Beach Scene by Aiden Lassell Ripley, ca. 1935

Reflections on Water in American Painting
Tyler Museum of Art
Opens December 9, 2011

This winter, linger for a moment on the water’s edge at the Tyler Museum of Art, where you will escape into a nautical narrative of American history and maritime adventure. Reflections on Water in American Painting–The Arthur J. Phelan Collection combines 50 paintings that together tell a unique history of the country’s maritime growth from the grand sailing ships of the U.S. Navy and the river boats of Mark Twain’s Mississippi River to the more contemporary pleasure of leisure time spent by the sea.

Ranging in date from 1828 to 1945, the exhibition opens with the earliest form of American maritime painting with a selection of grand, academic-style portraits of graceful sailing ships. The exhibition progresses forward in time with waterscapes from the sea to the lakes and rivers of the American heartland, light-flooded impressionist visions of quaint New England seaside towns, and modernist renderings of industrial waterfronts and everyday life on the water.

“Many artists of every genre have been fascinated by stories and images of water. This exhibition captures the spirit of American maritime adventure from the ocean to inland waterways and lakes,” said TMA Curator, Ken Tomio. “Visitors will see images of majestic ships, intrepid racing yachts, and even modernist depictions of commercialism and industry as they appear across our nation’s shorelines.”

The underlying theme of the exhibition reflects changes in American attitudes towards our most important resource from the endless supply of water and land the first settlers found and the dominant role ships played in fostering growth and trade, to the popularity of second homes and beaches and the change in port facilities from picturesque to industrial in the 20th century.

Reflections on Water in American Painting is drawn from the collections of Arthur J. Phelan, well-known for his paintings depicting life in the American West. Phelan began collecting nautical paintings in the 1960s. Highlights of his collection and the exhibition include James Bard’s meticulously drawn Hudson River steamboat, Frank Benson’s marshland with more than 30 rising ducks, William Trost Richards’ breaking waves, William Merritt Chase’s intense study of the Arno River, and Reginald Marsh’s cathedral-like rendering of a New Jersey railway bridge.

Summer Seas by Anton Otto Fischer, 1945

“I have built a number of collections that started with a chance acquisition of an artwork that reminded me of something in my past,” says Phelan. “This group of maritime and coastal scenes arises from time spent at my family’s summer home in Connecticut. Our house, between New London and the Connecticut River, was on the water. During World War II, I sailed small sloops at the point where Long Island Sound empties into the Atlantic and where large commercial sailing ships occasionally still passed by. Later, while at Yale [B.A. and M.A. in American history], I was never far from the Sound.”

Events & Activities

Gallery Talk with Arthur J. Phelan, Friday, January 9, 2012 – Enjoy a free Gallery Talk led by Arthur Phelan as he discusses his collection of maritime paintings on view in Reflections on Water in American Painting. Gallery Talk begins at 11:00 a.m. in the North Gallery and is free, however, standard exhibition admissions fees apply.

Family Day, Saturday January 14 and February 11, 2012 – Offered on the second Saturday of each month, these Family Day events will offer free art activities designed to reflect themes from Reflections on Water in American Painting from 2:00-4:00 p.m. in the classroom. Sponsored by the Roosth Foundation.

Children Playing on the Beach by Edward Percy Moran, ca. 1890

First Friday Tour, Friday February 3, 2012 – Enjoy a free tour led by a member of the TMA Education department of Reflections on Water in American Painting starting at 11:00 a.m. The tour is free and will feature a selection of works from the exhibition. Standard admission fees apply.

Seniors’ Day, Monday, January 16, 2012 – Free admission and guided tours for visitors ages 65 and older; tours of Reflections on Water in American Painting begin at 10:45 a.m. and 11:45 a.m. Reservations are requested for art tours and may be made by calling 903-595-1001.

Admission for the exhibition is $7.00 for adults, $5.00 for students and seniors, and free for TMA Members and children ages 12 and under. Reflections on Water in American Painting is presented by Exhibits Development Group, USA. Signature sponsor is Julietta Jarvis Foundation. Underwriter is the Jean and Graham Devoe Williford Charitable Trust. Patron sponsor is Bank of America. Contributor is Target. Collectors’ Circle sponsors are Amy & Vernon Faulconer. Corporate Member sponsors are BSCENE Magazine and Piney Woods Live.

