New Mexico and the Arts of Enchantment
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
April, May, June 2014 New Mexico and the Arts of Enchantment featuring The Raymond James Financial Collection 1 MFA’s Andrew Wyeth Watercolor Director’s Welcome Travels to National Gallery of Art Dear Friends, Wisteria (1981), the MFA’s prized watercolor by Andrew Wyeth, has The Museum doesn’t take been selected for the exhibition, Andrew Wyeth: Looking Out, Looking In, a spring break or summer which will be on view at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, vacation, so I hope you will D.C., from May 4-November 30, 2014. Comprised of approximately 45 spend your free time with us. choice works, this is the first exhibition to explore Wyeth’s use of the You can travel to New Mexico, window in his art and honors the recent gift of his painting Wind from China, and around the world the Sea to the National Gallery. by simply walking through our doors and enjoying our special exhibitions and collection. New Mexico and the Arts of Enchantment featuring The Raymond James Financial Collection is magical. With more than 100 works, it is one of the most diverse exhibitions we have ever presented – from pre-Hispanic pottery to twenty-first century paintings and sculpture. You will not want to miss the contemporary jewelry Mary James has graciously lent to the exhibition. We are profoundly grateful to Mary and Tom James, Raymond James Financial, and the other generous collectors for sharing some of their favorite works with the community. I also want to thank Hazel and William Hough Chief Curator Jennifer Hardin and the entire curatorial staff for their dedication and creativity. This has been an enormous undertaking. My Generation: Young Chinese Artists, which opens Andrew Wyeth (American, 1917-2009) Friday, June 6, is going to be unforgettable. We are Wisteria (1981) all curious about a civilization that is playing an Watercolor on paper ever more critical role on the world stage, and the Gift of Mary Alice and Doyle McClendon work by China’s young artists is breathtaking. This landmark exhibition is a joint project with the Tampa Museum of Art. Different works will be Earl Powell III, Director of the National Gallery, noted that in presented at each venue and combining our spaces Wisteria, “the landscape view replicated in the grid formed by the allows us to present a greater number, including windowpanes is an especially intriguing element echoing our theme of large-scale installations and the latest video art. We simultaneously looking in and out.” Completed in 1947, Wind from the encourage visitors to cross the bay and enjoy what Sea was Wyeth’s first fully realized composition on the subject. Over both museums have to offer. the next 60 years, he created more than 250 works experimenting with the window and its perspective. Our public programs reach people of all ages and the entire family. You will find something new Watercolor is an unforgiving medium, one that Andrew Wyeth loved to explore – and create – at the Museum. Come and mastered. His watercolors are some of the most striking and for “UNCHartED: Random Acts of Culture” on accomplished ever created, and the Museum’s is a prime example, Thursday nights, refresh your spirit in the galleries, produced at the full maturity of his career. and savor the peaceful water-view from our terrace. The first work by Andrew Wyeth to enter the collection, Wisteria was You – our members – help make everything a gift of current trustee Mary Alice McClendon and the late Doyle possible at the Museum. Thank you for your loyalty McClendon, who also served as a trustee. It will be reproduced in the and friendship. Please consider a gift membership catalogue accompanying the exhibition. for a family member or friend, just in time for the summer. The MFA will present Jamie Wyeth’s Portraits of Rudolf Nureyev: Images of the Dancer from the Brandywine River Museum of Art in the fall. Jamie We look forward to seeing you at your Museum of is Andrew’s son, who has earned his own distinctive place in the Fine Arts. Treat yourself – to art. history of American art. Sincerely, On the cover: Dan Namingha (American, tribal affiliation Hopi-Tewa, born 1950) Symbolism #6 (2010) Kent Lydecker Acrylic on canvas Courtesy of Tom and Mary James The Raymond James Financial Collection MFA Photographs: Thomas U. Gessler 2 CURRENT | UPCOMING | EXHIBITIONS New Mexico and the Arts of Enchantment featuring The Raymond James Financial Collection Through Sunday, May 11 New Mexico has played a substantial role in the history of American art. The landscape, Native American artistic and ceremonial traditions, Mexican and Hispanic influences, and the transplanted artists who have responded to its call have made Angie Yazzie (American, tribal affiliation, Taos Pueblo, born 1965) it a cultural force. This stunning exhibition of 104 works brings Large Water Jar, Traditional Shape (2002) its artistic achievements alive – from pre-Hispanic pottery to Micaceous