For Immediate Release
June 1, 2006

Contact:
Corey Cronin 781/259-3628, ccronin@decordova.org

June, July, August 2006 @ DeCordova: Exhibitions and Events

Exhibitions

The 2006 DeCordova Annual Exhibition

Joyce and Edward Linde Gallery, James and Audrey Foster Galleries, Phyllis and Jerome Lyle Rappaport Media Space, Arcade Gallery, Fourth Floor Hallway, Window Gallery, Elevator Wall

Through August 20, 2006

Each year DeCordova presents its eagerly awaited Annual Exhibition, an exciting round-up of regional talent in the visual arts. This show focuses on the quality and diversity of contemporary art created in the New England states rather than emphasizing any over-arching themes based on media, content, or subject.

For 2006, 12 artists/artist teams from three states have been chosen to participate: Gregory Miguel Gómez, sculpture/installation (Newton, MA); Christopher Gray, video/performance/sculpture (Providence, RI ); Anna Hepler, drawing/installation (Portland, ME); Joe Johnson, photography (Boston, MA); Frank Poor, sculpture (Providence, RI); Alexander Ross, painting (Alford, MA); Evelyn Rydz, drawing (Boston, MA); Jon Sarkin, drawing/installation (Gloucester, MA); Jen Simms, installation (Wendell, MA); Gretchen Skogerson and Garth Zeglin, installation (Boston, MA/Pittsburgh, PA); Naoe Suzuki, drawing (Newton, MA); and Matthew Swarts, digital prints (Somerville, MA).

The Annual Exhibition is organized by Director of Curatorial Affairs Rachel Rosenfield Lafo, Curator Nick Capasso, Curator of New Media George Fifield, and Curatorial Fellow Dina Deitsch.

Great Buys: Museum Purchases

Dewey Family Gallery

Through September 2006

Ten years after establishing the Art Acquisition Fund, the Museum celebrates with an exhibition selected from the many purchases made since that time. DeCordova has been a collecting institution since its opening in 1950; however, no restricted fund existed for the acquisition of art. Instead, money had to be raised each time an artwork was purchased. Director of Curatorial Affairs Rachel Rosenfield Lafo has selected more than 40 artworks by 35 New England artists. The show includes paintings, works on paper, sculpture, and photography by artists such as Ahmed Abdalla, Allan Rohan Crite, Nicholas Kahn and Richard Selesnick, Annette Lemieux, Laura McPhee, and Roberta Paul, among others.

Social Studies: Documentary Photography
Charles “Teenie” Harris (1908–1998)

Photographic Study Space

Ongoing

As staff photographer for the Pittsburgh Courier, one of the pre-eminent black news weeklies in America, “Teenie” Harris chronicled the African-American community in Pittsburgh for over 40 years. His images create a historically and sociologically accurate record of his hometown during a complicated era of desegregation and then re-segregation from 1931 through 1975. DeCordova has 192 Harris photographs in the collection, all gifts of Arlette and Gus Kayafas. This small selection pays homage to the photographer’s career with the Courier as well as his ability to produce remarkable and provocative compositions.

Nina Levy: Headlong and Big Baby

Phyllis and Jerome Lyle Rappaport Roof Terrace

Ongoing

Exhibitions Coming this Fall:

Going Ape: Confronting Animals in Contemporary Art

September 2, 2006 – January 7, 2007

This group thematic exhibition examines the many different ways that contemporary artists use animal imagery, and will include works in all media. The selected artists are: Deborah Brown, Catherine Chalmers, Walton Ford, James Grashow, Catherine Hamilton, John Harden, Henry Horenstein, Mary Kenny, Vitaly Komar & Alex Melamid, Neeta Madahar, Barbara Moody, Joanna Morway, Gwynn Murrill, Frank Noelker, Barbara Norfleet, Shelley Reed, Amy Ross, Peter Smuts, Brad Story, and Kitty Wales.

William Tucker: Horses 1986–2003

September 2, 2006 – January 7, 2007

William Tucker is an internationally-renowned contemporary sculptor. This exhibition focuses on his highly abstracted, expressionist images of horses’ heads in drawings, and plaster and bronze sculptures. This exhibition will, for the first time, bring together several works from this ongoing series.

Approaches to Narrative

October 7, 2006 – Fall 2007

This exhibition of paintings, prints, photographs, drawings, and digital images from DeCordova’s Permanent Collection focuses on how images “tell” stories. Narrative approaches represented will include documentary photography, expressionist figuration, realism, surrealism, collage, and illustration.

Summer Events and Programs

Art in the Park Festival and Art Sale

Sculpture Park

Sunday, June 11 from 10 am – 5 pm

Kick off the summer by spending it outdoors at DeCordova’s 21st Annual Art in the Park Festival and Art Sale! Peruse and purchase unique, handmade artworks by over 100 New England artists, who were selected for their original high-quality designs. Let your creative impulses flow by participating in art activities including wire art, T-shirt painting, funky hat making, and more! Enjoy culturally rich performances that feature funk, country, Flamenco, and calypso music, as well as a comedic juggling act and audience participation.

