print club - des moines art center · 2013-01-02 · vasarely, whose glowing, pulsating geometric...

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janfebmar2013

2 art center news jan feb mar 2013

SPeCIaL eVenTfrOm THe DIreCTOr

Oscar® Party friday, february 22 / 8 – 10 pmart Center lobby admission $10; members $5

Lights! Camera! action! Celebrate an Oscar® pre-party at the Des moines art Center. Walk the red carpet leading up to the art Center’s glamorous celebration of the Oscars® (which is held on Sunday, february 24). Come dressed as your favorite movie star of past or present, or come dressed as your favorite film character. Or, come as yourself dressed in your best Hollywood finery — be it elegant or glitzy — make a fashion statement! ballots will be available to make your Oscar® predications. Those who predict the most winners will be notified after the Oscar® ceremony and will be the recipients of fabulous movie-related prizes. Champagne will flow, hors d’oeuvres will be passed, music will waft through the lobby, and movie magic will fill the air. Who needs the Vanity fair party when you have the art Center?

radiO art center saturday Morning on the radio Hosted by Director of marketing and Public relations Christine Doolittle, radio art Center airs on KfmG 99.1 fm or kfmg991.org every other Saturday at 11 am. Log onto the art Center’s website for the program schedule or listen to past programs online at desmoinesartcenter.org.

Guided tOursLearn more about the art Center and Pappajohn Sculpture Park by taking a docent-led tour. (Guided tours of the sculpture park are offered april 2 through October 31.) Three weeks advance notice is needed to schedule a guided tour. Please fill out the tour request form at desmoinesartcenter.org/aspx/tour-scheduling.aspx or call 515.277.4405 and ask to schedule a tour. There is a guided tour charge for adults of $2 per person or a minimum fee of $20 (if a group tours the art Center and the sculpture park on the same day, the fee is $3 per person or a minimum fee of $30). Tours for students are always free. Use your cell phone to learn more about artwork in the museum or the Pappajohn Sculpture Park.

in the museum dial 515.509.2240.in the sculpture park dial 515.657.8264.then enter a stop number. Stop number guides are available at the Information Desk, in the sculpture park brochure, or on the art Center website. Other than minutes on your phone, cell phone tours are free.

as we enter 2013, an unintentional international focus for the art Center’s year seems to be emerging. artists from all over the globe will add vibrancy to our community through museum acquisitions, exhibitions, and educational programming. among others, the countries of China, nigeria, Great britain, Venezuela, Iran, the Czech republic, Denmark, South Korea, and brazil will be represented. recent accessions to the permanent collections include a major work by ai Weiwei. ai is one of the most acclaimed Chinese artists of his generation and his work, Kui Hua Zi (Sunflower Seeds), 2009, which represents a portion of his major installation in 2010 at Tate modern’s Turbine Hall, exemplifies his approach to art making like no other. additionally, the Venezuelan artist, Carlos Cruz-Diez, recently gifted the art Center two works on paper from the 1980s. These pieces will be included in the upcoming print gallery exhibition, Vibrations. The first major exhibition of the year is Transparencies: Contemporary Art and A History

of Glass. This group project includes monir farmanfarmaian, one of Iran’s most significant living artists, ran Hwang from South Korea, and Karen Lamonte, an american based in the Czech republic. This show will be followed by a one-person exhibition featuring the work of Phyllida barlow from Great britain. The Single-channel series will include the artist collective Superflex from Denmark. finally, the last major exhibition project of the year will be a solo show of the work of el anatsui from nigeria, africa’s most renowned contemporary artist. all of these artists’ works and exhibitions will be an integral part of our education programming throughout the year. In addition, the brazilian artist Vik muniz will present the fingerman Lecture in the spring. There will be a lot to see and do in 2013. Please join us for these and more entirely unexpected experiences!

jeff fLemInG

ai Weiwei (Chinese, born 1957)Kui Hua Zi (Sunflower Seeds), 2009Hand-painted porcelainVarying dimensions Purchased with funds from the Coffin fine arts Trust and funds from the edmundson art foundation, Inc.; nathan emory Coffin Collection of the Des moines art Center, 2012.76

Free adMissiOn The art Center is proud to continue to offer free aDmISSIOn to art Center galleries, programs, and events unless otherwise noted. free admission is supported by Principal financial Group, Vision Iowa, and art Center members. Thank you.

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During the 1960s, Op artists burst on the scene with optically-based, hard-edge, black-and- white, color, and kinetic abstractions that seem to generate light, energy, and space. Op artists were interested in creating new forms of art that stimulate the retinal and psychological receptors that produce the images our mind perceives. Op artists favored flat areas of pigment that seem applied as if by machine, without distracting brushstrokes. They frequently employed squares, grids, targets, and diagrammatic or all-over compositional formats. Vibrations presents a dazzling selection of 23 works from the permanent collections in which artists explore the nature of visual perception. Op artists represented in the exhibition include bridget riley, whose black and white lines and patterns seem to vibrate and fold, and Victor Vasarely, whose glowing, pulsating geometric images seem to map new spatial dimensions. additional works from this dynamic international movement include a lenticular print by Yaacov agam, a screenprint of diaphanous veils of line that generate moiré patterns by Carlos Cruz–Diez,

vibrationsjanUarY 22 – maY 12, 2013 / PrInT GaLLerY

a string composition by Sue fuller, and a nine-square mandala color etching of alternating color blocks and fine lines by jesús rafael Soto. The exhibition also includes several works by artists who are not often considered in relationship to Op art. Pop artists roy Lichtenstein and bill Komodore used halftone dot patterns, and Peter Phillips employs line and sizzling color in ways that are interesting to compare with their optically-oriented contemporaries. Linear compositions and grids by minimalists alex Hay, Donald judd, Sol LeWitt, and richard Serra are fascinating to compare to the use of line in Op art. The exhibition also presents images of precursor marcel Duchamp’s experimental optical artworks, called rotodiscs, from the 1920s and 30s; as well as hard-edge color abstractions by Herbert bayer, Ilya bolotowsky, and a sparkling black and white etching by Chuck Close. Vibrations is organized by amy n. Worthen, curator of prints and drawings. Support is generously provided by the Des moines art Center Print Club.