Tyler Museum of Art

The Tyler Museum of Art, accredited by the American Association of Museums, is located at 1300 S. Mahon Ave., adjacent to the Tyler Junior College campus off East Fifth Street. Regular hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, and 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday. (The Museum is closed Mondays and major holidays.) Lunch is available in the Museum Café from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, and the TMA Gift Shop is open during Museum hours. For more information, call (903) 595-1001 or visit www.tylermuseum.org.

Beach Scene by Aiden Lassell Ripley, ca. 1935

Summer Seas by Anton Otto Fischer, 1945

Children Playing on the Beach by Edward Percy Moran, ca. 1890

Object of Devotion: Medieval English Alabaster Sculpture from the Victoria and Albert Museum (image courtest the TMA)

Only a few more days remain to see Object of Devotion: Medieval English Alabaster Sculpture from the Victoria and Albert Museum at the Tyler Museum of Art. The exhibition of 60 alabaster panels and figures is on view through Sunday, November 13, at its only southwestern United States location. Dramatic and intricately crafted, these pieces are some of the finest examples of the elegant, yet, neglected art form of alabaster sculpture and are drawn from the world’s largest collection housed by the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.

“We have had a tremendous response to the exhibition from visitors who have described it as ‘excellent’ and ‘awe-inspiring.’ The religious images speak to you unequivocally from centuries ago.” said Ken Tomio, TMA Curator. The sculptures, which range in date from 1380 through the 15^th century, depict biblical narratives, scenes from the lives of the saints, and other holy images and were used in both public and private devotion. The Reformation of the 1530s ended the alabaster industry in England as part of its wholesale rejection of religious art, while existing sculptures were destroyed. “It is rare to see so many alabaster panels at once in the United States and an opportunity no one should miss!” said Tomio.

Admission to Object of Devotion: Medieval English Alabaster Sculpture from the Victoria and Albert Museum is $7 for adults, $5 for students and seniors, and free for TMA Members and children ages 12 and under. Saturday, November 12, the Museum will offer the final free Family Day, sponsored by the Roosth Foundation, reflecting Object of Devotion from 2:00–4:00 p.m. in the classroom. Children will enjoy free art activities and light refreshments during an afternoon of artistic activities and enrichment under the guidance of TMA education staff.

The exhibition is organized and circulated by Art Services International, Alexandria, Virginia. This exhibition is supported by a grant from The Samuel H. Kress Foundation.  His Excellency Sir Nigel Sheinwald, Ambassador of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to the United States of America, is Honorary Patron of the exhibition. All images provided courtesy of the Victoria and Albert Museum, London.

Exhibition support for the presentation in Tyler has been generously provided by Lead Sponsor, Amy and Vernon Faulconer. Underwriter is Dr. Harold and Eleanor Cameron. Patrons are Dorothy and Ben Bridges. Contributor is Mary John Spence. Friends are Rebecca and Gregg Davis, Frances and Tommy Swann, Agnes and Frank Ward, and Caroline King Wylie. Collectors’ Circle Sponsors are Julietta Jarvis Foundation, Inc., Bette King, Robert M. Rogers Foundation and The A.W. Riter Family Foundation. Friend is Shogun. Corporate Member Sponsors are Hibbs-Hallmark & Company, KYTX-CBS 19, Sunny 106.5, The Ranch 104.1, and Greg Strnadel & Wells Fargo Advisors.

The Tyler Museum of Art, accredited by the American Association of Museums, is located at 1300 S. Mahon Ave., adjacent to the Tyler Junior College campus off East Fifth Street. Regular hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, and 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday. (The Museum is closed Mondays and major holidays.) Lunch is available in the Museum Café from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, and the TMA Gift Shop is open during Museum hours.

For more information, call (903) 595-1001 or visit www.tylermuseum.org.

Object of Devotion: Medieval English Alabaster Sculpture from the Victoria and Albert Museum (image courtest the TMA)

Calling all lords and ladies! The Tyler Museum of Art is staying open late for an evening of family fun during “Knight at the Museum,” celebrating the exhibition Object of Devotion: Medieval English Alabaster Sculpture from the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. Join us Thursday, November 3 from 5:30 to 8:00 p.m. for free art activities, medieval munchies and movies, and appearances by real knights! The evening’s activities are sponsored by Bette Huff King.

