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Educator Resource Guide Prendergast to Pollock: American Modernism from the Munson-Williams-Proctor Arts Institute Educator Resource February 7, 2014 – May 10, 2015 Guide Introduction to Prendergast to Pollock: American Modernism from the Through these paintings visitors will Munson-Williams-Proctor explore three kinds of traditional Arts Institute artistic subject matter—landscape, still life and figurative work. Other works in the exhibition embody different manifestations of the mid- 20th century art movement known as Abstract Expressionism—the first American art movement to receive international recognition and influence. In addition to the iconic beauty of the works in the exhibition, Maurice B. Prendergast (1858-1924), Landscape with visitors will have an opportunity to Figures, ca. 1912, Oil on canvas, 29 5/8 x 42 7/8 in., Edward W. Root Bequest, 57.212 observe how leading modern American artists depicted similar The exhibition, Prendergast to representational and abstract subject Pollock: American Modernism from matter. the Munson-Williams-Proctor Arts Institute features 35 masterworks, Many of the drawn from the permanent collection paintings in of the Munson-Williams-Proctor Arts Prendergast Institute in Utica, NY. Prendergast to to Pollock includes important paintings Pollock were by many of the leading progressive originally and avant-garde American artists who owned by shaped the history of American art in Edward the first half of the 20th century, (1884-1956) including, Charles E. Burchfield of Clinton, (1893-1967), Arthur B. Davies (1862- Edward Wales Root Ca. 1940 N.Y., a 1928), Arthur G. Dove (1880-1946), Photography by Carver Wood (1902-89) Collection of John B. pioneering Arshile Gorky (1904-48), Edward Root collector of Hopper (1882-1967), George B. Luks modern American art who, over the (1866-1933), Reginald Marsh (1898- course of nearly five decades, kept 1954), Jackson Pollock (1912-56), current with the contemporary art of Maurice B. Prendergast (1858-1924), his lifetime. In 1953 The Metropolitan Theodoros Stamos (1922-97), and Museum of Art in New York City Mark Tobey (1890-1976). Additional displayed a large selection of works works are drawn from the Everson from his collection. This was the first Museum’s permanent collection. private collection of contemporary American art ever exhibited at that Proctor Arts Institute, Utica, New institution. MWPAI Museum of Art York. The Henry Luce Foundation Director D’Ambrosio noted, “Edward provided funding for the Wales Root is among the most conservation of artworks in the important collectors of modern art of exhibition. his generation. His personal relationships with artists and his keen Everson presentation made possible eye resulted in an exceptionally by Dr. Paul Phillips and Sharon strong representation of the Sullivan, M&T Bank, Everson transformation of the visual arts in the Members’ Council, Upstate Medical first half of the 20th century.” University, Cadaret Grant & Co, Inc, Cannon Pools & Spas, Bonnie and In 1957 Gary Grossmann, Louise Rosenfield, Root Catherine J. Winger, and Sedgwick bequeath Business Interiors. ed his large VOCABULARY collection of 227 Abstract: An abstract art work does American not contain easily recognizable Edward W. Root in his private, fireproof “pocket gallery” adjacent to modernist people, objects or places. What we the Homestead, Clinton, N.Y., ca. 1950 pictures do see are colors, shapes, forms, ranging in date from 1902 to 1953 by lines and sometimes the feeling of eighty different American artists to the movement. Abstract art is more about Utica museum. Root’s bequest was what it makes you feel than creating a one of the most important donations specific narrative or story. of American modernist art in its time. It brought national attention to the Cityscape: A cityscape is similar to fledgling Munson-Williams-Proctor a landscape except it is set in an Arts Institute, and profoundly urban or city environment. The artist influenced its subsequent collecting will focus on buildings, streets, cars activity, its exhibition program, and and other common things one sees in the Institute’s decision to commission a city. architect Philip Johnson (1906-2005) to design his first art museum, which Landscape: A painting, drawing or opened to international acclaim in other art form that typically shows a 1960. view of the natural world including elements of the land such as This traveling exhibition was mountains, trees, rivers etc., although organized by the Munson-Williams- people and animals can be in the ACTIVITY IDEAS landscape as well. Portrait: A likeness of a person as it appears in a painting, drawing, sculpture and any art form. Artists can choose to make a realistic or representational portrait where s/he tries to make the image look as much like their subject (the person) as possible. Artists can also decide to Edward