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July Issue 2006
Mint Museum of Craft + Design in Charlotte, NC, Features Exhibit on Animals
Animals have always held a fascination for humans. They have delighted, terrified and served us. They have been seen as charms or fetishes, protectors and predators, beloved companions, and helpmates. We value them for their faithfulness, their strength and their beauty. The encroachment of the human population upon the habitats of the animal world, accenting its fragility, has made us ever more aware of the importance of these creatures in our lives.
The exhibition, A Mint Menagerie: Critters from the Collection, is on view through Nov. 26, 2006, at the Mint Museum of Craft + Design in Charlotte, NC. The exhibit explores the ways in which artists throughout history have depicted animals through themes of fantasy, ritual and symbol, ornament, helpmates and companions using objects from The Mint Museums' permanent collection.
Drawn from almost every department in the Museum, including drawings, pottery, metalwork, sculpture and paintings, the art of different periods or cultures reflects the intricacies of man's relationships with animals. "The theme of the exhibition will have a broad appeal. Humans depend upon animals in many ways, from the food we eat to the clothes we wear to the companionship they offer. The exhibition will be especially appealing to children and will complement the Crafty Critters and Artsy Animals programs in the Education Department," said Dr. Barbara Perry, Decorative Arts Curator at the Mint and curator of the exhibition.
We value the delight, amusement, and companionship animals give us. Victor Hugo has called them the phantoms of our souls and Mark Twain has said the best thing about a man is his dog. Our cats and dogs are all-accepting, non-judgmental, and patient in a world filled with strain, stress, and distrust. They provide us with a simple, constant, and grounded friendship. A fine example is Echo with an Old Shoe, a bronze sculpture by Anna Hyatt Huntington, which depicts a dog playfully chewing on a shoe.
But animals also have the ability to haunt our dreams and imaginations. Several artists in the exhibition depict animals assuming human characteristics with dream-like images that pique the fancies in all of us. Take for example, Pink Piggy, a ceramic piece by Karen Lee Breschi that alludes to the obvious human characteristics of smoking and the less obvious traits of greed. Another example is Manon Catherine Cleary's Rat Series which conveys the idea that while rats are supposed to be scary, they can also be seen as beautiful and surreal. In Rat Series #1, Beverly in a Blue Box, the large pristine white rat overwhelms the dark, rather ominous figure in the background, creating a scene of fantasy and disconnection.
Cultures across the globe have long since attributed certain characteristics to different animals. For example a lion may represent power and bravery. Paa Joe's Lion-Shaped Coffin, a favorite among children, is an example of fantasy coffins first made in Ghana in the mid 1970s. Since then these coffins have become extremely popular in Africa and the shapes often refer to attributed characteristics, occupation or interest of the deceased.
Fifty pieces in all, other critters include a Bactrian camel in earthenware from the Tang dynasty, a painting by Thomas Eakins, and a drawing by Frederick Remington. There are also a Meissen lion, a snake jug from North Carolina, sculpture by David Gilhooly, and Japanese netsukes, among others. "This exhibition makes use of a broad range of objects, accenting the strength of the permanent collection," said Perry. "It also allows the public to see how the collections are interrelated. Too often we view departments as separate entities, when in reality it is all about art."
The Mint Museums are supported, in part, with a Basic Operating Grant from the Arts & Science Council, Charlotte-Mecklenburg, Inc.; the North Carolina Arts Council, an agency funded by the State of North Carolina and the National Endowment for the Arts; the City of Charlotte; and their members.
For further information check our NC Institutional Gallery listings, call the Museum at 704/337-2000 or at (www.mintmuseum.org).
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