Le Bulletin
M U S É E
D
'A
R T
ARTS
DU
SPECTACLE
MAI 2015
ECOLE
DES
BEAUX
-
ARTS
Monet à Matisse L'âge de l'impressionisme français . . . 16 mai a 29 novembr e
M
onet to Matisse: The Age of French Impressionism, on view May 16 through November 29 in the Museum of Art, showcases vibrant paintings by the European and American artists who revolutionized the art world in the late nineteenth century. Monet to Matisse features more than 60 paintings and pastel drawings from the renowned collection of the Dixon Gallery and Gardens in Memphis, Tennessee. The exhibition includes landscapes, portraits, interiors, and still lifes by leaders of French Impressionism: Claude Monet, Edgar Degas, Berthe Morisot, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, Camille Pissarro, and Alfred Sisley, as well as works by noted Americans Mary Cassatt and John Singer Sargent. Major paintings by Post-Impressionist artists Henri Matisse, Paul Cézanne, Paul Gauguin, Marc Chagall, and Georges Braque complete the exhibition.
Organized thematically, the subject matter of Monet to Matisse ranges from shimmering seacoasts and sunbathed rural Normandy to lively Parisians socializing in cafés, attending the ballet, or strolling leisurely on the city’s newly renovated grand boulevards. Landscapes and seascapes fill the gallery walls with glorious colors and light, while interior views capture the vivacity of modern Paris. Specially designated labels examine the glamorous fashions of the period.
The enduring legacy of Impressionism is its radical break from accepted traditions of what and how to Edgar Degas (French, 1834 – 1917), Dancer Adjusting Her Shoe, 1885, charcoal and pastel on paint. Stimulated by the Impaper18 ¾ x 23 ½ inches. Collection of the Dixon Gallery and Gardens; Bequest of Mr. and Mrs. pressionists’ use of broad Hugo N. Dixon, 1975.6 brushstrokes and pure color, an early 20th-century group of artists departed conspicuously from Monet to Matisse is an expansive view of nineteenth-century French naturalism and charted a path to cubism and abstraction. The exhibipainting and its influences. It is a story of artistic freedom and the tion concludes with works by Matisse, Gauguin, Cézanne, Chagall, shift from stilted academic historicism to near abstraction. Paintings and Braque. by artists known as the Barbizon School, a generation older than the Impressionists, introduce the exhibition. Noted for an emphasis on rural imagery, these canvases portray romanticized images of peasants in charming scenes executed in a customary palette. By the 1870s, a new generation of artist rejected this tradition.
Claude Monet (French, 1840 – 1926), Port of Dieppe, Evening, 1882, oil on canvas, 23 x 28 3/8 inches. Collection of the Dixon Gallery and Gardens, Memphis; Gift of Montgomery H. W. Ritchie, 1996.2.7
Paul Cézanne (French, 1839 – 1906), Trees and Rocks near the Château Noir, ca. 1900-06, oil on canvas, 24 3/8 x 20 ¼ inches. Collection of the Dixon Gallery and Gardens; Museum Purchase from Cornelia Ritchie and Ritchie Trust No. 4, 1996.2.20
In 1874, a group of young painters—including Monet, Pissarro, Sisley, and Renoir—organized an exhibition independent of the official French Salon, which did not approve of their new style. Called “Impressionists” because their paintings appeared to capture a fleeting vision of light on a subject rather than the thing itself, the artists often worked en plein air, or out of doors. Impressionism is characterized by quick brushwork and unblended paint applied directly to the canvas, creating shape and volume through the contrast of colors.
Most of the artists featured in Monet to Matisse were part of a rich circle of intellectuals, writers, and musicians and through the Museum’s audio guide and smart phone app, visitors will experience the music, dance, and literature that inspired the painters in the exhibition. Visitors of all ages will enjoy the hands-on activities incorporated into the galleries. In its nearly 80-year history, this is the first time the Museum has hosted an exhibition of French Impressionism. Through the eyes of the artists represented in Monet to Matisse and the paintings they created, viewers will experience the enchantment of the “City of Light,” the French countryside, and the foundation of the most important artistic movements of the twentieth century. Admission is free to MWPAI members and children 12 and younger. General admission is $10 and $5 for full-time students.
