Fall @ DeCordova: Exhibitions and Events

For Immediate Release
August 1, 2007

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

Exhibitions

Trainscape: Installation Art for Model Railroads
Joyce and Edward Linde Gallery
Sept 1, 2007 – Jan 13, 2008 (opening reception, Thursday, Sept 6 from 6 – 9 pm)
This fall, DeCordova Museum and Sculpture Park will transform the 3,500 square-foot Joyce and Edward Linde Gallery with Trainscape: Installation Art for Model Railroads. For this show, twelve New England artists/artist teams have been invited to create new works of installation art—miniature worlds that will be traversed and connected by a fully operational O-scale model railroad! These installations will be imaginary, inventive, and fanciful—the products of unbridled creativity—because the purpose of Trainscape is to generate new and compelling landscapes, not to re-create reality at a miniature scale as in traditional model railroading.

In addition to providing fun and spectacle, Trainscape addresses several important issues in contemporary art. Over the past decade, many artists have been actively engaged in the creation of imaginary worlds, not only with sculpture and installations, but also with painting, drawing, and photography. This impulse reflects philosophical ruminations about alternate realities, escape from the current world situation, and the use of place—or aspects of place—as an emotionally expressive device. Major themes within this exploration of parallel universes are an increased attention to the idea of the miniature, and a wide expansion of the idea of landscape sculpture (as opposed to the far more familiar “landscape painting”).

The participating artists/artist teams were selected from proposals submitted by seventy-five invited competitors, and include Ahmed Abdalla, Sandor Bodo, Doug Bosch, Chris Frost, George Greenamyer, Ralph Helmick, Robin Mandel and Gideon Webster, Mike Newby, Stuart Schechter, Ellen Wetmore and Jeff “Jeffu” Warmouth, Edythe F. Wright, and Joy Wulke. Trainscape is organized by Curator Nick Capasso, Koch Curatorial Fellows Kate Dempsey and Lisa Sutcliffe, and Preparator Brad Gonyer. This exhibition has been funded by the Lois and Richard England Family Foundation.

Ricardo Barros: Facing Sculpture
Arcade Gallery
Sept 1, 2007 – Jan 13, 2008 (opening reception, Thursday, Sept 6 from 6 – 9 pm)
This exhibition features twenty black-and-white photographs from Ricardo Barros’s series, Facing Sculpture, for which the artist photographed contemporary sculptors in their homes and studios, often with their artworks. Barros’s portraits have no particular “style” or “look,” but are individualized images that reveal an open and honest regard for sculptors, and a desire to construct visual poetry by drawing forth aspects of the sculptors’ personalities that most closely inform their work, and the psychological space between sculptor and sculpture.

His subjects include both internationally renowned sculptors (Marisol Escobar, George Segal) and artists who live and work in the New England region (Arthur Ganson, Pat Keck). Many of the sculptors have been included in DeCordova exhibitions, and others have shown work in our Sculpture Park. This exhibition is accompanied by the book Facing Sculpture, a Portfolio of Portraits, Sculpture, and Related Ideas, with an introduction by DeCordova Curator Nick Capasso, who organized this show.
New Arrivals: Gifts to the Permanent Collection
James and Audrey Foster Galleries, Fourth Floor Hallway Gallery
Sept 1, 2007 – Jan 13, 2008 (opening reception, Thursday, Sept 6 from 6 – 9 pm)
The DeCordova Museum’s collection has grown substantially since its opening in 1950, in large part due to the generosity of collectors and artists who have donated artworks to the Museum. DeCordova’s collecting mission is to acquire modern and contemporary American art, with an emphasis on the work of New England artists. New Arrivals is the most current in a series of periodic exhibitions featuring artwork acquired by the Museum within the last few years. The exhibition, organized by Director of Curatorial Affairs Rachel Rosenfield Lafo, focuses entirely on gifts to the collection, and includes 43 paintings, drawings, prints, sculpture, photographs, and digital images by 33 artists.