All ages will enjoy a wide variety of activities that will be offered throughout the evening inside the Museum. Kids will enjoy three art activities during which they can create their own medieval themed artworks including a one-of-a-kind coat of arms. Take home an original “Fair Lady Hat,” or “Good Sir Knight Helmet,” and create your very own illuminated initial at activity stations in the Bell Gallery. Admission to the exhibition will be free during event hours.

Tyler Paper Arts and Entertainment Editor, Stewart Smith, will introduce a special viewing of the night’s surprise featured film, which will be on view in the Gallery. “The movie I chose is one of those rare, perfect films,” said Mr. Smith, who will reveal the film’s title during his introduction beginning at 6:00 p.m. “It is a timeless piece of cinema that remains as relevant and entertaining today as it did when it was released more than 70 years ago. This is the joy of filmmaking distilled into a single, colorful package.”

Children will meet real knights from the Four Winds Renaissance Faire and can hone their own knightly skills during “Noodle Jousting” sessions. A delicious selection of tasty treats will be provided, including yummy chicken nuggets courtesy of Chick-Fil-A, meat pies from Brookshire’s and homemade gingerbread from the Museum Café.

“We hope ‘Knight at the Museum’ will offer families in our community the opportunity to come into the Museum and experience fine art in a new way,” said TMA Head of Education, Ken Tomio. “This is a great opportunity for parents to introduce their children to the Museum and to also enjoy a fun, free evening together.”

The 60 alabaster panels and free standing figures in the exhibition are drawn from the world’s largest collection of medieval alabasters, that of the Victoria & Albert Museum in London. Dramatic and intricately crafted, these pieces are some of the finest examples of the elegant yet neglected art form of alabaster sculpture. “Knight at the Museum” is free, but reservations are appreciated. You can let us know you’re coming by calling the Museum at 903-595-1001. More information is available at www.tylermuseum.org.

Exhibition support for the presentation in Tyler has been generously provided by Lead Sponsor, Amy and Vernon Faulconer. Underwriter is Dr. Harold and Eleanor Cameron. Patrons are Dorothy and Ben Bridges. Contributor is Mary John Spence. Friends are Rebecca and Gregg Davis, Frances and Tommy Swann, Agnes and Frank Ward, and Caroline King Wylie. Collectors’ Circle Sponsors are Julietta Jarvis Foundation, Inc., Bette King, Robert M. Rogers Foundation and The A.W. Riter Family Foundation. Corporate Member Sponsors are Hibbs-Hallmark & Company, KYTX-CBS 19, Sunny 106.5, The Ranch 104.1, and Greg Strnadel & Wells Fargo Advisors.

Tyler Museum of Art

The Tyler Museum of Art, accredited by the American Association of Museums, is located at 1300 S. Mahon Ave., adjacent to the Tyler Junior College campus off East Fifth Street. Regular hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, and 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday. (The Museum is closed Mondays and major holidays.) Lunch is available in the Museum Café from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, and the TMA Gift Shop is open during Museum hours. For more information, call (903) 595-1001 or visit www.tylermuseum.org.

“One of the most critical aspects of our institution’s mission is to be a cultural and educational center for our community,” said TMA Development Officer, Caroline King Wylie. “By sponsoring this exhibition, Wells Fargo Advisors and all our gracious supporters ensure that art is accessible to all members of our community. We hope that everyone will bring their friends and families to the Museum to enjoy this truly exceptional exhibition for free!”

The Tyler Museum of Art is the only scheduled location in the southwestern United States for this touring exhibition which will be on view through November 13. The 60 alabaster panels and free-standing figures in the exhibition are drawn from the world’s largest collection of medieval alabasters, that of the Victoria & Albert Museum in London.  Dramatic, and intricately crafted, these pieces are some of the finest examples of the elegant, yet, neglected art form of alabaster sculpture.

Also on view is Impact: Nona and Richard Barrett and Their Passion for Texas Art, Gifts to the TMA’s Permanent Collection. The exhibition includes works gifted to the Museum from The Museum of Fine Art, Houston and The Dallas Museum of Art in partnership with Dallas art collectors, Nona and Richard Barrett. The exhibit features artworks by 20 contemporary Texas artists.

