WASHINGTON, Jan. 23, 2008
/PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- This spring, the long-awaited
re-installation of the Corcoran Gallery of Art's
world-renowned collection of American art will open in a
special exhibition, The American Evolution: A History through
Art. A fresh look at the Corcoran's extensive American
holdings, the exhibition showcases more than 200 objects in a
wide range of media, dating from the colonial era to present
day. The American Evolution will open on March 1 and remain on
view until July 27, 2008.
The American Evolution presents the collection in light of
five themes that have shaped American culture: Money, Land,
Politics, Cultural Exchange and The Modern World (see
Exhibition Walk-Through Press Release). These themes are
fundamental to the development of the United States, as well
as to the stories that have become central to the country's
national identity. As demonstrated in this exhibition, art
plays a crucial role in telling these stories.
"This exhibition is one of the largest and most diverse
displays of American art ever to be mounted at the Corcoran.
It is not size and scope alone that distinguish the
installation from earlier presentations of our collection,
however. The display also purposefully rejects the
chronological structure of traditional art historical surveys
in favor of a thematic model that highlights continuities in
American artistic production and culture from the colonial era
to the present day," said Emily Shapiro, Assistant Curator of
American Art.
The American Evolution is sponsored by the Sotheby's
MasterCard. Additional support is provided by the National
Endowment for the Arts.
The term "evolution" suggests change over time, and The
American Evolution proposes that the United States is a
dynamic nation in a constant state of re-definition. From
Gilbert Stuart's stately 18th-century portrait of George
Washington to Andy Warhol's irreverent 1973 likeness of the
Chinese leader Mao Zedong, and from Frederic Edwin Church's
dramatic 1857 view from the brink of Niagara Falls to Richard
Diebenkorn's abstract 1975 rendering of the suburban expanses
of Ocean Park, California, The American Evolution explores
many of the ways that American life and art have developed
over the past 250 years.
"This exhibition has work that will appeal to everyone, from
people interested in traditional American painting and history
to those more drawn to contemporary art and culture," said
Sarah Newman, Assistant Curator of Contemporary Art. "It
provides a tour of the most of the great developments in
American art over the past two centuries, but it also puts
them into a context which throws new light on old favorites."
This highly anticipated display of highlights from the
Corcoran's American collection will include a remarkable
number of iconic works in a variety of genres. The display
will feature stately Colonial-era portraits by John Singleton
Copley and Gilbert Stuart; elegant neoclassical marble
sculptures by Hiram Powers and William Rinehart; outstanding
Hudson River School paintings by Thomas Cole and Sanford
Gifford; grand Western subjects by Albert Bierstadt and
Frederic Remington; light-filled landscapes and figure
paintings by American Impressionists Mary Cassatt, John Singer
Sargent, and Childe Hassam; stunning examples of early
American modernism by Marsden Hartley and Stuart Davis;
important post-war abstractions by Joan Mitchell, Willem de
Kooning, and Mark Rothko; minimalist and post-minimalist
treasures by Ellsworth Kelly, Gene Davis, and Martin Puryear;
and contemporary works by Glenn Ligon and Kara Walker.
This exhibition and its related programming (see Public
Programs Press Release) will explore Americans' use of visual
images as a means to describe and understand the world around
them. This extensive presentation of the Corcoran's collection
will encourage a closer examination of the relationship
between art and history. The works stand on their own as
outstanding examples of the major styles, subjects, and
movements of American art history, yet they are also cultural
artifacts that have much to teach visitors about themselves,
their national identity and their evolving nation.
The Corcoran Gallery of Art is thrilled to provide its first
cell-phone tour in conjunction with The American Evolution. A
variety of speakers on selected topics will be available to
visitors throughout the exhibition. Using their own
cell-phone, visitors choose interpretations or discussions of
interest. The cell-phone tour is provided free of charge and a
Spanish translation of all discussions will be available.
ABOUT THE EXHIBITION
The American Evolution: A History through Art is organized by
the Corcoran Gallery of Art. Corcoran curators of the
exhibition are Emily Shapiro, Assistant Curator of American
Art and Sarah Newman, Assistant Curator of Contemporary Art
(see Curator Bios).
HOURS
The Corcoran's hours of operation are as follows: Monday,
Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 5
p.m.; Thursday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.; closed Tuesday. The hours
of operation for the Corcoran's Cafe des Artistes are as
follows: Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from 11:30
a.m. to 2 p.m.; Sunday from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Thursday
from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. The hours of
operation for the Corcoran's Coffee Bar are as follows:
Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.;
Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
TICKETS
Tickets to The American Evolution: A History through Art cost
$12 for adults/seniors/military and $10 for students.
Exhibition ticket prices include The American Evolution and
general admission to the museum. To purchase tickets, visit
www.corcoran.org,
www.ticketmaster.com
or call (202) 639-1700.
MEMBERSHIP
Members of the Corcoran Gallery of Art enjoy unlimited, free
access to The American Evolution: A History through Art and to
the museum's renowned permanent collection. They also receive
special invitations to lectures, films, concerts and a
dazzling array of social events. Additional benefits include
valuable discounts at the Corcoran Shop, the casually elegant
Cafe de Artistes, and courses at the Corcoran College of Art +
Design.
Member Preview Day for The American Evolution is Thursday,
February 28 from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. For more information,
contact the membership office at (202) 639-1753, email to
membership@corcoran.org or visit
www.corcoran.org/membership.
ABOUT THE CORCORAN
The Corcoran Gallery of Art, a privately funded institution,
was founded in 1869 as Washington's first and largest
non-federal museum of art. It is known internationally for its
distinguished collection of historical and modern American art
as well as contemporary art, photography, European painting,
sculpture and the decorative arts. Founded in 1890, the
Corcoran College of Art + Design is Washington's only
four-year college of art and design offering Bachelor of Fine
Art degrees in Photojournalism, Digital Media Design, Fine
Art, Graphic Design, Interior Design, and Photography;
Associate of Fine Art degrees in Digital Media Design, Fine
Art, Graphic Design and Photography; a five-year Bachelor of
Fine Arts/Master of Arts degree in Fine Art and Teaching (BFA/MAT);
and two-year Master of Arts degrees in Teaching, Interior
Design, Exhibition Design, and the History of Decorative Arts.
The College's Continuing Education program offers part-time
credit and non-credit classes for children and adults. More
information about the Corcoran is available at
www.corcoran.org.
Source: Corcoran Gallery of Art
CONTACT: Kristin Guiter, Manager of Media Relations of the
Corcoran Gallery of Art, +1-202-639-1867,
kguiter@corcoran.org
Web Site:
http://www.corcoran.org/
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