Victor Vasarely (french, 1906 or 1908–1997)Ond JG, 1969Screenprint on paper, 23 3/8 x 23 3/8 inchesDes moines art Center Permanent Collections; Gift of Wells fargo & Company, 2003.301

Chuck Close (american, born 1940)Small Self-Portrait, 1999relief etching on paper, 14 x 11 1/2 inchesDes moines art Center Permanent Collections; Gift of Peg buckley, 2010.97

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Print cLub PrOGraM what’s Op about art?Sunday, february 3 / 1 – 3 pm Levitt auditorium Louis fingerman, mD, joins amy n. Worthen to talk about vision and art. The talk is open to the public.

GaLLery taLkThursday, february 7 / 6:30 pm Print Gallery

join amy n. Worthen for a discussion of this exhibition.

art nOir OP-arty Party friday, march 29 (see page 14)

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dOubLe Feature arT anD THe mOVIeS

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acadeMy award® nOMinated shOrt FiLMsLevitt auditorium reservations required*

Oscar® nominations are announced january 15, 2013, so line-ups won’t be known until then, but mark your calendars now to see the best of 2012’s short films. audiences will vote for their favorite films each night and winners will be announced on the art Center’s website. Visit desmoinesartcenter.org after january 15 for details about the award-nominated films.

documentary Programfriday, february 8 / 6:30 pm

animation Programfriday, february 15 / 6:30 pm

Live-action Programfriday, february 22 / 6:30 pm

Snow date for any of the above programs: Sunday, february 24 / 1 pm

If a film is canceled due to inclement weather, it will be posted on the art Center’s website: desmoinesartcenter.org.

art nOir QuarterLy sOciaLfriday, february 22 / (see page 14)

Oscar® Partyfriday, february 22 / (see page 2)

janUarY 22 – aPrIL 14, 2013 / bLanK One GaLLerY

Lecture + bOOk siGninG: “designs on Film: a century of hollywood art direction” Sunday, february 17 / 2 pmLevitt auditoriumreservations required*

from Scarlett’s Tara, norma Desmond’s Sunset boulevard, rebecca’s manderley, and Citizen Kane’s xanadu, to the richly detailed drawing rooms of the Age of Innocence and Marie Antoinette, the cinema is home to some of the world’s most memorable images. Through the use

of film design, production designers set the scene and transform dreams into a cinematic fantasy or widescreen reality. join us for a lecture by Cathy Whitlock that covers the history of production design and set decoration and focuses on the important designs from each decade. books will be available for purchase in the museum Shop and a book signing will follow the lecture in the lobby of the museum. Cathy Whitlock is an interior design consultant, lecturer, magazine writer, and the author.

*Space is limited. Please make your free reservations at desmoinesartcenter.org by clicking on the eVenT reSerVaTIOnS bubble on the homepage or by phone at 515.271.0313 beginning january 3, 2013. Please specify which event(s) you wish to attend.

GaLLery taLkThursday, march 7 / 6:30 pm anna K. meredith Gallery

join Laura burkhalter, associate curator and jill featherstone, director of education, for a discussion of this exhibition.

Since its emergence as a major form of popular entertainment in the early 20th century, the cinema has exerted a profound influence over other forms of culture, including the visual arts. In turn, many filmmakers have looked toward art history to inspire the unique worlds they project on screen. featuring work by john baldessari, Christian jankowski, Cindy Sherman, and andy Warhol, Double Feature explores the relationship between art and the movies, from cinema’s earliest days to the digital revolution of the 21st century. Double Feature is organized by Laura burkhalter, associate curator and jill featherstone, director of education.

richard estes (american, born 1932)Study XIII - Theater, 1997Woodcut13 x 6 3/4 inchesDes moines art Center Permanent Collections; Gift of Peg buckley, 2010.99

Christian jankowski (German, born 1968)16 mm Mystery, 200435 mm filmrunning Time: 3 minutesPurchased with funds from the Coffin fine arts Trust; nathan emory Coffin Collection of the Des moines art Center, 2005.6


*Space is limited for these events. Please make your free reservations at desmoinesartcenter.org by clicking on the eVenT reSerVaTIOnS bubble on the homepage or by phone at 515.271.0313.

reservations for “The art and History of Glass” lecture and Yoga + Gallery Talk available beginning february 11.

reservations for fred Wilson artist lecture available beginning march 11.

Please specify which event(s) you wish to attend.

Support for this exhibition is provided by the art alliance for Contemporary Glass (aaCG).

yOGa + GaLLery taLkSaturday, march 16 / 9 am Lobby / anna K. meredith Gallery reservations required*Limit 50; participants should provide their own yoga mats.

Yoga novices and enthusiasts alike are invited to the lobby of the art Center for a Saturday morning yoga practice. Voted as Cityview’s 2011 best Yoga Instructor in Des moines, ben easter will lead a 60-minute session that starts the weekend off in the right direction.

a 20-minute gallery talk about the exhibition Transparencies: Contemporary Art and A History of Glass immediately follows.

artist Lecture: Fred wiLsOnOpacities: the unforgivable beauty of black GlassThursday, april 11 / 6:30 pm / Levitt auditorium reservations required*

a 1999 recipient of a macarthur foundation “Genius” Grant as well as the 2003 american representative at the Venice biennale, fred Wilson is internationally known for his museum installations, in which he re-installs and re-labels objects owned by a museum for the

purpose of creating new meanings and non-conventional narratives. beyond bringing home the point that the way we view and “read” objects is conditioned by context and juxtaposition, Wilson’s site-specific installations subvert, criticize, or poke fun at the unspoken assumptions that museums make about the social order, including such issues as class, gender, and ethnicity. Wilson began using glass in his work during a residency at the Pilchuck Glass School in Seattle in 2001. Three of his glass pieces are featured in Transparencies: The Beginning of the End, 2009, Drips and Drabs, 2009, and Iago’s Mirror, 2009. Using familiar and historic forms, his glass works represent a continuing investigation into the symbolism and meaning of the color black, both historically and in contemporary times.