Object of Devotion: Medieval English Alabaster Sculpture from the Victoria and Albert Museum is organized and circulated by Art Services International, Alexandria, Virginia. This exhibition is supported by a grant from The Samuel H. Kress Foundation.  His Excellency Sir Nigel Sheinwald, Ambassador of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to the United States of America, is Honorary Patron of the exhibition. All images provided courtesy of the Victoria and Albert Museum, London.

Exhibition support for the presentation in Tyler has been generously provided by Lead Sponsor, Amy and Vernon Faulconer. Underwriter is Dr. Harold and Eleanor Cameron. Patrons are Dorothy and Ben Bridges. Contributor is Mary John Spence. Friends are Rebecca and Gregg Davis, Frances and Tommy Swann, Agnes and Frank Ward, and Caroline King Wylie. Collectors’ Circle Sponsors are Julietta Jarvis Foundation, Inc., Bette King, Robert M. Rogers Foundation and The A.W. Riter Family Foundation. Corporate Member Sponsors are Hibbs-Hallmark & Company, KYTX-CBS 19, Sunny 106.5, The Ranch 104.1, and Greg Strnadel & Wells Fargo Advisors.

The Victoria & Albert Museum is one of the world’s greatest museums of art and design, with collections unrivalled in their scope and diversity. It houses more than 3000 years’ worth of amazing artifacts from many of the world’s richest cultures including ceramics, furniture, fashion, glass, jewelry, metalwork, photographs, sculpture, textiles and paintings.

The Tyler Museum of Art, accredited by the American Association of Museums, is located at 1300 S. Mahon Ave., adjacent to the Tyler Junior College campus off East Fifth Street. Regular hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, and 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday. (The Museum is closed Mondays and major holidays.) Lunch is available in the Museum Café from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, and the TMA Gift Shop is open during Museum hours. For more information, call (903) 595-1001 or visit www.tylermuseum.org.

During the First Friday Art Tour, visitors will enjoy a free, guided art tour featuring selected sculptures included in Object of Devotion. Museum Educator, Felicity Enas, will lead the tour and discuss the complexities of relief carving and sculpture. Tour participants will also gain insight into the lives and culture of medieval England as communicated by the works of art on exhibit. The tour begins at 11:00 a.m. and is free, however standard exhibition admission fees apply.

On Saturday, children will discover the rich cultural and artistic history behind the Mexican holiday, Day of the Dead. Kids will love creating their own jointed skeletons, faux sugar skulls, and scratch art skulls in the TMA classroom. During Family Day, museum educators will teach children interesting facts about this special holiday dedicated to the celebration of the lives of family members who have passed away, an event that is often memorialized in Mexican and Latin American folk art.

The Tyler Museum of Art, accredited by the American Association of Museums, is located at 1300 S. Mahon Ave., adjacent to the Tyler Junior College campus off East Fifth Street. Regular hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, and 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday. (The Museum is closed Mondays and major holidays.) Lunch is available in the Museum Café from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, and the TMA Gift Shop is open during Museum hours. For more information, call (903) 595-1001 or visit www.tylermuseum.org.

Dallas Art News Museum Express Tour

The announced closure of The Women’s Museum reminded us how much fun we had with the Museum Express Tour in the spring of 2010. So much fun that we would like to do it again in 2012.

For those of you who don’t know, Dallas Art News put together the Museum Express Tour in April 2010. The tour went to eight Dallas & Fort Worth museums in one day using only mass transit (The T, TRE & DART) to get around. It took all day and we only had 15-20 minutes at each museum, but it was definitely an adventure.

The 2010 Museum Express Tour had about a dozen adventurous art lovers. All of them lived in the Dallas – Fort Worth area. The Museum Express Tour is more for local residents than it is for vacationers.

We would like to do the Museum Express Tour again if we can get more people to join us. We want 30 to 50 art lovers for this event.

Possible museum stops on the tour include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Dallas
  • Crow Collection of Asian Art
  • Dallas Museum of Art
  • Nasher Sculpture Center
  • Meadows Museum
  • Museum of Nature & Science
  • The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza
  • Texas Museum of Automobile History

• Fort Worth
  • Amon Carter Museum of American Art
  • Fort Worth Community Arts Center
  • Kimbell Art Museum
  • Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth
  • Sid Richardson Museum

The estimated cost for the Museum Express Tour will be about $100 per person, which will include a mass transit pass, access to all the museums on the tour, lunch and a t-shirt.