Artists included are: James Aponovich, Ken Beck, Samantha Crawford, Pat de Groot, Ron Ehrlich, Susan Erony, Paul Cary Goldberg, Peter Haines, Suzanne Hodes, Chuck Holtzman, Jon Imber, Philip Jameson, Penelope Jencks, Elizabeth Johansson, Jaclyn Kain, Judith Scott Larsen, Julie Levesque, Sarah Malakoff, Matt McClune, Joyce McDaniel, Todd McKie, Mark Milloff, Arno Rafael Minkkinen, Dean Nimmer, Nicholas Nixon, John Raimondi, Sally Reed, Richard Rosenblum, Michael Russo, John Walker, William Wainwright, Cary Wolinsky, and Shelley Zatsky.

Moving Through New England
Dewey Family Gallery
Oct 6, 2007 – Oct 14, 2008
This exhibition comes entirely from DeCordova Museum’s Permanent Collection, includes paintings, photographs, prints, pastels, and watercolors, and showcases both old favorites and recent acquisitions. Pairing idyllic New England alongside the less beautiful but in some ways more real aspects of the region, and works from the mid-twentieth century to the present day, Moving Through New England showcases the many views artists have taken of our region. Participating artists include Jules Aarons, Laura Anderson, Frank Gohlke, Philip Jameson, Nicholas Nixon, Barbara Norfleet, Scott Prior, and Sarah Supplee.

Collection Highlight: Harriet Casdin-Silver
Phyllis and Jerome Lyle Rappaport Media Space
Sept 1, 2007 – Jan 13, 2008

Collection Highlight: Randall Thurston’s Kingdom
Grand Staircase
Sept 1, 2007 – Apr 27, 2008

Events and Programs

Gallery Talks: Meet the Artists
Third Floor Lobby
Selected Saturdays at 3 pm
Free with Campus admission
The act of creating artwork can be just as exciting as looking at the final product. Join these Trainscape artists as they discuss their artwork.

Sept 15: Sandor Bodo
Sept 22: Edythe F. Wright
Oct 6: Ricardo Barros
Oct 13: Ellen Wetmore and Jeff “Jeffu” Warmouth
Oct 27: Doug Bosch
Nov 3: Chris Frost
Nov 10: Joy Wulke
Nov 17: Ahmed Abdalla
Dec 8: Mike Newby
Dec 15: Robin Mandel and Gideon Webster

October 6: Ricardo Barros will present a slide talk on Facing Sculpture at 3 pm. This one hour talk is followed by a book signing.

The 2007 Paul J. Cronin Memorial Lecture
George Greenamyer, and Ralph Helmick and Stuart Schechter
Wednesday, Nov 14, 6:30 pm, Dewey Family Gallery
DeCordova Members $10/Non-Members $12 per person
Massachusetts artists George Greenamyer, and the team of Ralph Helmick and Stuart Schechter, are among the most prominent and successful practitioners of public art in America today. Their artworks can be found in libraries, universities, airports, train stations, parks, courthouses, and other municipal buildings across the country. Greenamyer’s work is straightforward and colorful, and rooted in an American folk art sensibility. Helmick and Schechter combine sculpture and technology in installations comprised of thousands of small objects that visually combine to form colossal images suspended in space. While their works look very different, their aesthetic approaches share a passion for the figure, narrative, and accessibility. And all three artists are participants in the DeCordova exhibition Trainscape: Installation Art for Model Railroads. Together they will discuss public art and their role in the field.

The annual Paul J. Cronin Memorial Lectures were established in 1981 to consider topics that are broadly focused upon changing attitudes towards twentieth and twenty-first century art. They are made possible by a generous grant from the Grover Cronin Memorial Foundation. This event is co-sponsored by the UrbanArts Institute at the Massachusetts College of Art. UrbanArts is a Boston-based non-profit organization that works to promote excellence in public art and design (urbanartsintitue.org). Please call 781/259-3629 or email jneas@decordova.org for tickets.

Eye Wonder Family Program
Museum Galleries
Selected Sundays, drop-in from 1 – 3 pm
Free with Campus admission
Come to DeCordova with friends and family to discover an ever-changing world of art! Eye Wonder focuses on “seeing” and “doing” in art museums and combines careful looking with creative art projects centered on DeCordova’s changing exhibitions. Eye Wonder 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. The upcoming programs will be centered on the exhibition Trainscape: Installation Art for Model Railroads and the following artists will host:

Sept 23: Chris Frost
Oct 28: Edythe F. Wright Nov 4: Doug Bosch
Dec 16: Robin Mandel & Gideon Webster
Artist of the Month
The Store @ DeCordova
The Store will host its series of monthly events celebrating (and selling!) the wonderful work of local artists and artisans.

