krumrie, Jeanne Manley, Shaun Pass, On the cover: Adrián Villeta, Nydia (detail), 1995, black and white negative on sepia tone print, Laura Payne, John Solari, Charlie Tolbert hand painted on fiber paper Custodian: Doug Crane 2 exhibitions Adrian Villeta: Romantic Portraitist February 2-May 4, 2014 Gloria Vanderbilt, Guest Curator rtist, author, actress and fashion elegance of a bygone Aicon Gloria Vanderbilt will be era, while celebrating the guest curator of Adrián Villeta: the modern Romantic Portraitist, an exhibition of 39 virtues of strength, photographs –including the stunning independence and image of Vanderbilt below– spanning self confidence in his 30 years in the professional career of this subjects. renowned artist. “In my portraits, “Adrián Villeta draws us into a the subject is sacred place where our spirit is restored ‘welcomed into my by the beauty of his vision. Let yourself world’ to become a be drawn into these images, where you’ll character in it. Then, find the heart of Adrián Villeta, and in so I seek to impart my doing, discover a magical world…perhaps stamp by making discover secrets about yourself,” said sure all elements Vanderbilt. of the portrait– HMA Executive Director surroundings, light, Christopher J. Madkour invited flowers, decorative Vanderbilt, who has known Adrián objects and clothing– Villeta and his work for many years, to be work in perfect the guest curator in order for the public to harmony as a whole,” experience his vision as filtered through said the artist. the eyes of another artist. He first gets Born in San Juan, Puerto Rico, to know his sitters, Villeta considers himself a portrait artist, talking with them more than simply a photographer, in the in his French formal style of the great masters of the genre such garden at his home as British artist Julia Margaret Cameron in San Juan. Each and American artist John Singer Sargent. photograph is later He combines painting and photography printed on black and to capture in his work the grace and white on fiber paper Mademoiselle, 1997, black and white negative on sepia tone print, hand painted on fiber paper or c print (matte finish) with sepia tone and then hand to show unique details, each work is painted in oil. His photos are based on a presented as a reality in itself. strict study. Through his in-depth analysis The past is just the basis for of various elements, such as light, color displaying a world of elegance, romance and atmosphere, and an insistent search and glamour. You are invited to the Opening Preview Party for Adrián Villeta Romantic Portraitist February 1, 2014 • 6:00-8:00 p.m. Cocktails and Hors d’Oeuvres Members: $65 Non-members: $85 RSVP to 256-535-4350 ext. 208 by January 24th or purchase your ticket online at hsvmuseum.org. Event Chairs Patsy and Frank Haws Sponsors Cynthia and Rey Almodóvar • Donny’s Diamond Gallery • Finery Gloria Vanderbilt (detail), 2004, black and white negative on hand-painted digital C print In Bloom • Dunagan Yates & Alison Plastic Surgery Center 2014 at HMA: American Beauty–Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow. 3 exhibitions Encounters: Rocío Rodríguez January 25-May 18 ncounters, the museum’s award- art-making from Ewinning regional art series, has more than one presented many of the region’s best perspective. contemporary artists over the past 27 During her years. In January 2014, it returns with 30-year career, signature abstract drawings and paintings Rodríguez has by acclaimed Atlanta artist Rocío created engaging Rodríguez. works from Born in Cuba, Rodríguez immigrated representational to the United States with her family to abstract. In as a child. Although she has lived in this showing, she this country for more than 50 years, debuts her most she considers herself culturally to be a recent works. Her Cuban-American, and her biculturalism intriguing new to be a gift that allows her to approach series deconstructs Portrait of a Painting, 2013, oil on canvas, 36 x 40 inches the very language of rescue my drawings first.” painting, breaking down The paintings which evolved from the individual components her drawings were primarily executed of line, shape, color and during a particularly creative period in texture and reordering 2013. Of these works, Rodríguez said, “I them in ways that question am asking myself what is the relevance of the fixed boundaries painting today? What is painting to me? I between abstract and think these new works are like memorials representational space. to painting…making paintings about “Drawing is the painting.” crucible for my ideas–the Join the artist for a Gallery Walk DNA of my paintings” said and Opening Reception, hosted by the Rodríguez. “If the studio Museum Foundation Board, on Sunday, Big Yellow, Big Black, 2012, oil on canvas, 66 x 90.25 inches was burning down, I would January 26, at 2 p.m. Encounters: Cal Breed extended by popular demand! Now through May 4 Exhibition Sponsors Alabama State Council on the Arts Altherr Howard Design The Huntsville Times Women’s Guild of the Huntsville Museum of Art Hollow Timber, 2013, glass, steel, slate Check out the museum’s web site at hsvmuseum.org for the exhibit catalogue! 4 on the Arts with other regional winners Youth Art Month is observed from across the state.