Cowboys, Cadillacs & Cactus: A New View of the Southwest
The American West has always exerted a strong hold on the imagination. In the 19th century it embodied the limitless possibilities that were the essence of the American dream. In our own time during the past 30 years, the American Southwest, particularly cities such as Phoenix, Scottsdale, Taos, Albuquerque and Sante Fe, has come to represent one of the world’s largest art markets with thousands of artists creating work in a variety of styles. The exhibition of over fifty works explores a rich association of traditional and contemporary imagery by artists living and working within contemporary times (1970-2000). A New View of the Southwest opens on Friday, June 10 , and continues through Sunday, July 17 .
In the 20th century, ad a process of settling the West neared completion , artists continued to be drawn to the subject matter of the West. More and more modernists moved into the Taos area by the 1950s and 1960s, introducing abstract ideas into the visual language of western images. Too, more artists traveled and after 1970 become University educated only to return to their roots in the four-corners region. While popular genre subjects and heroic landscapes continue to be produced, many of these native born individuals have turned their attention to the special character of the areas in which they live and work.
Native American artists, in particular, have received new and much more empathetic treatment. Today instead of the old stereotypical view of Native Americans as the enemies of civilization, they are respected for being unique human beings whose culture and traditions offer much value. Jaune Quick-To-See Smith and (the late) Fritz Scholder, who are represented in this exhibition, are good examples of artists who use imagery drawn from their cultural roots to create contemporary expressions of the Southwest. Anne Coe, a fourth generation Arizonian, often spoofs traditional Western art in her large-scale paintings but today also addresses environmental and human issues of the Southwest in her work.
BENEFIT CONCERT Performance by Allen Norris, Sunday, June 5th at 2:00pm
Well known area pianist, Allen Norris, will perform at the Midwest Museum on Sunday, June 5, in a concert to benefit the Eva Cole Memorial Educational Fund. The Educational Fund is used in many ways at the Midwest Museum and continually redefines the role of education within our area. The museum is well known for pioneering education programs (The Picture Lady in the elementary schools) that reach a broad audience, including innovative interpretive activities in the galleries and many family programs throughout the year. Our Docent Program, one of the strongest in any museum, continues to attract dedicated volunteers who not only showcase our art collections, but create an atmosphere that has labeled us a most visitor-friendly museum. The Educational Fund brings speakers to the museum to lecture or current exhibitions, American artists or topics that engage on in the role of art for all ages and experience levels. Of course there are never enough funds and Allen Norris has stepped forward to donate his artistic abilities so the museum can continue these aforementioned programs.
A selection of pieces by Mozart, Brahms, Prokofiev, and Debussy will be performed. Mr. Norris selected these works specifically to create a relationship between the music and an imagined visual image for the listener. The concert promises to be a lyrically charming afternoon of style, mood, and rhapsody. RESERVATIONS REQUIRED $10.00 /per person .
Painter/Printmaker Abner Hershberger, whose art is the subject of a 50-year retrospective, will give a gallery talk and demonstration about the techniques of his current work on Thursday, May 12th , beginning at 12:15pm . The demonstration will result in the creation of a new work of art by the artist which will be raffled to benefit the MMAA Acquisition Fund. Tickets of $5.00 each for the artwork can be purchased at the noon time gallery talk or thereafter.
Hershberger will give a formal lecture about his life in art on Sunday afternoon, May 22nd, at 2:00pm in the Main Gallery of the museum. A ticket will be drawn on this day and the winner announced who will receive the previously created artwork. This Is a wonderful opportunity to collect a major Midwestern artist’s work and support the future acquisitions of the Midwest Museum of Amercan Art.
BUS TRIP TO CHICAGO – to the Art Institute!
Expanded Galleries of American Art
The first Bus Trip of the Summer takes you to Chicago’s Art Institute to see the newly expanded galleries of American Art on Wednesday, June 22nd . Covering two floors of the museum’s Rice Building, this new installation of American painting and sculpture to 1950 and American decorative arts to the present consitutes one of the most comprehensive displays in the nation. Now more than 700 objects can be seen in context with the recent loan of 50 paintings from the Terra Foundation for American Art collection. There has never been a more exciting time for American art in Chicago!
We will depart from the Midwest Museum at 9:00am and return to Elkhart around 5:00pm.
FEE: $40 . includes delux motorcoach round trip and entrance fees; lunch on your own (try Millennium Park!). Payment due upon reservation. Call 293-6660 .