MONET À MATISSE –PROGR AMMES– Gallery Talk
Floral Workshop
First Friday Shorts Friday, May 1, 1:10 p.m. Preview of Monet to Matisse: The Age of French Impressionism
Create a French Landscape-Inspired Summer Planter Saturday, June 13, 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. $35 MWPAI Members; $50 General Admission (includes exhibition admission) Bring your own container to suit your personal style, no larger than 12” wide x 14” high.
Friday, June 5, 1:10 p.m. Summer Exhibition Preview Monet to Matisse: Portrait of Eugenia Huici Arguedas de Errázuriz, 1890
Begin with a docent-led talk on the French garden and landscape paintings on view in the exhibition Monet to Matisse. Afterwards, enjoy a tour of the colorful and various gardens and ornamental plantings on the Institute grounds with Marcia Menuez-Commerford, who designs and maintains the MWPAI gardens. Then, create your own Impressionist-inspired summer planter from a selection of flowers and ornamental foliage. Bring a box and an old blanket to assist with transporting your finished container.
Berthe Morisot (French, 1841 – 1895), Peasant Girl among Tulips, 1890, oil on canvas, 25 ¾ x 28 5/8 inches. Collection of the Dixon Gallery and Gardens; Museum purchase, 1981.1
Join the Members’ Gala Preview for
Monet to Matisse
The Age of French Impressionism Friday, May 15 7:30 p.m. Lecture
Jean-Louis Forain (French, 1852 – 1931), Woman Breathing in Flowers, ca. 1883, pastel on paper, 29 x 13 inches. Collection of the Dixon Gallery and Gardens; Museum purchase supported in part by Mrs. James D. Robinson, Mrs. John Sneed Williams, and the estate of Louis Richardson Dodd, 1987.2
T d ours e d i u G Monet to Matisse The Age of French Impressionism
MAY 16 THROUGH NOVEMBER 29
8 to 10 p.m. Champagne and Dessert Reception with live music and a dance performance
Wednesdays and Saturdays at 1 p.m. Fridays at 1 and 6 p.m. Free with Exhibition Admission
Black tie optional, $25 per person
For tickets: 315-797-0055
Mark your Calendars for these Special Programs and Tours! TICKETS 315-797-0055 July 23
September 17
Art Travel
Book discussion
A trip to The Clark Art Institute, Williamstown, MA, to view Van Gogh and Nature and French Impressionists, and to The Mount, Edith Wharton’s house and gardens, followed by dinner at the Red Lion Inn, Lenox, MA.
Ross King’s The Judgment of Paris: The Revolutionary Decade That Gave the World Impressionism
Gallery Talks August 6
June 19
Fashion Night Out with Valerie Steele “The Freud of Fashion”
Renoir, Painter and Printmaker, noon
An evening of glamorous Paris fashion and gourmet French food
The French Connection: Where Art Meets Literature, Music and Dance, noon
July 31 August 14
August 23
Music of The Belle Époque: Paris 1871-1914 A lively lecture accompanied by music, singing, and classic images from 19th-century Paris
The French Landscape, noon September 18 Paul Cézanne, noon
Meet the ArtistS Enjoy Character Tours with the artists whose radical approach to painting revolutionized the art world. Mary Cassatt, select dates in June and July Claude Monet, select dates in September and October
Classe de Peinture
Monet to Matisse: Painting en Plein Air Featured Class in Association with the Central New York Parks Conservancy
D
raw inspiration from the luminous landscapes by Impressionist masters that are featured in Monet to Matisse and from Utica’s own unique park system, designed by landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted, Jr. Students will enjoy a customized tour of the Monet to Matisse exhibition and an introduction to Utica’s Olmsted-designed parks with the CNY Conservancy. The class will meet and paint outdoor landscapes and scenes on location. Painting demonstrations and individualized instruction in acrylic or watercolor are featured. Indoor studio lessons will be offered on rainy days. A materials list will be provided upon registration. Students provide their own supplies and transportation.
Vendredi soir au musée Friday Night at the Museum
Salut!
