Final Days to See Two Exhibitions

Raoul Dufy (French, 1877-1953), Éléphants (Elephants), c. 1920-1922, watercolor, gouache, 14.8 x 14.7 inches, image courtesy of the Humanities Exchange

This Saturday, August 21, two summer exhibitions will close at the UW Art Museum. Dufy by Design: The Fabric Designs of Raoul Dufy features wall hangings and other textiles designed by the French artist Raoul Dufy (1877-1953), who is known primarily as a painter. Also included in this exhibition are thirteen dresses by contemporary fashion designers Mongi Guibane and Christian LaCroix that feature fabric designs by Dufy. Two watercolors by Dufy are on view at the Art Museum and highlight the similarities between his painting and fabric designs in the way he handles line, color, and composition.

Harold Garde. painting. 50 years. is the first major retrospective of Florida based artist Harold Garde (American, b. 1923). Garde was a student at UW in the 1940s when he attended the university on the GI Bill. While at UW, he studied under acclaimed American Modernist painters George McNeil, Ilya Bolotowsky, and Leon Kelly. His abstract style uses bold color and repeating imagery.

Admission to the Art Museum is always free. Museum hours are Monday-Saturday, 10 am - 5 pm. Stop in today before these two exhibitions close! For more information, please visit the website, or call 307.766.6622.

Final Week of Paint Pony Express

Harold Garde (American, b. 1923), Samurai Kimono, 1997, acrylic on canvas, 45 x 56 inches, courtesy of the Museum of Florida Art

The final week of Paint Pony Express begins today. Each week of Paint Pony Express has focused on a different exhibition and different art-making techniques. This week's classes will view the series of kimono prints by Florida artist and UW alumnus Harold Garde. They will discuss the similarities and differences between repeating patterns and art in a series. Kimonos are a recurring theme in Garde's work, and he uses that particular shape and image in his prints and paintings.

Students will then create their own triptych in the Shelton Studio. They will create one idea of images in three different ways, as a series. They will create a monotype, a fabric print, and a collage.

Classes are free and are held from 1-3 pm. Ages 4-5 will meet today (Tuesday), ages 6-8 will meet on Wednesday, and ages 9-11 on Thursday. Parents are asked to stay with children under age 5. Students should wear clothing that they can create in! For more information, contact the Art Museum Education Department at 307.766.3496.

UW Art Museum Videos on YouTube

The University of Wyoming Art Museum now has four videos available on YouTube. The Art Museum has been working with UW Television to create a series of filmed interviews with contemporary artists. When the Art Museum hosts an exhibition, often times the artist comes to Laramie to either assist with installation of the exhibition, or for various public programs, like an Art Talk or to work with students.

Capturing the words, voices, and ideas of these contemporary artists is an important aspect in developing a fuller understanding and appreciation of their work. Currently available on YouTube are interviews with James Surls, Kwang-Young Chun, Peter Sarkisian, and the most recent addition, Harold Garde.

To view any of these videos, visit the UW Art Museum's channel on YouTube.

Harold Garde Strappo Demonstration at UW

Harold Garde demonstrates how to remove a Strappo print from the glass plate.

Ginne Madsen gets her first look at her firt Strappo print.

Florida artist and UW alumn Harold Garde developed a print transfer process called Strappo.  Working with acrylic paint, a glass plate, and gesso, an image is painted and transferred onto paper.  During his 3-day residency at the Art  Museum in conjunction with his 50-year retrospective exhibition, Garde conducted a workshop to demonstrate the process to students and local artists. 

Harold Garde. painting. 50 years. is on view at the UW Art Museum through August 21, 2010.

Upcoming Events at the Art Museum

Painter and UW alumnus Harold Garde's retrospective opens this Saturday.

Image courtesy of the Museum of Florida Art

On Saturday, a retrospective of UW alumnus Harold Garde will open at the UW Art Museum. The exhibition - Harold Garde. painting. 50 years. highlights prints and paintings by Garde, who was trained in Abstract Expressionism. Over forty works will be on view, exploring different themes, subjects, and symbols. The Art Museum is open on Saturday from 10 am to 4 pm. Admission is free.