Before we start doing any serious planning, we would like to gauge how many people would be interested. If you would like to spend a Saturday traveling from museum to museum with a couple dozen new friends, then please let us know by filling out the sign-up form below.

Completing the below form does not in any way mean you are registered for the tour. The official tour registration will come in January 2012.

Dallas Art News does not share email addresses with anyone.

Related Posts

From Fort Worth to Dallas on the Museum Express Tour – April 2, 2010

Dallas Art News Museum Express Tour to Visit Eight Museums in One Day via The T, TRE and DART -Feb. 25, 2010

Facebook Images from the Museum Express Tour Dry Run in 2009

Dallas Art News Museum Express Tour makes it to The Women's Museum on Saturday, April 3, 2010. (Photo by James Roman)

Object of Devotion: Medieval English Alabaster Sculpture from the Victoria and Albert Museum (image courtest the TMA)

Object of Devotion: Medieval English Alabaster Sculpture from the Victoria and Albert Museum
Tyler Museum of Art
September 4 through November 13, 2011

The Tyler Museum of Art (TMA) is pleased to announce the opening of Object of Devotion: Medieval English Alabaster Sculpture from the Victoria and Albert Museum on view September 4 through November 13, 2011 at the TMA. This is the only scheduled stop in the southwestern region of the United States for this touring exhibition.

The 60 alabaster panels and free-standing figures in the exhibition are drawn from the world’s largest collection of medieval alabasters, that of the Victoria & Albert Museum in London. Dramatic, and intricately crafted, these pieces are some of the finest examples of the elegant, yet, neglected art form of alabaster sculpture.

The Exhibition

The sixty prime examples, including a complete set of panels from an altarpiece, have been carefully selected for this exhibition, representing all the major types produced by English sculptors. The exhibition is organized in six sections:

The Art of the “Alabastermen”

Serving as an introduction to the exhibition, this section includes three works that perfectly represent the best work of the alabasterers: a dramatic, startlingly stylized figure of Saint Christopher carrying an infant Christ and two highly engaging and attractive relief panels, one of the Fifth Sign of the Last Judgment and one of the Adoration of the Magi.

Martyrs and Miracles: The Lives and Deaths of the Saints

Saints served numerous roles in everyday medieval society including protecting the souls, well-being, health, and even wealth of believers. Brightly gilded and polychromed carvings of Biblical episodes reflect the color and drama of medieval religious life and belief. Alabaster images of saints were made for private homes, intended for private worship and comfort. These objects were often affordable – within the reach of “ordinary” people – and the works included here illustrate a folk art aspect of the medium. This is seen in their rougher, less delicate carving; reduced attention to proportion, scale, and perspective; and unsubtle painting techniques – all perfectly acceptable to an audience that was generally less sophisticated in its tastes than wealthier patrons. The highlight of this section is a small, devotional altarpiece made for a private patron. It is comprised of an alabaster panel depicting the Trinity, and is set in a beautifully painted wooden casing, complete with doors and painted figures of saints.

Object of Devotion: Medieval English Alabaster Sculpture from the Victoria and Albert Museum (image courtest the TMA)

Word Made Flesh: The Life of Christ

Over time, styles and techniques for carving alabaster changed, as did the designs and compositions. This section presents scenes from the life of Christ — from the Annunciation through to the Crucifixion, Resurrection, and Ascension — exploring the changes in alabaster production as well as those in Christian iconography. Spanning the years from 1380 through the 15th-century – the zenith of alabaster production — and on through the Reformation, this stylistic overview includes the delicacy and finesse of late 14th-century sculpture in panels of the Annunciation and the Resurrection.

The Altarpiece: Worshipping at Church Altarpieces played an important role in late medieval devotional practice and public worship. Most alabaster altarpieces took the form of rectangular relief panels designed to be fitted into wooden casings in groups. Providing an impressive and stately focus to this section is a spectacular set of five panels from an altarpiece that are set into a specially made casing, illustrating how the panels were initially intended to be seen. In contrast to the folk-art aspects of private devotional alabasters, altarpieces in churches sought to hold the attention of crowds of churchgoers through sophisticated carving techniques and elaborate, multi-episode compositions – particularly apparent in a large and elaborate carving like the late 15th-century Panel of the Betrayal.