GaLLery taLkThursday, may 2 / 6:30 pm anna K. meredith Gallery

join associate Curator Laura burkhalter for a discussion of this exhibition.

Transparencies brings together a group of international artists whose work explores glass as both medium and as subject matter. each creates contemporary art that connects with the history of glasswork, from luxury objects such as chandeliers and mirrors to household items like drinking vessels and light bulbs. many forms of glass are represented, from delicate, hand-worked mirrors to industrial sheets of Plexiglas, as well as works that despite appearances are not made of glass at all. The artists selected for Transparencies come from around the world, and vary widely in their art-making practices. Some have always worked with glass, both actually and conceptually, while others have only explored it occasionally. Combining sculpture, video, and installation with traditional forms of artisan technique such as stained and blown glass, Transparencies explores the role of glass in today’s contemporary art world as well as our everyday lives. artists in the show include jim Dingilian (U.S.), matt eskuche (U.S.), monir farmanfarmaian (Iran), Laura fritz (U.S.), rachel Lee Hovnanian (U.S.), ran Hwang (Korea/U.S.), Luke jerram (Great britain), Karen Lamonte (U.S./Czech republic), judith Schaechter (U.S.), and fred Wilson (U.S.). Transparencies is organized by Laura burkhalter, associate curator.

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exhibitiOn Preview Party Thursday, february 21 / 5 – 8 pm Cash bar; complimentary hors d’oeuvresadmission $5; members free

Lecture the art and history of Glass Sunday, march 10 / 2 pm / Levitt auditoriumreservations required*

The son of a glassblower, William Warmus has spent his life around glassmakers and glass masterpieces. He was the curator of modern glass at The Corning museum of Glass, editor of Glass Quarterly, and is the author of more than a dozen books and over

a hundred essays. In 2012, his writing appeared in books about Dale Chihuly, bertil Vallien, and narcissus Quagliata. The True History of Glass, an overview of the art, history, and sociology of contemporary glass, will appear in 2013. This lecture explores the fascinating history of glass from its beginnings to its modern development, from Tutankhamen to Tiffany, Chihuly, and beyond.

TranSParenCIeS contemporary art and a history of Glass

febrUarY 21 – maY 22, 2013 / anna K. mereDITH GaLLerY

judith Schaechter (american, born 1961)Mad Meg, 2010Stained glass lightbox, 55 5/8 x 24 x 6 1/4 inches new britain museum of american art, Paul W. Zimmerman fund

Cover image: ran Hwang, Garden of Water, 2010


fred Wilson. Photo courtesy The Pace Gallery.

This exhibition presents a selection of civil rights-era photographs from an extraordinary gift to the menil Collection by adelaide de menil and edmund Carpenter. The work, by Dan budnik, Danny Lyon, bruce Davidson, Leonard freed, bob adelman, Charles moore, and elliott erwitt, captures the profound changes taking place in the United States beginning in the 1960s. It includes a wide variety of striking images that deal with race and politics: marchers on the road from Selma to montgomery, Dr. martin Luther King, jr. in protest, cotton workers in the mississippi Delta, and the Ku Klux Klan. The photographers in the show were involved with showing the world both the struggle and the victories of those fighting for civil rights. as artists, their work is not only important photojournalistic documentation, but the photographs are also extraordinary works of art. With complex formal compositions and masterful plays with light and framing, they are indelible statements.

This exhibition is organized by the menil Collection, Houston. In Houston, this exhibition was realized through the generous support of mark Wawro and melanie Gray; roy and evelyn nolen; The robert mapplethorpe foundation; fulbright & jaworski L.L.P.; Goldman, Sachs & Co.; nina and michael Zilkha; and the City of Houston.

Support for this exhibition at the Des moines art Centeris provided by the national endowment for the arts; The andy Warhol foundation for the Visual arts; The brown foundation, Inc., of Houston; Wells fargo; substance; marty Gross; and faegre baker Daniels LLP.

The Whole World Was WaTchingcivil righTs-era PhoTograPhs from The menil collecTion

THrOUGH janUarY 6, 2013 / LOWer meIer GaLLerIeS

COnTInUInG exHIbITIOnS

The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts

The Brown FoundaTion, inc.Houston, Texas

substancearchitecture

interiors

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sinGLe-channeL 3 Part 2: time and circumstance

superflex (Danish artist collective, founded 1993)

Flooded McDonald’s, 2009

febrUarY 1– aPrIL 28, 2013meIer VIDeO GaLLerY

Single-channel is a program dedicated to the exhibition and interpretation of important single-channel video by contemporary artists. each year-long series is dedicated to a specific theme explored in unexpected and surprising ways by artists from around the world. The exhibition format presents one video for approximately 12 weeks in the video gallery of the richard meier building. Single-channel 3: Time and Circumstance, features videos in which the artist undertakes some sort of task or challenge, often in a restricted time format. The third work in this series, Superflex’s Flooded McDonald’s, 2009, presents a provocative, tense vision of destruction. Over 21 minutes, the interior of a mcDonald’s fills slowly with water, destroying the space, products, and iconography familiar to consumers around the world. evocative of both big-budget disaster movies and the recent tragedies of Hurricane Sandy, Flooded McDonald’s invites critical questions about global consumerism, the fragility of contemporary structures, and the voyeuristic pleasure viewers often taken in watching disaster unfold.

