For Immediate Release
August 11, 2008
Contact: Corey Cronin 781/259-3628
Nina Gara Bozicnik 781/259-3627
Fall 08 @ DeCordova:
Exhibitions and Events
Information on exhibitions, events, and programs for the
months of Sept, Oct, Nov, Dec 2008
Exhibitions
Drawn to Detail
Joyce and Edward Linde Gallery, and Fourth Floor Hallway Gallery
August 30 – January 4, 2009 (public opening reception: Thursday, September 4 from 7 – 9 pm )
Drawn to Detail is an exhibition of contemporary drawings with a very particular focus. The 26 American artists featured create work that explores an extreme attention to detail, obsessive mark-making, repetition, patterning, laborious process, all-over intricate design, and horror vacui (fear of empty space). They draw with extreme attention to detail in part as a reaction to today’s hectic lifestyle and technological advancements, and also because of their desire to make sense of the changing world around them.
As drawing’s popularity as a medium has grown, its defining characteristics have expanded and the tools and techniques that artists use have evolved. In addition to graphite, charcoal, and pen and ink, these artists work with materials such as string, tape, and smoke, and practices adopted from the world of craft.
The exhibition includes: Alice Attie, Astrid Bowlby, Jim Dingilian, Jacob El Hanani, Dave Eppley, Tom Friedman, Darina Karpov, Laura Kim, Ricardo Lanzarini, Martha Lewis, Cynthia Lin, Marco Maggi, Louise Marshall, Jane Masters, Julie Mehretu, Tadashi Moriyama, Mary O’Malley, Carol Prusa, Jessica Deane Rosner, Andrea Sulzer, Kako Ueda, Julia von Eichel, Rachel Perry Welty, David Omar White, Martin Wilner, and Daniel Zeller.
Drawn to Detail is accompanied by a 48-page catalogue. Funding for the exhibition and publication has been generously provided by Joyce and Edward Linde, Erica and Robert Mason, Melissa S. Meyer, Anthony and Beth Terrana, Penny and Jeff Vinik, and one anonymous member of the Museum’s Collections and Exhibitions Committee.
This exhibition is organized by Director of Curatorial Affairs Rachel Rosenfield Lafo and Koch Curatorial Fellows Kate Dempsey and Nina Bozicnik.
Laylah Ali: Notes/Drawings/Untitled Afflictions
James and Audrey Foster Galleries
August 30, 2008 – January 4, 2009 (public opening reception: Thursday, September 4 from 7 – 9 pm )
Notes/Drawings/Untitled Afflictions marks the inaugural museum presentation of Laylah Ali’s newest body of work. Known for her astute ability to condense complex, socio-political commentary into deceptive simple imagery, Laylah Ali has become one of New England ’s most important contemporary artists. This exhibition presents an intimate collection of notes and drawings that continue Ali’s rigorous investigation of the subtle operations of every day life.
This exhibition is accompanied by a brochure and 80-page catalogue with additional texts by Lisa Fischman of the University of Arizona Museum of Art and poet Kevin Young. Funding and support for Notes/Drawings/Untitled Afflictions has been generously provided by the Barbara Lee Family Foundation, the Robert E. Davoli and Eileen L. McDonagh Charitable Foundation, James and Audrey Foster, Steven Rogowski, Anthony and Beth Terrana, and the Miller Block Gallery, Boston , MA .
Zea Mays Printmaking: The Nature of Things
Arcade Gallery
August 30, 2008 – January 4, 2009 (public opening reception: Thursday, September 4 from 7 – 9 pm )
This exhibition features 15 prints from the portfolio The Nature of Things, produced by the Zea Mays Printmaking studio in Northhampton , Massachusetts . Zea Mays Printmaking specializes in non-toxic environmentally safe printmaking materials and methods. Artists include: Brian D. Cohen, Liz Chaflin, Louise Kohrman, Theresa Monaco, and Mark Zunino.
Stacey Steers: Phantom Canyon
Phyllis and Jerome Lyle Rappaport Media Space
August 30, 2008 – January 4, 2009 (public opening reception: Thursday, September 4 from 7 – 9 pm )
Phantom Canyon is a 2006 animated film that explores a woman’s fantastical journey through memories. Artist Stacey Steers composed the film from over 4000 handmade collages, and it’s surrealist imagery is a mixture of 18 th and 19 th century engravings and Eadweard Muybrdige’s human and animal locomotion photographs, and Surrealist collage works by Max Ernst.
Cal Lane : Crude
Sculpture Terrace
August 9, 2008 - ongoing (public opening reception: Thursday, September 4 from 7 – 9 pm )
By combining domestic and industrial imagery and objects, Cal Lane breaks down function by exposing visual patterns. Lane applies decorative patterns such as lace to objects designed solely for function, such as steel I-beams, oil drums, wheelbarrows, shovels, and dumpsters. These masculine utilitarian objects are thus feminized and transformed from their original use to become beautiful objects often charged with politically meaning. Three of Lane’s most recent works will be installed for this outdoor exhibition.
