January 2014

Gibbes Museum of Art in Charleston, SC, Features Japanese Prints and Works from the Johnson Collection

The Gibbes Museum of Art in Charleston, SC, is pleased to present two special exhibitions: Romantic Spirits: Nineteenth Century Paintings of the South from the Johnson Collection and The Great Wave: Japonisme in Charleston, both on view from Jan. 17 through Mar. 23, 2014.

In the Main gallery, Romantic Spirits examines the core concepts of the Romantic Movement as it unfolded in fine art of the American South. In the Rotunda Galleries, The Great Wave: Japonisme in Charleston examines the influence of Japanese prints on the artists of the Charleston Renaissance period who found inspiration in the dynamic compositions and bold color schemes of woodblock prints created by masters of Japan’s ukiyo-e school.
“These special exhibitions showcase the variety of influences on southern artists from the dramatic landscapes of the Hudson River School to the labor intensive woodblock printmaking techniques of Japan,” says Gibbes Museum Executive Director Angela Mack.

Having had its genesis in European literature and art, romanticism found its way into the cultural output of the young republic, both North and South. The same ideals that imbued the canvases of the Hudson River School also colored the art of painters who found their inspiration and audience below the Mason-Dixon Line. In this study of 32 artists, the exhibition delineates the historical, social, and cultural forces that profoundly influenced their aesthetic sensibilities. Spanning the years 1810-1896, Romantic Spirits includes 35 paintings from the Johnson Collection. “This diverse compilation of paintings - ranging from heroic portraits of individuals and dramatic history paintings, to magnificent, picturesque landscapes created by artists and explorers - truly captures the spirit of an era,” says Sara Arnold, Curator of Collections, Gibbes Museum of Art.

The Johnson Collection was established by Spartanburg, South Carolina natives, George Dean Johnson, Jr., and Susan (Susu) Phifer Johnson, passionate philanthropists committed to enhancing the educational environment and cultural vibrancy of their hometown, state, and region.

Accompanying the exhibition is the publication, Romantic Spirits: Nineteenth Century Paintings of the South from the Johnson Collection. Written by noted art historian Estill Curtis Pennington, the lavishly illustrated, 168-page volume examines the core concepts of the romantic movement as it unfolded in fine art of the American South. Romantic Spirits includes insightful illustrated biographies on the featured artists, as well as extensive bibliographic resources.

The Great Wave: Japonisme in Charleston In Charleston - as in many other American arts communities -a fascination with Japanese art and culture washed over the city in the early decades of the twentieth century. The exhibition features thirty-five works from the Read-Simms Collection of Japanese prints accompanied by works produced by Charleston artists including: Alice Ravenel Huger Smith, Alfred Hutty, Anna Heyward Taylor, and Antoinette Guerard Rhett. The exhibition highlights significant prints created by masters of Japan’s Ukiyo-e school and examines the influence of Japanese printmaking on the artists of the Charleston Renaissance (1915 to 1945) who found inspiration in the prints’ dynamic compositions and bold color schemes.

The Gibbes will present a host of special events in conjunction with these two exhibits. Contact the Gibbes for further info about them.

Established as the Carolina Art Association in 1858, the Gibbes Museum of Art opened its doors to the public in 1905.  Located in Charleston’s historic district, the Gibbes houses a premier collection of over 10,000 works, principally American with a Charleston or Southern connection, and presents special exhibitions throughout the year. In addition, the museum offers an extensive complement of public programming and educational outreach initiatives that serve the community by stimulating creative expression and improving the region’s superb quality of life. Highlights of the Gibbes collection can now be viewed on Google Art Project at (www.googleartproject.com).

For further information check our SC Institutional Gallery listings, call the Museum at 843/722-2706 or visit (www.gibbesmuseum.org).

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