September explores the work of artist Connie Verrusio whose jewelry offers the perfect marriage of artistic sense and sensibility in an ingenious blend of fine metals and found objects. Reception: Sunday, Sept 2, 2 – 4 pm.

October celebrates the work of Alexia Cohen who creates pieces that will seem right at home at DeCordova—she has a true flair for sculpture to wear. Reception: Sunday, Oct 7, from 2 – 4 pm.

Artists’ Market 2007
The Store @ DeCordova
Nov 10 – Dec 31
If your holiday shopping always seems like a chore because of those people on your list who “have everything”—bring that difficult list to the annual Artists’ Market at The Store @ DeCordova. Our selection of pottery, glass, home goods, wearable art, and ornaments is designed to delight and surprise with its variety and originality. We’ve cornered the Market on the unusual.

Artists’ Market extended hours: Nov 10 to Dec 24
Monday – Thursday, 9:30 am – 9:30 pm; Friday – Saturday, 9:30 am – 5:30 pm; Sunday, 10:30 am – 5:30 pm

Art for Lunch
Museum Galleries
Selected Thursdays, 11:30 am - 1:30 pm
DeCordova Members $15/Non-Members $20 per person
Meet DeCordova experts in an informal setting that provides an intimate, behind-the-scenes view of the exhibitions. Bring your curiosity and questions about art, artists, exhibitions, and the Museum. Participants meet at 11:30 am for a walk-through tour of one of the current exhibitions followed by a discussion over lunch. Program runs about 1 1/2 - 2 hours. Fee includes lunch from The Café @ DeCordova. Space is limited, call 781/259-3632 or email sdiachisin@decordova.org for reservations.

Sept 19: Off the Beaten Track, led by Curator Nick Capasso
Oct 18: From Many Perspectives, led by Head of Adult Programs Emily Silet
Nov 7: Kids and Museums: Exploring the Galleries Together (for adults only), led by Director of Education and Gallery Learning Lisa Silagyi
Dec 13: Welcoming New Arrivals, led by Director of Curatorial Affairs Rachel Rosenfield Lafo
Jan 10: Looking Beyond the Surface, led by Head of Gallery Learning Susan Diachisin

Train Trip Members’ Day and Museum School Open House
Sunday, Oct 14, 1 – 4 pm
Dewey Family Gallery and Third Floor Lobby, and Museum School Studios
Free for Members/Free with Campus admission for Non-Members
In conjunction with the exhibition, Trainscape: Installation Art for Model Railroads, come to DeCordova and explore the galleries. Then, use shape stencils and colorful papers to build your own train—complete with a self-designed landscape. In addition, performers from TEN31 Productions, Inc., will join us at the Museum.

After your adventures in the galleries, tour the Museum School studios and view artist demonstrations in drawing, painting, silversmithing, ceramics, and more! Meet faculty members, view their artwork, and get inspired to explore your own creative side. Refreshments will be served in the Museum School Gallery. RSVP to membership@decordova.org or 781/259-3629 by Oct 10.

Museum Closed
The Museum and The Café will be closed from Aug 13 – 31, 2007 for the installation of Trainscape: Installation Art for Model Railroads exhibition and from Jan 14 – Feb 1, 2008 for the installation of Presumed Innocence: Photographic Perspectives of Children. The Sculpture Park and The Store will remain open during these times.

For a complete listing of DeCordova’s programs, visit www.decordova.org.
For images or more information, contact Corey Cronin at 781/259-3628 or ccronin@decordova.org.

General Information: DeCordova 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. Guided public tours of the Museum’s main galleries take place every Thursday at 1 and Sunday at 2 pm. Tours of the Sculpture Park are given on Saturday and Sunday at 1 pm from May to Oct. All guided public tours are free with Campus admission. Visit www.decordova.org or call 781/259-8355 for further information. This press release is available electronically on DeCordova’s Web site.

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