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July Issue 2005
Columbia Museum of Art in Columbia, SC, Presents Rarely Seen Works from Its Collection Dealing with the Figure
Alexander
Archipenko
The Columbia Museum of Art in Columbia, SC, presents rarely seen works from its permanent collection in a new exhibition titled, A Body of Work: The Human Figure from Degas to Diebenkorn. Opening on July 29, and running through Oct. 2, 2005, the exhibition features approximately 70 artworks that showcase figural work created primarily in the 20th century, examining this genre's relevance in the history of art. Sixty artists are included with works in a variety of media, from oil on canvas to watercolor, lithograph and etching on paper. In addition to Edgar Degas and Richard Diebenkorn, artists in the exhibition include Sigmund Abeles, Alexander Archipenko, Milton Avery, Marc Chagall, David Hockney, Alfred Hutty, Käthe Kollwitz, Philip Pearlstein, Larry Rivers and David Siqueiros, among others.
"The human figure has been a significant genre throughout the history of art. To examine the human figure and the techniques and styles in its depiction throughout the 20th century is the motivation behind organizing A Body of Work: The Human Figure from Degas to Diebenkorn. By grouping work done in the first half of the century together with work done in the second half of the century, the exhibition seeks to draw parallels in the styles and compositions of the artists and their figural work of the 20th century," says Beth Inman, museum curator.
Walter
Antonius Acarnelli
With a combination of abstract and representational elements from all decades of the 20th century, A Body of Work strives to expand the general perceptions of figural artwork with juxtapositions like The Shepherd (c. 1930s) by Marc Chagall - a simple yet realistic rendering - to work done later in the century such as Study for Square Dancer (1987) by Helen Gilbert - an angular, nonrepresentational composition. Both works depict the human figure but in vastly contrasting styles.
"The Columbia Museum of Art has embarked on this important project to highlight some of the museum's rarely seen artworks and to bring a fresh perspective to a long history of figural art," says museum director, Karen Brosius. "This is the first time that an exhibition of this breadth has been organized from the museum's permanent collection."
A Body of Work: The Human Figure from Degas to Diebenkorn is presented by The National Bank of South Carolina with additional sponsorship support provided by Vein Specialists of the South, LLC, Neal Reynolds, M.D.
A number of related programs have been planned in conjunction with this exhibition including:
July 29, 2005, 6:30pm - Gallery Talk with Beth Inman, associate curator of decorative arts at the Columbia Museum of Art and the curator of A Body of Work, offers a gallery talk on selected works from the museum's exhibition. Free with museum admission or membership.
Aug. 1 - Oct. 1, Sats. at 11am - About Face Sketching Sessions. Each Saturday a member of About Face the affiliate membership group of artists at the Columbia Museum of Art hosts open sketching sessions in the museum's galleries. Bring a drawing board, pad and drawing materials and spend some significant time studying the artworks in the museum's galleries. Sketching in pencil, felt tip, crayon, pastel and/or charcoal is permitted; the use of easels, ink, fountain pens and/or paints is not permitted. the event is free.
Aug. 13, 2005, 1pm - Gallery Talk with Beth Inman, associate curator of decorative arts at the Columbia Museum of Art and the curator of A Body of Work, offers a gallery talk on selected works from the museum's exhibition. The event is free.
Aug. 20, 2005, at noon - Gallery Talk with Sigmund Abeles. Abeles, a New York Citybased artist, holds a public gallery talk in coordination with A Body of Work. Abeles studied at the Pratt Institute, the University of South Carolina, the Arts Students League, the Brooklyn Museum School and Columbia University. A recipient of awards from the National Institute of Arts and Letters and from the National Council of Arts and Humanities, Abeles has had several one-person exhibitions in New York, and his work has been included in exhibitions in the US and in Europe. The event is free.
Aug. 20, 2005, 2-4pm - Demonstration/Workshop with Sigmund Abeles. Instructor Sigmund Abeles holds a pastel demonstration and workshop in the museum's adult studios in coordination with the exhibition, A Body of Work. Registration is open to 15 participants. Enrollment is $50, $35 for museum members, or $30 for About Face members. Contact 803/799-2810 for more information.
Aug. 27, 2005, 2pm - Gallery Talk with Deanna Leamon. Leamon, associate professor of studio art at the University of South Carolina (USC) discusses the human figure as subject as portrayed in her own artwork. The event is free.
Sept. 9 & 23, 2005, 6:30pm - Lecture The Figure in the 20th Century with Dr. Brad Collins. Collins, associate professor of art history at the University of South Carolina, addresses the figural genre of art in the 20th century in this two-part lecture series. Collins earned the doctorate in art history from Yale University and now specializes in contemporary art particularly 1950s and 1960s American art. Contact 803/799-2810 for more information. Free with museum admission or membership.
For more information check our SC Institutional Gallery listings, call the Museum at 803/799-2810 or at (www.columbiamuseum.org).
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