Join in a toast to all things French at the Museum of Art on Friday, May 29, 5 to 8 p.m. in the Edward Wales Root Sculpture Court. Enjoy the Rusty Doves performing music of the French cabaret era. Tour of
Monet to Matisse
The Age of French Impressionism free with exhibition admission
Theodore Earl Butler (American, 1861 – 1937), Grainstacks, Giverny, ca. 1897, oil on canvas, 21 ¼ x 28 ¾ inches. Collection of the Dixon Gallery and Gardens; Museum purchase by the Dixon Life Members Society, 1991.4
Tuesdays and Thursdays 1 to 4 p.m. July 7 through July 30 (8 classes) Annette Gurdo, Instructor Class limit: 15 Course code: AA102-2 Member price: $180 Non-member price: $200 Class details and registration available beginning May 27 at www.mwpai.edu/learn. Annette Gurdo, an instructor in drawing and painting at MWPAI since 1993, received her associate’s degree in fine Arts from MWPAI/MVCC and completed her BFA cum laude in Drawing and Painting at Philadelphia College of Art.
Nous remercions nos patrons de l'exposition We thank our exhibition sponsors Mohawk Valley Regional Economic Development Council New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature The Gilbert and Ildiko Butler Family Foundation, Inc. Gilroy Kernan & Gilroy Insurance M&T Bank Empire State Development Division of Tourism Market NY Funds M. Griffith Investment Services, Inc.
Boutique du musée Museum Shop Friday, May 29, 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. All Products Depicting the Eiffel Tower will receive a 25% discount.
BIENVENUS AUX NOUVEAUX MEMBRES (and renewing members providing additional support at higher levels)
WELCOME NEW MEMBERS Business Members
310 Genesee Street Utica, New York 13502
Sustainer Golden Artist Colors • Mark & Barbara Golden
Members Heritage
Family/Household
Alice Root and John Dahlin Richard and Barbara Decker Mrs. F.X. Matt II
Orlando Gomez Phillip & Joanne Sassi Willcox John and Marie Scialdone Andrij Husak Adam & Katie Ullman Patrick Vedder Raja & Kusuma Mara Julie & Matthew Ambrose Deborah Boyer
President’s Circle Hugh and Liz Humphreys
Patron Allan & Melynda Freetage Mark & Lee Pavach Dr. Gregory B. Shankman
Individual Martha Adams Jeanne Zielenski Marie A. Testa Rosemary Houseknecht Virginia Packer Rowland Virginia H. Peel Carrie LoGalbo Stephen Warzala Edwin Waszkiewicz Karen Cleveland Robert Kent
Contributor Carolyn Dalton Mr. & Mrs. Roger C. Gates James C. Mead Onno Oerlemans & Sally Cockburn John & Madeline Stephenson Heather Sullivan Dean & Eva Kelly James C. Humphrey Joan & Ted Rajchel Daniel & Rebecca Robbins Bambi F. Holtslander
Terrace Cafe Will reopen on Tuesday, May 19 Come and enjoy the new French-Inspired menu options.
Munson-Williams-Proctor Arts Institute Information and Hours Museum Hours (including Fountain Elms): Tues.-Thurs., Sat. 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Fridays 10 a.m.-8 p.m., Sun. 1-5 p.m. Performing Arts Ticket Office Hours: Mon.-Fri. 10 a.m.-5 p.m., one hour before performances and 30 minutes before films. Phone: 797-0055 or 1-800-754-0797 Art Odyssey: Interactive Gallery Hours: Tues.-Sat. 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Sun. 1-5 p.m., Fridays 10 a.m.-8 p.m. School of Art Gallery Hours: Mon.-Fri. 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Sat. 9 a.m.-noon. Library: Mon.-Fri. 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Sat. noon-5 p.m. Museum Shop Hours: Tues.-Thurs. and Sat. 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Friday 10 a.m.- 8 p.m., Sun. 1-5 p.m. For information, call (315) 797-0000 (Voice and TDD)
Munson-Williams-Proctor Arts Institute is a fine arts center serving diverse audiences through three program divisions—Museum of Art, Performing Arts, and School of Art. The Institute also offers art reference and music libraries, an active membership program, a Museum Shop, and outstanding rental facilities ideal for public programs and private events. Munson-Williams-Proctor Arts Institute 310 Genesee Street Utica, New York 13502 Telephone (315) 797-0000 Fax (315) 797-5608 www.mwpai.org Free Parking
New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature.