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Superflex (Danish artist collective, founded 1993)Flooded McDonald’s, 2009film, 21 minutes Courtesy of the artists

Leonard freedblack in White america, Brooklyn, New York© Leonard freed, courtesy of bruce Silverstein Gallery, nYThe menil Collection, Houston, gift of edmund Carpenter and adelaide de menil abOVe Leonard freedblack in White america, maryland© Leonard freed, courtesy of bruce Silverstein Gallery, nYThe menil Collection, Houston, gift of edmund Carpenter and adelaide de menil



Iowa Artists 2012: Print looks at some of the many ways 27 artists who currently live and work in Iowa use a variety of traditional and non-traditional print media in their work. Included are prints on paper, silver gelatin photography, digital prints, broadsides, a woodblock, a digital poster, and ceramic bowls with printed glazes, among others. amy n. Worthen, curator of prints and drawings, organized the exhibition, which is dedicated to the memory of mauricio Lasansky (1915–2012). a fully-illustrated catalog accompanies the exhibition.

This exhibition is sponsored by the elizabeth firestone Graham foundation; the Peter H. & e. Lucille Gaass Kuyper foundation; KPmG LLC; the Des moines art Center Print Club; and bank of the West.

untitLed (structures)THrOUGH janUarY 27, 2013 / anna K. mereDITH GaLLerY

The conceptually-based work of Leslie Hewitt (american, born 1977) investigates the powerful way in which still and moving images create meaning and history, the deeply subjective perspective of the person holding the camera, and the influence they wield on the understanding of one’s self. Leslie Hewitt’s newest cinematic project, Untitled (Structures), 2012, in collaboration with bradford Young (american, born 1977), independent filmmaker and cinematographer, revisits the original locations where iconic images of the civil rights movement were taken. Partly inspired by the civil rights era/race-based photographs in the menil Collection, Houston, Hewitt’s conceptually-based project investigates the powerful way these images have resonated meaning over time. The installation was commissioned by the menil Collection, Houston, in collaboration with the Des moines art Center and the museum of Contemporary art, Chicago, and produced by Karin Chien. The exhibition is organized by Gilbert Vicario, senior curator.

Support for this exhibition is provided by the national endowment for the arts; The andy Warhol foundation for the Visual arts; The brown foundation, Inc., of Houston; Wells fargo; substance; marty Gross; and faegre baker Daniels LLP.

The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts

The Brown FoundaTion, inc.Houston, Texas

substancearchitecture

interiors

design

iOwa artists 2012: PrintTHrOUGH janUarY 13, 2013 PrInT GaLLerY anD bLanK One GaLLerY

E l i z a b e t h F i r e s t o n e G r a h a m F o u n d a t i o n

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Catherine Dreiss, Des moines, IowaThe Learned Woman, 2009Woodblock print on paper. 36 x 24 inches

Leslie Hewitt in collaboration with cinematographer bradford Young Untitled (Structures), 2012Production stillCourtesy of the artists and Lucien Terras Inc.

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28 29 30 31Lecture History of the Des Moines Art Centeramy n. WorthenPaGe 13

20 21 22exhibitions openVibrationsPaGe 3

Double FeaturePaGe 4

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Print club Fingerprints program and documentaryPaGe 14

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member weekend

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MuseuM shOP extra 5% discount on books for members during the month of January

MuseuM shOPextra 5% discount on jewelry for members during the month of February

ImaGIne YOUr SPeCIaL eVenT HerereMarkabLe architecturebeautiFuL sPaces

wedding receptions rehearsal dinners lectures or meetings

reserve your date todayContact Debra Kurtz at 515.271.0336 or [email protected].

generous media support was provided to the art center in 2012 by Cityview, The Des Moines Register,

capital 106.3, iowa public radio, mediacom, aBc tv-5, and KFmg 99.1.

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LectureThe Art and History of GlassWilliam Warmus PaGe 5

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MuseuM shOPextra 5% discount on jewelry for members during the month of February

MuseuM shOPextra 5% discount on winter apparel for members during the month of March

Find sweet GiFts in the MuseuM shOPJewelry BooKs & media home décor stationary & JournalsKitchen gadgetsaccessories winter apparelKids toys and BooKs art center merchandise

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art center restaurantMenu chanGes weekLy available online at desmoinesartcenter.org Lunch Tuesday – Saturday 11 am – 2 pm


the art center recently purchased two important works of art for the permanent collections. with funds from the coffin Fine arts trust and the edmundson art Foundation, the art center acquired ai weiwei’s Kui Hua Zi (Sunflower Seeds), 2009; and with funds provided by pamela Bass-Bookey and harry Bookey, paul cézanne’s lithograph entitled The Bathers, 1897. ai Weiwei was born in beijing, China in 1957, but spent his childhood in Dongbei and xinjian where his father, a famous poet, was “re-educated” during China’s Cultural revolution. ai lived and studied in new York City from 1981 to 1993, when he returned to China and established a studio near beijing. His art is often politically or socially charged, and he has been openly critical of China’s human rights record. ai has exhibited his artwork all over the world in major venues, but arguably his most significant project was at the Tate modern in London in 2010. This major work, titled Sunflower Seeds, installed in the Tate’s large Turbine Hall, consisted of one hundred million porcelain sunflower seeds, each individually hand-made and hand painted by 1,600 Chinese artisans in the town of jingdezhen, a traditional site of Chinese porcelain production. The art Center’s acquisition is a portion of the seeds installed in the Turbine Hall. ai’s body of work, and especially the enormous scale of the Tate installation, demonstrates China’s industrial capabilities and the country’s attempts to come to grips with its past as well as its future. The installation comments on mass production and consumption, collective labor, and cultural history and its loss. Porcelain production is an

