The first exhibition (and one of my favorites) was the exhibition American Moderns on Paper. As you might know, works on paper are rarely exhibited outside the institution that owns the work due to the fragility of works on paper. To have so many first-rate works on paper in one place (and loaned to the Carter by the Wadsworth Athenaeum) was absolutely wonderful. The highlights for me in the show was the wall with three absolutely stunning Edward Hopper watercolors. The compositions and colors were just unbelievable. I also really enjoyed the Ben Shahn and Georgia O'Keeffe works as well. Oh, and the Stuart Davis Gas Pumps as well! It was such a beautiful and well organized show - but you'll have to go to Maine to see it now. Sorry!
The second exhibition is currently on display at the Carter and is titled Constructive Spirit: Abstract Art in South and North America, 1920s–50s. This really broadened my outlook on abstract art, and confirmed that Stuart Davis is one of my favorite artists. His Egg Beater No. 2 in the show is so great, and is lit wonderfully, so that you can see the very heavy brushstrokes. I also really loved the Arshille Gorky, Aerial Map. Of course, the major Davis painting in the Carter's collection is Blips and Ifs, which faces another iconic Carter painting - Remington's A Dash for the Timber across the 1961 building gallery when you first walk in. I love that the two arms of the Carter are there - traditional and modern, giving you an idea of what the museum "has." In addition, Jen and I went to the lecture given by this year's Davidson Family Fellow, Tim Andrus - his lecture was about the Carter's Davis Painting New Mexico Landscape and how that painting gives us connections and clues about his career and development as an artist.
Finally, the upcoming exhibition at the Carter sounds fascinating. It is titled American Modern: Abbott, Evans, Bourke-White And features the work of these three photographers. I am excited to see another photography exhibition in the special exhibition gallery, as my last one was the Gohlke exhibition (one of my favorite exhibitions, ever). The Moderns exhibition looks wonderful, and I am really intrigued by this quote:
The museum has also prepared a mobile tour of the exhibition, which will be available on the museum’s website or on preloaded iTouch devices available for free loan from the Carter’s Information Desk.
Congrats to the Carter on pioneering this in the Cultural District - I'll let you know all about it when the show goes up! What are some of your favorite exhibitions at local museums? I'd love to know!
The American Moderns... exhibition was not one of my all-time favorites, although it did expand my appreciation of Edward Hopper. I am very interested in returning to see the current Constructive Spirit exhibition to get a better idea of what makes up the exhibition. Our last visit just felt so short! The Carter appears to be in a different stage of reinvention right now, as it seems to be going in a new direction. I think this can be a very positive and exhilarating time for the museum. I would really like to see more photography exhibitions there as I just loved both the Gohlke and Avedon ones of recent years. Additionally, when photos from the permanent collection are out, I am apt to make a new discovery (Catherine Wagner). I will be very interested in the upcoming photo exhibition indeed.
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