Hopper (1882-1967), The Camel’s Hump, 1931, Oil on make the portrait stylized or inspired canvas, Munson-Williams-Proctor Arts Institute, Edward Wales Root Bequest, 57.160 by their subject. In this case instead of trying to reproduce what their IN THE MUSEUM subject looks like, artists can use Activity 1: Looking & Thinking different colors or shapes to Find the landscape, portrait, still life exaggerate a person’s features or to and abstract images in the exhibition. express a mood or feeling. Try to answer the following questions as you come upon each different kind Rural landscape: A landscape of image. featuring fields, hay bales, barns and other things often found on a farm. Landscapes: What is the weather like? Self-portrait: A portrait that the What time of day is it? artist makes using him or herself as Are there people in the landscape, if the subject. so what are they doing? Still life: A still life is a group of Portraits: objects assembled together often in a How old do you think this person is? painting or drawing. Some still-life art Is s/he inside or outside? has a theme such as all food items or Can you tell what clothes s/he is all objects found in the artist’s studio wearing? or workspace. Others are random Who is this person and do you think objects chosen by the artist for any this is a self-portrait? number of reasons. Still life: What are the objects in this still life? Why do you think the artist chose these objects? Do you notice a theme? Will you make a collage or drawing or painting or something completely different? Do you want to make your portrait as realistic as you can or will you be inspired by your portrait partner to make a more stylized, expressive or even abstract portrait? Theodoros Stamos (1922-97), Conversation Piece, Activity 3: Still life 1948, Oil on Masonite, 20 x 24 in., Edward W. Root Bequest, 57.243 Abstract: What are some of the shapes and colors you see? How do these artworks make you feel? Is there one you like more than the others? If so, why do think that is? Charles Howard (1899-1978), Wild Park, 1944, Oil IN THE CLASSROOM on canvas board, 13 7/8 x 17 7/8 in., Edward W. OR AT HOME Root Bequest, 57.163 Activity 2: Portraits Choose objects from your classroom, home or outside and assemble them Henry Lee on a table or on the floor to create McFee (1886- 1953), Boy, your own still life. Decide where you 1932, Oil on want to sit and then draw your still canvas, Munson- life. When you are done, get up and Williams- Proctor Arts sit somewhere else, then draw your Institute, Edward Wales still life again. Root Bequest, 57.199 Think about your position in relation to your still life. Are you above it? Partner with a friend or family Below? Far away? Close up? member and make portraits of each How does your perspective, or where other! you are sitting, change how you see and think about your still life? What materials will you use? How are your two drawings different? CHECKLIST RESOURCES How are they the similar? William Baziotes, Toy, Harry Bertoia, Quadrilaterals Exhibition Catalog: Auspicious Ilya Bolotowsky, Marine Variation no. 2 Vision: Edward Wales Root and Alexander Brook, The Yellow Fan Charles Burchfield, Dead Sunflower American Modernism available for Arthur B. Davies, Inland Tempest Preston Dickinson, Fort George Hill DOCENT LED TOURS Arthur Dove, No Feather Pillow Arthur Dove, Summer Orchard Arthur Dove, Tree Composition Jimmy Ernst, Honky Tonk sale in the Everson Museum Gift Lee Gatch, High Tension Tower Shop for $49.95 Arshile Gorky, Making the Calendar Hour long docent led tours are Edward Hopper, The Camel’s Hump available Wednesday through Friday Charles Howard, Wild Park 10.00am – Noon, free of charge for Morris Kantor, Ode to the Antique Yasuo Kuniyoshi, By the Sea school groups K-12. To book a tour, Yasuo Kuniyoshi, Empty Town in Desert please contact Qiana Williams, George B. Luks, Luxembourg Gardens, [email protected] or (315) 474 Paris, no. 3 6064 x 303. Please call at least three George B. Luks, Closing the Café George B. Luks, Mexican Boy RELATED PROGRAMMING Peppino Mangravite, Young Couple Drinking Reginald Marsh, Lower Manhattan Reginald Marsh, Texas Guinan and Her weeks in advance as tour dates book Gang quickly. Henry McFee, Boy Daily Tours Jackson Pollock, No. 34 Maurice Prendergast, Landscape with 2pm, Free with exhibition admission Figures Charles Seliger, Cross-Section Plant Life Explore the exhibition Prendergast to Charles Seliger, Untitled no. 1 Pollock: American Modernism from Raphael Soyer, Study for “Sentimental Girl” the Munson-Williams-Proctor Arts Eugene Speicher, Brigham’s Yard, Kingston Theodoros Stamos, Conversation Piece Institute with a Docent. Let the Theodoros Stamos, Cosmological Battle artwork come to life and join in lively Mark Tobey, Awakening Night conversation. Check in at the Visitors Mark Tobey, Partitions of the City Service desk.
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