intriguing facet of Chinese tradition. It is a product of high artistic and monetary value and for many, it equates Chinese culture. as with any cultural history, the Chinese created their own forms and approaches to the clay medium, but also borrowed from other cultures. additionally, sunflower seeds were a common food source in China when ai was young; the artist remembers that everyone had a pocketful at any given time. ai’s installation of porcelain seeds draws from this cultural and personal history while reconsidering notions of obsessive actions without profitable results and globalization. Paul Cézanne was one of the most significant pre-modernist artists. His post-impressionist work is widely considered to be one of the foundations upon which modernism developed, as it laid the groundwork for the transition from the 19th-century to the 20th-century art world. With his depictions of fractured space through simple forms, flat areas of color, multiple viewpoints, and repetitive brushwork, Cézanne built the bridge between late 19th-century Impressionism and Post-Impressionism and 20th-century Cubism. both matisse and Picasso stated that Cézanne “is the father of us all.” Cézanne made only five etchings of which the art Center owns one (all from 1873) and three lithographs (all produced in the late 1890s). Cézanne was a close associate of Camille Pissarro, of whom the art Center has eight works, and Paul Gachet, the doctor and printmaker who printed our Van Gogh etching. This mature work from 1897 is from an edition of 100 and is the artist’s only published lithograph. It presents a recurring theme in Cézanne’s work—bathers. The print

reCenT aCCeSSIOnS TO THe COLLeCTIOn

was commissioned and published by ambroise Vollard, one of his dealers, in a portfolio of work by 31 artists. The work originates from a drawing by Cézanne on a litho stone. each additional color comes from a different stone, following a color maquette created by Cézanne and printed by auguste Clot. Cézanne produced a major painting of the subject in 1900, which is now in the collection of the beyeler foundation in basel. The Venezuelan artist Carlos Cruz-Diez, through the Sicardi Gallery, Houston, gave the art Center two serigraphs entitled Couleur additive, Serie de 2 (Additive Color, Series of 2), 1981. Cruz-Diez worked in Paris alongside the Op artists Victor Vasarely, Heinz mack, and jesús rafael Soto. His “Couleur additive” series of works on paper, which he has been making since 1959, create kinetic and optic movement through distinct color combinations. The artist has called these retinal disturbances “vibrations.” The two serigraphs are the first works by the artist to enter the permanent collections. Three additional works of art from the David and Liz Kruidenier estate were recently accessioned into the permanent collections. They are Claes Oldenburg’s model for nollen Plaza’s Crusoe’s Umbrella, 1979; roy Lichtenstein’s Modern Head Relief, 1970; and Pablo Picasso’s Woman Lamp, 1955. each of these artists is well represented in the art Center’s collections, but these new works add fresh dimensions to our holdings. for example, this is the first ceramic work by Picasso and the first bronze by Lichtenstein to enter the collections. In addition to the Kruidenier gifts, Keith Shaver generously gave the art Center 25 works on paper, including prints by marie Laurencin, Georges braque, maurice de Vlaminck, man ray, Henry moore, Paul Cézanne, rockwell Kent, alexander Calder, and Leonard baskin, among others. Several artists included in this gift are new to the collections and others add to our holdings by an artist. Highlights are fernand Léger’s color lithograph entitled Les deux figures, 1929, printed 1955; Pablo Picasso’s Pour ma chérie Jacqueline, a lithograph from 1958, printed 1963; Camille Pissarro’s etching Les faneuses, 1890; and james rosenquist’s color lithograph on black paper entitled Tumbleweed, 1970.

Carlos Cruz-Diez (Venezuelan, born 1923)Couleur additive, Serie de 2 (Additive Color, Series of 2), 1981Serigraph on paperedition 63/7523 3/8 x 31 7/16 inches Des moines art Center Permanent Collections; Gift of Sicardi Gallery, 2012.78

Paul Cézanne (french, 1839 –1906). Les baigneurs, petit planche (Small Plate), also known as Small Bathers, from “l’album d’estampes originales de la Galerie Vollard,” 1897. Lithograph in green, yellow, pink, blue, and black. 9 1/2 x 11 1/2 inches. Purchased with funds from Pamela bass-bookey and Harry bookey; Des moines art Center Permanent Collections; 2012.77


Fabric design classCreate your own custom fabric, wallpaper, or wall decal in this fun three-week workshop. Students will create a small painting using wet on wet watercolor techniques, then learn how to photograph and upload the image for custom printing. each student will have the opportunity to set up their own online account and store to purchase and sell their custom fabric. Drawing and painting experience highly recommended.

the wine and art experience enjoy an inspiring evening of art as you sample and learn about wines, beers, cheeses, and nuts from the experts at The Cheese Shop. During the evening, art Center faculty will guide you in creating your own artistic masterpiece. Sign up for a single session or all four at a discounted rate! all participants must be at least 21 years of age.

baby & Me Gallery talksnew parents are encouraged to bring their infants (pre-walkers) to an informal gallery talk led by new mom and Director of education jill featherstone. While conversation is geared for adults, babies are captivated by the visual stimulation of the artwork. (note: Strollers and front-carrying baby carriers are permitted.) meet in the lobby of the museum. Stroller accessible entrance is located on the south side of the parking lot by the doors marked education.

early-out wednesday classes for grades pre-k – 6enjoy time in the studio drawing, painting, and sculpting. five- and three-week sessions are available for Des moines Public School students who have early dismissals on Wednesday afternoons.

spring break cinematic Fun for grades 1 – 6 Get out of the house and into the studio! join us for these exciting camps during spring break. each session has a cinematic theme, from ‘Honey I Shrunk the art’ to ‘The empire Strikes a Pose.’

new cLass OFFerinGs FOr aduLts

abstract PaintingLearn the art of abstraction using imagery from your everyday life. Visit the museum and discover the complexity of abstract painting; then move to the studio. Work with the instructor to learn how to create your own abstract painting using shape, line, color, and the principals of design.