A series of public programs are scheduled in conjunction with Garde's exhibition. Below is the complete schedule. All events are free and open to the public, with no sign up required. For more information, call the Art Museum at 307.766.6622.

Monday March 29, 2010

10:30 am: Gallery Walk Through: Harold Garde and Pam Coffman, curator of education at the Museum of Florida Art

6 pm: Opening reception for Harold Garde with light refreshments

7 pm: Art Talk: Harold Garde and Pam Coffman

Tuesday, March 30, 2010

10:30 am: Strappo demonstration, part I

Wednesday, March 31, 2010

10:30 am: Strappo demonstration, part II

The strappo demonstration is a 2 day event to allow for drying. Strappo is a printmaking technique developed by Garde. Attendees are encouraged to participate. This program will be held in the Art Museum's Shelton Studio. Supplies are provided.

Film Screening on Monday Night

An exhibition of painter Harold Garde opens at the Art Museum on Saturday, March 27th. This image, Black Pinnacle, is one of over 40 works that will be on view.

Image courtesy of the Museum of Florida Art

The Art Museum will open a new exhibition next week, Saturday, March 27th. The exhibition will features paintings and prints by UW alumnus Harold Garde. Garde attended UW in the 1940s on the GI Bill, after serving in WWII. His work is influenced by abstract expressionism, a uniquely American art movement that began in New York during the 1940s. He has also created a printmaking technique known as strappo, in which layers of gesso (a white medium typically used as a ground for painting) and dried acrylic paint are transferred from glass to paper.

A series of public programs are scheduled in conjunction with this exhibition, the first of which is a film screening of Harold Garde: Working Artist (Acadia Moving Pictures and the Museum of Florida Art, Dale Schierholt, director). The film will be shown in advance of the exhibition opening to provide a preview of Garde's work and creative process. The screening will be held on Monday evening, March 22, beginning at 7 pm at Gallery 211 (211 S. 1st Street). Special thanks to the UW Art Museum for sharing their great gallery space for this event! The film screening is free and open to the public.

For more information on the film or Garde's work, visit the artist's website.

There is also a short video about his work available on YouTube.

For more information about other upcoming programs in conjunction with this exhibition, please call the Art Museum at 307.766.6622. Be looking on the blog next week for a full schedule of events.

Monday Nights at the Museum

The work of American Surrealist Leon Kelly is currently on view at the UW Art Museum, along with 4 other exhibitions.

Image: Leon Kelly (American, 1901-1982), The Reclining Moor, 1953, oil on canvas, 32 x 19-3/4 inches, photo courtesy of Gratz Gallery

Looking for a fun way to spend your Monday evenings now that the Olympics are wrapping up? The UW Art Museum is open late on Monday nights this spring. To accommodate those who work 9-5, students who need some extra time, and anyone who just can't fit in a museum visit during the day, we're open until 9 pm on Monday evenings during both the fall (Sept-Nov) and spring (Feb-April) semesters.

Monday evenings are also when we hold things like "The No-Stress Art Class: Exploring with Watercolor," a hands-on studio class for teens and adults who are interested in working with watercolor. No experience is necessary! Call the Education Department at 307.766.3496 for more information or to sign up.

Public programs by visiting artists are also often held on Monday evenings, so keep an eye out throughout the year for Art Talks and lectures. Coming up this Monday night, March 1, is 20:20 for students. Stop by to hear brief presentations and see images of work by UW art students. This event begins at 7 pm. Future Monday night programs include an Art Talk by American painter Harold Garde and curator Jeannie Dowis on Monday, March 30 at 7 pm. This will be followed by a small reception. Unless otherwise noted, public programs are free and open to the public.

So be sure to stop by the Art Museum on Monday nights this spring for a chance to check out all the exhibitions, hear from the artists, or take a class! For more information about all the exhibitions and programs the Museum has to offer, please visit the website or call 307.766.6622.