Art in the Park is free for Members and Corporate Members; $12 for adults and children 15 and up; $10 for seniors and children 2–14; age 2 and under are admitted free. Admission includes entry into the Museum. No passes are accepted for this event, and no pets are allowed.

All Art in the Park parking is free and at Reservoir Place in Waltham (Exit 28 off of Route 128). No parking will be allowed on the DeCordova grounds or in Lincoln. Instead, Boston Properties will provide free parking at Reservoir Place, located at the Trapelo Road/Lincoln exit (Exit 28) off Route 128/I-95. Doherty's Garage in Lincoln will provide free shuttle service between DeCordova and Reservoir Place from 9:30am to 5:30pm.

For more information about Art in the Park, visit: www.decordova.org

New! Twilight Sculpture Park Tours

DeCordova’s 35-acre Sculpture Park is a magical place at dusk. Come explore the Park with a guided tour and stay after to picnic, discover more sculptures, or just watch the amazing sunset over Flint’s Pond. Reserve your space on a Twilight Tour by contacting the Museum at tourguide@decordova.org or 781/259-3619. These tours are free with Campus admission.

Family Twilight Tours

June 14 at 4:30pm
July 12 at 4:30pm
August 9 at 4:30pm

Twilight Tours

June 1 at 5:30pm
June 29 at 5:30pm
July 27 at 5:30pm
August 24 at 5:30pm

Other Sculpture Park tours are offered on Saturdays and Sundays at 1pm (May through October) and are free with Campus admission.

Gallery Talks: Meet the Artists

Third Floor Lobby

Saturdays @ 3 pm

Free with admission

The act of creating artwork can be just as exciting as looking at the final product. Meet New England and regional artists to discuss their work on view at DeCordova in the Annual Exhibition.

The 2006 DeCordova Annual Exhibition
June 3 Jen Simms
June 17 Gregory Miguel Gómez
June 24 Frank Poor
July 8 Jon Sarkin
July 15 Matthew Swarts
July 22 Anna Hepler
July 29 Evelyn Rydz

Eye Wonder Family Programs

Museum Galleries

Drop-In Sundays, 1 – 3 pm

Free with admission

Come to DeCordova with friends and family to discover an ever-changing world of art! The newly renamed Eye Wonder focuses on “seeing” and “doing” in art museums and combines careful looking with creative art projects centered on DeCordova’s changing exhibitions. Each month, Eye Wonder offers a different focus that celebrates the uniqueness of contemporary artists and their processes with family-friendly guided tours and hands-on art activities. This drop-in program is perfect for families with children ages 6 and up.

Sunday, July 16
Guest Artist: Evelyn Rydz, focuses on The 2006 DeCordova Annual Exhibition

Sunday, August 13
Guest Artist: Jen Simms, focuses on The 2006 DeCordova Annual Exhibition

Museum School Gallery Exhibitions

Museum School Gallery

The Museum School Gallery offers students and faculty a unique opportunity to exhibit their work in a beautiful and highly visible space. Throughout the year, students are invited to exhibit artwork created during their DeCordova studies.

What Were You Thinking? Exhibit
May 13 – June 25
Reception: Sunday, June 25, 2 – 3 pm

Children’s Summer Programs Exhibit
July 7 – 28

Whimsy Exhibit
August 5 – September 10
Reception: Sunday, September 10, 2 – 3 pm

Images for these exhibitions and events are available electronically, please contact Corey Cronin at ccronin@decordova.org or 781/259-3628.

NOTICE!
The DeCordova Campus is open on Memorial Day (5/29) and Labor Day (9/4); it is closed on Independence Day (7/4). The Museum and The Café @ DeCordova will be closed for exhibition installation from Monday, August 21 through Friday, September 1, 2006. The Sculpture Park and The Store @ DeCordova will remain open during this time.

General Information

DeCordova Museum is open Tuesday through Sunday, 10 am to 5 pm and on selected Monday holidays. General admission during Museum hours is $9 for adults, $6 for senior citizens, students, and youth ages 6–12. Children age 5 and under, Lincoln residents, and Active Duty Military Personnel and their dependents are admitted free. The Sculpture Park is open year round during daylight hours. The Store @ DeCordova and the School Gallery are open Monday through Thursday, 9:30 am to 7:30 pm, Friday through Saturday, 9:30 am to 5:30 pm, and Sunday 10:30 am to 5:30 pm. The Café @ DeCordova is open Tuesday from noon to 3 pm, and Wednesday through Sunday from 11 am to 4 pm. Free guided public tours of the Museum's main galleries take place every Thursday at 1 and Sunday at 2 pm. Free tours of the Sculpture Park are given on Saturday and Sunday at 1 pm from May to October. Visit www.decordova.org or call 781/259-8355 for further information. This press release is available electronically on our Web site.

2006 marks the 100th anniversary of the American Association of Museums and has been designated the Year of the Museum. Learn more at www.aam-us.org.

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