studio programs


adrienne and charLes herbert GaLLeries

schOOL exhibitiOns

west des MOines cOMMunity schOOLsimpact of art xxiiireception Thursday, january 24 / 6:30 – 8 pm

aduLt student exhibitiOnfebruary 6 – march 6reception Wednesday, march 6 / 5 – 6 pm

sPrinG student exhibitiOnmarch 11 – april 13reception last day of class

sPrinG cLass scheduLe

new

OUTreaCH PrOGramS

casady alternative center (cac) returns to the art center Twelve students from Casady alternative Center’s Girls Program will visit the art Center twice a month during the academic year. each visit consists of a trip to the museum and a corresponding studio project. The girls recently viewed the marsden Hartley painting and are looking forward to creating Georgia O’Keeffe-inspired paintings. CaC provides sixth- through eighth-grade girls with intensive academic and behavioral instruction and students participate in intensive gender-specific problem solving and pro-social skills.

Mentor iowamentor Iowa’s annual museum visit and studio activity will take place in january. forty mentors and mentees (children) will visit the museum and then work together to create a portrait of the child and a custom designed frame for the child to take home. The mission of mentor Iowa is to provide trained volunteer mentors to abused, neglected, and delinquent children who are under the jurisdiction of the juvenile Court.

Merrill artistsSixth- to eighth-grade students will once again make the trek to the art Center to attend an eight-week after school program integrating museum visits and artist-inspired studio projects. Thanks to margie brennan, the art Center has been able to offer this program for the past 14 years to help keep the students engaged and promote their creativity.

youth emergency services and shelter (yess)In march, the art Center looks forward to sending artist Sean eike to Youth emergency Services and Shelter for a six-week session. eike will work with boys ages nine to 17 on cartooning and comic book art. The mission of YeSS is to provide emergency shelter, respite, and counseling for children aged birth through 17.

meier bernstein foundation, Lois L. and H. Dale bright foundation, Variety-The Children’s Charity, bank of america, Wellmark blue Cross and blue Shield, and Casey’s provided funds for YeSS, mentor Iowa, and Casady alternative Center.

iMPact OF art xxiii Thursday, january 24 / 6:30 – 8 pm Levitt auditorium This event celebrates the accomplishments of the visual arts students and art Center scholarship recipients from all 14 West Des moines Community Schools. Parents, students, and friends are invited to an exhibition of student artwork in the adrienne and Charles Herbert Galleries. Guests can see a student-designed PowerPoint presentation in Levitt auditorium, hear music performed by Valley High School students, and enjoy refreshments. The exhibition is open to the public from 8 am – 5 pm, monday – friday, january 3 – 29.

check out the spring class schedule with over 20 new class offerings for students of all ages, and our exciting three-week session of inspiring workshops. reGistratiOn is OPen — look for these stimulating new classes and many more! the complete class listing is available at desmoinesartcenter.org/education.


creativity day: stimulating young artistsOffered in conjunction with the Des moines Symphony’s 75th anniversary and the Pappajohn Sculpture Park in October, first- through fourth-grade students from Perry elementary School participated in Creativity Day, a multi-sensory program at the art Center. The students rotated through a series of activities: an art project related to sculptures at the sculpture park, creative movement (dance) to the score created by Steve Heitzeg, and using various types of drums to create beats based on sculptures in the park.

urbandale high school 3-d art students create sculptures using the Pappapjohn sculpture Park as inspiration emphasizing real world experience, Chris Kimble, 3-D art teacher at Urbandale High School, created a final assignment where each student created an artwork in response to a specific sculpture in the sculpture park. In constructing the final model, students were encouraged to use the methods and materials introduced throughout the semester to build a scale model of the larger piece they envisioned. Like a real world call for entries, students built a small-scale model and wrote an artist statement that indicated why their sculpture would be a meaningful addition to the community. The students presented their work to classmates, teachers, and community judges.

mUSeUm eDUCaTIOn neWS

Urbandale High School installation of student-designed sculptures inspired by the Pappajohn Sculpture Park: Reaching Out in foreground and Dance of Life in background.

Docents michele Slawson, Sally Davis ellwein, and Susan brown celebrate the Cindy Sherman exhibition opening at the Walker art Center in november.

international baccalaureate juniors and senior students from central academy learned about earth artists in October. after viewing the documentary Rivers and Tides: Andy Goldsworthy Working with Time and learning about other artists that work with the earth, the students explored Greenwood Park and created artworks using only natural materials found in the park and then photographed their creations. the project culminated with a photography exhibition in the halls of central academy.

Percussionist aaron Williams works with students during Creativity Day.

dOcents and Friends visit Minneapolis art MuseumsIn november, 30 docents and friends traveled to minneapolis to experience four outstanding art museums. at the minneapolis Institute of arts, the group learned more about its vast permanent collections; at the Weisman art museum, the group experienced the outstanding architecture of frank Gehry; the museum of russian art presented an exciting look into russian art history; and at the Walker art Center, the visit was topped off by a Cindy Sherman exhibition and opening night reception. The group returned to Des moines with a renewed excitement for the arts.


fILmmUSeUm eDUCaTIOn

desiGn & thinkinG, 2011mu-ming Tsai, director74 minutes, not ratedThursday, february 7 / 7 pm (snow date Thursday, february 28)Levitt auditorium

How do we fully engage organizations to think about the changing landscape of business, culture, and society? Inspired by design thinking, this documentary grabs businessmen, designers, social change-makers, and unlikely individuals to portray what they have in common when facing this ambiguous 21st century. What is design thinking? How is it applied in business models? How are people changing the world with their own creative minds? It is a call to conventional minds to change and collaborate. This film is presented in partnership with aIGa Iowa, the professional association for design, and aDaI, art Directors association of Iowa.

bLack Maria FiLM + videO FestivaL independent Films for independent Minds friday, march 15 / 6:30 pmSaturday, march 16 / 1 pm (not a repeat of march 15 program)Levitt auditoriumall films were selected with an adult audience in mind.