Moving Through New England
Through – September 14, 2008
Dewey Family Gallery
This exhibition comes entirely from DeCordova Museum ’s Permanent Collection and 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 interpretations artists have of our region. Participating artists include: Jules Aarons, Laura Anderson, Frank Gohlke, Philip Jameson, Nicholas Nixon, Barbara Norfleet, Scott Prior, and Sarah Supplee.
FACE TO FACE: challenging traditional portraiture
October 4, 2008 - May 17, 2009
Dewey Family Gallery
Since the Dewey Family Gallery was established in 1998, this indoor space has featured annual thematic group exhibitions of modern and contemporary American art drawn entirely from DeCordova Museum ’s Permanent Collection. This year the focus will be on portraiture. Face to Face will include paintings, drawings, photographs, and prints that bear imagery that reveals aspects of human emotion and personality through several different styles of representation.
Events and Programs
Artist Talks
Selected Saturdays at 3 pm
Third Floor Lobby
Free with Campus admission
The act of creating artwork can be as exciting as looking at the final product. Join these artists as they discuss their work:
Drawn to Detail
September 13: Dave Eppley
September 20: Rachel Perry Welty
October 18: David Omar White
November 1: Jane Masters
November 15: Martha Lewis
December 6: Mary O’Malley
December 13: Jessica RosnerStacey Steers: Phantom Canyon
September 6: Stacey SteersZea Mays Printmaking: The Nature of Things
October 25: Liz Chaflin, Director of Zea Mays Printmaking
Evening Conversation with Artist Laylah Ali
Tuesday, November 13, 6:30 pm
Dewey Family Gallery
$5 Members & Students with valid ID/$7 Non-Members. RSVP to Emily Silet at 781/259-3632.
Join Laylah Ali and DeCordova’s Assistant Curator Dina Deitsch for an evening of conversation discussing Ali’s work and the state of drawing as a re-emerging contemporary art form. A brief Q & A period will follow the discussion. Contact Head of Gallery Learning Emily Silet for tickets and information (781/259-3632).
Eye Wonder Family Program
Selected Sundays, drop-in from 1 – 3 pm
Museum Galleries
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 Drawn to Detail and the following artists will host:
September 14: Dave Eppley
October 19: Mary O’Malley
November 16: Jessica Rosner
December 14: Jane Masters
Drawn to Detail Members’ Day and Museum School Open House
Saturday, September 6 from 1 – 4 pm
Museum Third Floor Lobby, Museum School Gallery and Studios
Free for Members/Free with Campus admission for Non-Members
Spend an afternoon at DeCordova learning about the Museum School ’s classes. Come Meet faculty members, view the latest exhibitions at DeCordova, and create your own detailed drawing inspired by the exhibition Drawn to Detail. This event spans the entire campus from the School studios to the Museum itself. Get ready to combine learning with interactive art-making as you discover all that DeCordova Museum School has to offer! RSVP to 781/259-3629 or
membership@decordova.org by September 3.
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 celebrates the work of Marie Galvin who fashions fantastic headgear for the ultra-fashionable. You will be ready for all your autumn and holiday events in Galvin-ized greatness! Reception: Sunday, September 7 from 2 – 4 pm .
In October, come explore the work of artist Polly Cassel. Any piece of handcrafted studio furniture by Cassel will soon become the focal point of the room it inhabits. Shapes and surfaces that command attention are her stock in trade. Reception: Sunday, October 5 from 2 – 4 pm .
November features artist Tami Rodrig. Trained as a painter, one can easily see Rodrig’s splendid color sense in her mixed-media and sterling jewelry. Reception: Sunday, November 2 from 2 – 4 pm.
Artists’ Market 2008
November 15 – December 31
The Store @ DeCordova
This holiday market at The Store has become the annual shopping venue for those in the know. The vast selection of pottery, glass, home goods, wearable art, and ornaments that supply The Store’s regular offerings is designed to make your visit to DeCordova one-stop-shopping!
Artists’ Market extended hours: November 15 to December 23
Monday – Thursday, 9:30 am – 9:30 pm
Friday – Saturday, 9:30 am – 5:30 pm
Sunday, 10:30 am – 5:30 pm
Museum Closed
The Museum and The Café will be closed from January 5 – 23, 2009 for the installation of the Carlson/Strom: New Performance Video and Tabitha Vevers: Narrative Bodies exhibitions. The Sculpture Park , School, and The Store will remain open during these times.
For a complete listing of DeCordova’s programs, visit the Calendar page at www.decordova.org.
For images or more information, contact Corey Cronin at 781/259-3628 or ccronin@decordova.org.
Bank of America’s Museums on Us™
DeCordova is proud to be a participant in Bank of America’s Museums on Us™ program. Beginning in May, all visitors who present a valid Bank of America ATM, debit or credit card, along with photo identification will receive free general admission to DeCordova’s campus on the first weekend of each month until April 2009. This program excludes special events.
General Information: DeCordova is open Tuesday through Sunday, 10 am to 5 pm and on selected Monday holidays. General admission during Museum hours is $12 for adults, $8 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.
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