clay Gift of Hazel and William Hough vibrant twenty-first century paintings and sculpture. Hazel and William Hough Chief Curator Jennifer Hardin curated this Two Grey Hills rug, similar to the MFA’s impressive example extensive overview. nearby. Tom and Mary James were immediately attracted to the art of Large-scale works by Tony Abeyta and Dan Namingha combine New Mexico and the Southwest. The Raymond James Financial the landscape with abstract elements and spiritual symbols, Collection is now one of the largest private art collections in while the sculpture ranges from Abeyta’s and Tammy Garcia’s Florida. Many of the artists represented in the exhibition are totems to Allan Houser’s dynamic Abstract Crown Dancer Native Americans. (1991). A moving alabaster sculpture, The Long Walk (2004) by Rick Nez, himself a Navajo, recalls the forced, tragic relocation William Acheff’s Passing Time (1977), a New Mexico still life, of the Navajo in 1864. Exquisite pieces of jewelry from Mary captures many of the currents in the exhibition. A famous James’ private collection are by such noted contemporary Native Edward S. Curtis photograph of Native Americans, a pot from American artists as Jesse Monongya, Lee Yazzie, and Vernon Taos Pueblo, and decorative maíz or corn are gathered against a Haskie. These choice works from The Raymond James Financial Collection are combined with those from the Museum and other private collections. Ceramics are a high point. Works from The Drapkin Collection reveal how ancient traditions continue to inspire artists today. The exuberant monos (monkey) figures (1997) were so named by the Spanish. But Pueblo artist and fashion designer Virgil Ortiz reclaims the traditional Cochiti forms and makes them look simultaneously ancient and contemporary. Angie Yazzie’s large water jar (2002) and the two black-on- black platters by María Martínez are masterful. The small jar by her great grandson Marvin shows him carrying on the family tradition. Photography is also strong, encompassing Todd Webb’s photographs of O’Keeffe’s famous home and the landscape around Abiquiu; Ansel Adams’ classic Moonrise, Hernandez (1941); images by William Clift and Patrick Nagatani; historic portraits of Native Americans; and two of ceramist María Martínez. One pictures her holding Rick Dillingham’s Teapot Gas Can, on view nearby. New Mexico and the Arts of Enchantment offers a stimulating dialogue between the past and present. The wide range of media, the variety of artistic visions, and Virgil Ortiz (American, tribal affiliation, Cochiti Pueblo, born 1969) Monos Figures, Circus Performer and Opera Singer (both 1997) the vital colors and forms create a magical space in the Ceramics Museum. Collection of Ron and Pat Mason 3 New Mexico and the Arts of Enchantment OFriday,pening January R 17 eception Approximately 500 people attended the opening, one of the largest ever at the Museum. Trustee Clark and Monica Mason President of the Board Howard Mills (left) with Mary and Tom James MFA Director Kent Lydecker and Emily Kapes, Art Collection Curator of Raymond James Financial (Left to right) MFA Curatorial Assistant Sabrina Hughes, Michelle Jennings, MFA Coordinator of Curatorial Affairs Bridget Bryson, Dr. Susan Beaven, Jane Beam, and Betty Shamas New Mexico and the Arts of Enchantment Lenders to the Exhibition The Museum expresses profound gratitude to the following collectors for making this exhibition possible: Tom and Mary James and The Raymond James (Left to right) Kelly and Matthew Mosby with his parents, trustee Glenn and Dav Mosby Financial Collection Lynell and Robert Bell Dr. Robert L. and Chitranee Drapkin Susan and Seymour Gordon Hazel and William Hough Kathryn Boeckman Howd Pat and Ron Mason Mindy and Dr. Michael Solomon Anonymous Lender * The three Todd Webb photographs were purchased by the Museum with funds provided by Director Emeritus John E. Schloder in honor of Carol A. Upham, past President of the Board and major donor to the MFA and the collection. (Left to right) Elise Minkoff, Chris and trustee Robert Hilton, and Carol and trustee Robert Stewart 4 Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, and the Princeton University Art Aaron Siskind’s Museum celebrated his enormous contributions and importance. Harlem Document Dr. Robert L. and Chitranee Drapkin, leading lights of the Gift of Dr. Robert L. and Chitranee Drapkin MFA’s photography collection, supported the publication of the Through Sunday, July 20 original 1981 book at the time of the Smithsonian exhibition. Siskind, in fact, presented a Friends of Photography program at An American master, Aaron Siskind (1903-1991) is known for the Museum in the 1980s and visited the Drapkins on several both his early documentary and later abstract photographs. A New occasions. For the 1991 edition, he wrote a personal dedication: Yorker, he was drawn to life in Harlem in the 1930s: people on the “To Bob Drapkin – who made this reissue possible with streets and in churches, rented rooms, juke joints, and clubs.