The art Center continues to bring cutting-edge, independent films to the region by hosting the black maria International film and Video festival. The annual festival draws hundreds of entries from around the world in the categories of documentary, experimental, animation, and narrative works. fifty award-winning films are named and included in the festival’s annual tour. Traveling to more than 60 host institutions across the country and abroad, each program is tailor-selected for each venue.

Lecturehistory of the des Moines art center Thursday, january 31 / 6:30 pmLevitt auditoriumreservations required*

In 1933, visionary philanthropist james edmundson bequeathed funds to establish the Des moines art Center, which opened to the public in 1948. In this lavishly illustrated talk on the museum’s history, amy n. Worthen, curator of prints and drawings and long-time staff member, looks at some of the personalities who made the art Center the extraordinary institution that it is today. She will discuss some of the many people who fulfilled edmundson’s vision as well as those who continue to expand upon it. These include the early 20th-century art activists of Des moines; the museum’s founders and their philosophies; the directors, their artistic visions, and the significant works of art they acquired; the trustees, donors and collectors; the architects; the staff, artists, and teachers; the art Center’s members; and the fantastic volunteers.

*Space is limited. Please make your free reservations at desmoinesartcenter.org by clicking on the eVenT reSerVaTIOnS bubble on the homepage or by phone at 515.271.0313 beginning january 3, 2013. Please specify the event you wish to attend (art Center History).

new in 2013! MindFuL MuseuM: thoughtful conversations about art, ideas, and issuesUpcoming discussion: “DmaC’s Distinct Dna”Sunday, march 3 / 1:30 – 3:30 pmProgram begins in the restaurant

These gallery talks are designed and facilitated by veteran docents madelyn mayberry and jon Oakland with an art-initiated audience in mind. The aim is to participate in explorative conversations with people who enjoy delving more deeply into the issues presented by the art of our time. “talking in museums is one of the things that makes them matter, and the way in which we talk in museums is one of the things that defines for us what they are. because museums, i think, as much as they are places to go and see things, are also places to go and talk about things, and, through talking, to understand something about the way life takes place in time.” adam Gopnik, art critic and writer “The mindful museum,” The Walrus, june 2007

Let this quote set the tone for invigorating conversations in the museum.

art Center Saarinen lobby, circa 1950


Januarysaturday, January 12

new cOnnectiOns 1 pm / meet in the art Center lobbyall members, from new to frequent visitors, will learn to see the permanent collections in new ways during this informal program.

sunday, January 13

Lecture Fingerprints 1 – 3 pm / Levitt auditoriumandrea jensen, criminal prosecutor and Print Club vice president, will present Fingerprints, a program that explores the world of art and forensics and examines fingerprints as unique printed matter. Print Club membership is open to all art Center members; see the art Center’s website for details.

MeMbers’ bOOk cLub 2 – 3:30 pm / art Center restaurantMatisse and Picasso: a Friendship in art

This book presents the artistic and personal friendship between matisse and Picasso as seen from Picasso’s companion, Gilot, between the years of 1946 –1954.

members’ book Club meets the second Sunday of each month

in the art Center restaurant from 2 – 3:30 pm (with the exception of march 10, when the group meets from noon –1:30 pm).

JOin bOOk cLub Send an e-mail to [email protected] or check out desmoinesartcenter.org/book-Club.aspx

tuesday, January 22

annuaL MeetinG art Center lobby networking / 5:30 – 6 pm meeting / 6 – 6:30 pm, followed by tour with Director jeff fleming

enjoy complimentary wine and appetizers and meet fellow members and the art noir board. Learn how to get involved in upcoming 2013 events, including the 2013 big Hair ball, and take a short tour of the Director’s Picks in the permanent collection with Director jeff fleming.rSVP to [email protected].

MuseuM shOP 15% discount on books during the month of January

Art Noir

PrInT CLUb

Februarysunday, February 3 curatOr taLk what’s Op about art? 1– 3 pm / Levitt auditorium(See page 3 for details)

saturday, February 9

MeMber OrientatiOn 11 am / meet in art Center lobbyLearn more about the collections, architecture, and history of the art Center. arrive early to view the exhibitions and enjoy complimentary coffee.

sunday, February 10

MeMbers’ bOOk cLub 2–3:30 pm / art Center restaurantthe Quality instinct: seeing art through a Museum director’s eye

How do we judge what is good in art? Or more to the controversial point, can we judge art? acclaimed museum director maxwell anderson presents this part personal memoir, part thinking person’s guide to the museum, with wit and humor,

anecdotes and insights. art Center Director jeff fleming will share his personal favorite artworks from the permanent collections at the beginning of this class.

Friday, February 22

QuarterLy sOciaL Social in art Center restaurant / 5:30 pm films begin at 6:30 in Levitt auditorium (see page 2) join fellow members for a drink before viewing the best short live action films nominated for the 2013 academy awards.

MuseuM shOP15% discount on jewelry during the month of February

FOCUS ON MEMBERS Marchsaturday, March 9

new cOnnectiOns 1 pm

sunday, March 10

MeMbers’ bOOk cLubnoon – 1:30 pm / art Center restaurantProvenance: how a con Man and a Forger rewrote the history of Modern art

an astonishing narrative of one of the most far-reaching and elaborate cons in the history of art forgery is presented in this book. Infamous con man john Drewe and his accomplice, the affable artist john myatt,

exploited the archives of british art institutions to irrevocably legitimize the hundreds of pieces they forged, many of which are still considered genuine and hang in prominent museums and private collections today.

sunday, March 24

hOrrOr shOw (and teLL) 1 – 3 pm / Levitt auditoriumMindy Meinders, associate preparator, art center’s installations departmentmembers are encouraged to share damaged prints in their collections (we all have them). Stains, tears, foxing, mold, adhesive tape residue, bad framing, acidic mat burn, and insect infestation are just a few causes of damage. associate curator mindy meinders will present a workshop on how to address these issues and care for your collection.