DOCENT NEWS…
Docents are preparing for their 26th Annual Luncheon to be held on Monday, June 20th, at 11:30am. At this time, Docents who have retired from active touring will be honored for their many years of service and commitment to the MMAA educational programs. Docents to be honored include Pat Bickart, Virginia Chester, Shirley Gold, Bill Petersen, Barbara Peterson, Virginia Rueff and Pat Warner. These ladies have collectively given hundreds of hours as volunteers. They have passes on a legacy of art appreciation to many generations through their diligent efforts.
Interested in becoming a Docent? Call 293-6660 .
Children’s Summer Art Classes
The Midwest Museum will offer a new series of summer Art Camps for students ages 5 (who have completed Kindergarten) through ages 12. Enrollment in all Art Camps will be limited to 20.
ART CAMP I. JUNE 13 – 17 (1 week) Ages 5 -7yrs. 12:30pm-2:00pm; Mon-Fri Ages 8 – 12yrs. 2:30pm-4:30pm; Mon-Fri
Artist & Educator, Shana Dines, will lead students on an adventure in creating drawings, watercolors, mixed media works and collages while utilizing the museum’s permanent collection of American Art for inspiration.
ART CAMP II. JULY 11 – JULY 15 (1 week) Ages 5-7yrs. 12:30pm-2:00pm; Mon-Fri Ages 8-12yrs. 2:30pm-4:30pm; Mon-Fri
Artist & Educator, Shana Dines, will lead students on an adventure in creating drawings, watercolors, mixed media works and collages while utilizing the museum’s permanent collection of American Art for inspiration. New projects are emphasized.
ART CAMP III. Aug 1 – Aug 5 (1 week) Ages 5-7yrs. 12:30pm – 2:00pm; Mon-Fri Ages 8-12yrs. 2:30pm – 4:30pm; Mon-Fri
Artist & Educator, Shana DInes, will lead students on an exploration of the FUNdamentals of art! Students will learn about lines, shapes, and textures in creating their own exciting compositions. New projects are emphasized.
*The Midwest Museum will host the Elkhart Jazz Festival Patron party on Friday evening, June 24, from 5:30 to 7:00pm. Tickets for all Jazz Festival events can be obtained by calling the Elkhart Centre at (574) 295-8701.
*Friends of the Snite Museum of Art of Notre Dame will tour the Midwest Museum of Wednesday, June 15, as a part of the Art & Architecture series.
*MMAA Curator Brian Byrn will be the Guest Lecturer at the Krasl Art Center in St. Joseph, Michigan on Thursday evening, June 2, at 7:00pm for the exhibition “Through American Eyes, Two Centuries of American Art from the Huntington Museum of Art”.
*Over 4,000 students grades K through 12 and college students enrolled in four different class sections from IUSB, have toured the Midwest Museum sionce January 1.
*Several area firms and corporations have utilized the MMAA facilities for special slient events which generates additional revenue for museum operations.
DON’T MISS the *The ARTISTS’S ATTIc* and cast-off treasuures
Friday, June 10th from 11am – 5pm
Saturday, June 11th from 1 – 4pm.
Cash Only. No Checks. All proceeds from this sale benefit the MMAA Acquisition Fund.
TRIBUTES
The Midwest Museum of American Art gratefully acknowledges gifts in honor or in memory of special friends. Notes of acknowledgment are sent by the Museum to those honored or to the families of those memorialized. Recent memorials include:
IN MEMORY OF
Jeanne Batten (by Judy Bechtold, Mr. & Mrs. Tom Borger, Dr. & Mrs. Peter Carney, Funtimers Club, Gunther & Barbara Jordan, Virginia Jordan, Matinee Musicale, Adrien & Celeste Ringuette, and John & Carol Sandor)
Carolyn Best (by Judy Bechtold)
Mary Ruth Brady (by Winfield & Janet Carrick, and David & Maria Solow)
Neal Decker (by Paul & Betty Thomas)
Ruth E. Fiscus (by Judy Bechtold)
Betty Markel (by Jane Burns, Elkhart High School Class of 1941, Dr. Howard Smith, Marjorie M. Swift, and Paul & Betty Thomas)
Glenn McCreary (by George & Evelyn White, and Jane Burns)
Donald McFall (by Virginia & Willard Chester)
Todd Putnam (by Paul & Betty Thomas, and Ann Treckelo)
Ann Trainor (by Jane Burns)
John Von der Heide (by John & Bonnie Aquino, Jane Burns, Brian & Lisa Byrn, and George, Evelyn, Douglas, Sam, Amy & Jeff White)
Shelby Whitesell (by Drs. Terry Bryant & Elizabeth Elliott, Brian & Lisa Byrn, Drs. Wesley Mark & Mary Harder, and David & Maria Solow)
Richard Wich (by Jane Burns, Brian & Lisa Byrn, and Kathy Royer)
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