ÉVÉNEMENTS DE MAI 1 Friday
8 Friday
13 Wednesday
20 Wednesday
First Friday Shorts: Gallery Talk Preview: Monet to Matisse: The Age of French Impressionism 1:10 p.m., Museum of Art.
Film Series Phone 797-0055 or visit mwpai.org 2 and 7:30 p.m., Auditorium.
Film Series Phone 797-0055 or visit mwpai.org 2 and 7:30 p.m., Auditorium.
Film Series Phone 797-0055 or visit mwpai.org 2 and 7:30 p.m., Auditorium.
MWPAI MIxer The Dharma Bums String Band 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., Fountain Elms Terrace.
14 Thursday
22 Friday
Film Series Phone 797-0055 or visit mwpai.org 2 and 7:30 p.m., Auditorium.
Film Series Phone 797-0055 or visit mwpai.org 2 and 7:30 p.m., Auditorium.
Museum Open Until 8 p.m.
15 Friday
Museum Open Until 8 p.m.
Film Series Phone 797-0055 or visit mwpai.org 2 and 7:30 p.m., Auditorium. Exhibition Design for a Difference 4 to 6 p.m., 14 Cottage Place.
9 Saturday PrattMWP Commencement 1 p.m., Edward Wales Root Sculpture Court.
Museum Open Until 8 p.m.
2 Saturday Concerts in the Court Eroica Trio 8 p.m., Edward Wales Root Sculpture Court. ArtBreak Talk Preview: Monet to Matisse: The Age of French Impressionism Concerts in the Court intermission.
6 Wednesday Film Series Phone 797-0055 or visit mwpai.org 2 and 7:30 p.m., Auditorium.
PrattMWP Sophomore Exhibition 2 to 3 p.m., Reception, Edward Wales Root Sculpture Court. Community Arts Education Exhibition Reception 3 to 4:30 p.m., Fountain Elms Terrace.
10 Sunday Film Screening In God’s House: The Religious Landscape of Utica, NY 2 p.m., Auditorium, Reception follows, Edward Wales Root Sculpture Court.
Members’ Preview and Gala Champagne and Dessert Reception Monet to Matisse: The Age of French Impressionism Lecture 7:30 p.m., Auditorium; Reception 8 to 10 p.m., Edward Wales Root Sculpture Court.
Monet to Matisse: The Age of French Impressionism May 16 through November 29 Wednesdays and Saturdays at 1 p.m. Fridays at 1 and 6 p.m.
Art and Yoga 10:30 a.m., Museum of Art.
27 Wednesday
No Film Tonight
Film Series Phone 797-0055 or visit mwpai.org 2 and 7:30 p.m., Auditorium.
16 Saturday
29 Friday
Exhibition Opens Monet to Matisse: The Age of French Impressionism On view through November 29, Museum of Art.
Film Series Phone 797-0055 or visit mwpai.org 2 and 7:30 p.m., Auditorium.
Art and Yoga 10:30 a.m., Museum of Art. For Kids and Families Doktor Kaboom! 1 p.m., Meyer Performing Arts Center, New Hartford Central School.
Guided Tours
23 Saturday
MWP Friday Night Phone 797-0055 or visit mwpai.org 5 to 8 p.m., Museum of Art. Museum Open Until 8 p.m.
30 Saturday Art and Yoga 10:30 a.m., Museum of Art.
Jeffrey Siegel’s Keyboard Conversations® Popular Piano Classics 8 p.m., Auditorium.
Meet in the Edward Wales Root Sculpture Court Free with Exhibition Admission
The following areas are accessible to the physically challenged: Museum of Art Galleries, Auditorium and Sculpture Court, Art Odyssey: Interactive Gallery, Museum Shop, Art Reference and Music Libraries, Performing Arts Office, School of Art Gallery, Studio D, and the Pottery Studio, the Academic Center and Student Center.