Friday, March 29

OP-arty Party 7:30 – 10 pm In conjunction with the exhibitions Transparencies and Vibrations, art noir celebrates optical art with a party featuring color and light. $15 admission at door ($10 members) includes appetizers; cash bar. Visit desmoinesartcenter.org for more event details. MuseuM shOP15% discount on winter apparel during the month of March

events listed below are Free and open to all art center members.

not an art center member? Join online at desmoinesartcenter.org/support,

in the Museum shop, or contact the Membership department at 515.271.0324.

RSvprsvP for member programs at [email protected] or 515.271.0327.

rsvP for art nOir programs at [email protected] or 515.271.0327.

PrInT CLUb

Art Noir

PrInT CLUb

Art Noir


THanK YOU

hOnOrary & MeMOriaL GiFts

These gifts were received between September 1 and november 30, 2012.

in hOnOr OF sue brentOn’s LeadershiP in the 2012 GaLa jean bell

in MeMOry OF JeFF LaMOnica mr. and mrs. j. m. mcbroom

in hOnOr OF carOLine Levine’s LeadershiP in the 2012 GaLa jean bell

in hOnOr OF dick Levitt, FOr GOOd heaLth and recOvery Stanley and Shari engmanjoe and maxine Kirshenbaummarvin and robbie Winickalan and janice Zuckert

in MeMOry OF kay and wOOdy thOMPsOn Vince and roberta bejarano

in MeMOry OF bruce wiLLiaMs Daniel and Christine KramerSarah machtjo Oldson and brice OakleyOlson-Larsen GalleriesUS bank

suPPOrt the art center’s Future

Working at the Des moines art Center, we see firsthand the positive impact quality art and art education can have. as a team, we are proud to support the art Center today, and tomorrow. associate registrar/rights and reproductions manager mickey Koch explains why she has included the Des moines art Center in her estate planning.

save the dates

FiLMWaste Land, 2010Lucy Walker, director98 minutes, not ratedThursday, april 4 / 6:30 pmLevitt auditorium

FinGerMan Lecture 2013: vik MuniZThursday, april 25 / 6:30 pmLevitt auditoriumreservations required*

This lecture is the twenty-fourth in the series made possible through generous gifts by Louis and Lois fingerman.

*Space is limited. Please make your free reservations at desmoinesartcenter.org by clicking on the eVenT reSerVaTIOnS bubble on the homepage or by phone at 515.271.0313 beginning april 5. Please specify which event you wish to attend (muniz).

“I have worked at the art Center since january 2003. I am responsible for the care of artwork in the permanent collections, as well as the organization of the logistics for incoming gifts, purchases, and exhibitions. This includes packing, crating, shipping, insurance, and documentation. my favorite part of working in registration is opening the crates for an installation. We often work on exhibitions for months, if not years before the works arrive for an exhibition. Once you have worked on a project for so long, it is wonderful to finally see it realized. It is amazing to be surrounded by so much culture, history, and scholarship. The Des moines art Center reflects the history of our community and as an employee, I am fortunate to be a part of this. by continuing to give to the art Center through an eventual gift of life insurance, I ensure that this world-class collection of artwork will be continuously cared for and enjoyed by future generations.”

to learn more about planned giving options contact development director emily bahnsen at [email protected] or 515.271.0338.

formal wording for your will:“I, [name], of [city, state, ZIP], give, devise and bequeath to the edmundson art foundation, Inc., federal tax ID number: 42-0680419, [written amount or percentage of your estate] for its unrestricted use and purpose.”

Vik muniz. Photo by Lucas blalock, 2010Waste Land, 2010 film still


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Free admission

Museum hoursTuesday, Wednesday, friday 11 am – 4 pm Thursday 11 am – 9 pm Saturday 10 am – 4 pmSunday noon – 4 pm Closed monday

restaurant Lunch is served from 11 am – 2 pm Tuesday through Saturday in an elegant, light, airy atmosphere with courtyard dining by the reflecting pool (in season). Wine, beer, and liquor are available.menu changes weekly.

Museum shop Open during normal museum hours.members receive discounts every day.

classesStudio art classes and workshops are available for students of all ages. members receive a 20% discount on classes and workshops. join today!

more information atwww.desmoinesartcenter.org

COVer

ran Hwang (Korean, born 1960)Garden of Water, 2010 (detail)beads, crystal pins, video on plexiglassOverall: 90 x 9/16 x 118 1/8 inches6 panels total (each 90 9/16 x 19 11/16 inches)Courtesy of the artist & Leila Heller Gallery, new York

the art center’s newest accession, Kui Hua Zi (Sunflower Seeds), 2009, by chinese artist ai weiwei is a portion of a major work titled Sunflower Seeds, installed in the tate Modern’s large turbine hall in 2010, which consisted of one hundred million porcelain sunflower seeds, each individually hand-made and hand painted by 1,600 chinese artisans in the town of Jingdezhen, a traditional site of chinese porcelain production. additional image on page 2; story on page 10.

ai Weiwei (Chinese, born 1957). Kui Hua Zi (Sunflower Seeds), 2009 (detail). Hand-painted porcelain. Varying dimensions. Purchased with funds from the Coffin fine arts Trust and funds from the edmundson art foundation, Inc.; nathan emory Coffin Collection of the Des moines art Center, 2012.76

print club - des moines art center · 2013-01-02 · vasarely, whose glowing, pulsating geometric...

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