Business and Religion: Making and Selling Holy Images

The working methods of the alabastermen and the actual stages involved in the production of reliefs and sculpture – from the mining of the stone and its transport to the artists, to the actual carving of objects and the coloring of them — are explored in this section. Some works included were selected to show latten (an alloy resembling brass) hooks, and assembly marks on the back. The export trade in alabasters will be explored through two key heads of Saint John the Baptist.

While both depict the same subject, the differences in composition and carving are geared toward two different audiences — one at a higher, more aristocratic end of the market, and the other aimed at customers with less money to spend but just as much desire to furnish their homes with religious images of comfort. Like everything else in their lives, the aristocratic version is more carefully finished, more heavily gilded, and more elaborate. Ironically, it may well be the humbler, simpler version that appeals more to many of us today, with our modern taste for minimalist simplicity.

End of an Era: The Reformation

The Reformation of the 1530s ended the alabaster industry in England as part of its wholesale rejection of religious art. Workshops quickly sold off their stock to remaining Catholic areas of Europe while, in England, mobs defaced and destroyed much alabaster sculpture. Examples of defaced and vandalized sculpture are included to illustrate these dramatic social changes and the end of alabaster production in England. In particular, a late 14th-century panel of the Crucifixion bears the scars of Reformist zeal, with the images of Christ and other figures having been violently but methodically “de-faced.”

The Legacy

English alabaster art was forgotten or dismissed as ‘folk art’ up until the late 19th century. At that time, the Arts and Crafts movement, both in Britain and the United States, was concerned with ennobling the more modest home of the rapidly expanding middle class, not unlike the work of the “alabastermen.” Along with heightening an appreciation of medieval technique, the Arts And Crafts movement encouraged our ability to empathize and understand the strange, mystical aesthetics of medieval English alabaster sculpture.

In continental Europe, artists such as Vincent van Gogh, Paul Cézanne, Georges Braque, Pablo Picasso, and Auguste Rodin also displayed an affinity towards English alabasters. All share a delight in expression through abstraction, shapes and color, and the creation of dream-like realities. Later, the fabulously surreal, conceptualized images of English alabaster were to have a profound influence on 20th-century sculpture, particularly on artists working in abstract or conceptual styles. These sculptors conveyed the magnitude and emotion of their subject matter by stylizing and distorting perspective, scale, color, and reality itself.

Today, it is possible to detect the powerful legacy of these anonymous master craftsmen in the work of more recent artists such as Henry Moore and Jacob Epstein, the American-born British Expressionist sculptor. To carve his masterpiece, “Jacob and the Angel,” Epstein actually used a block of English alabaster, quarried from the same part of the country where the medieval artists sourced their alabaster. In North America, traces of the ‘alabasterers’, as medieval writers call them, is evidenced in the work of 20th-century figurative sculptors like Elie Nadelman. A full illustrated color catalogue published by Art Services International accompanies the exhibition.

Credit Information

The exhibition is organized and circulated by Art Services International, Alexandria, Virginia. This exhibition is supported by a grant from The Samuel H. Kress Foundation. His Excellency Sir Nigel Sheinwald, Ambassador of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to the United States of America, is Honorary Patron of the exhibition. All images provided courtesy of the Victoria and Albert Museum, London.

Exhibition support for the presentation in Tyler has been generously provided by Lead Sponsor, Amy and Vernon Faulconer. Underwriter is Dr. Harold and Eleanor Cameron. Patrons are Dorothy and Ben Bridges. Contributor is Mary John Spence. Friends are Rebecca and Gregg Davis, Frances and Tommy Swann, Agnes and Frank Ward, and Caroline King Wylie. Collectors’ Circle Sponsors are Julietta Jarvis Foundation, Inc., Bette King, Robert M. Rogers Foundation and The A.W. Riter Family Foundation. Corporate Member Sponsors are Hibbs-Hallmark & Company, KYTX-CBS 19, Sunny 106.5, The Ranch 104.1, and Greg Strnadel & Wells Fargo Advisors.

Victoria &Albert Museum

The Victoria & Albert Museum is one of the world’s greatest museums of art and design, with collections unrivalled in their scope and diversity. It houses more than 3000 years’ worth of amazing artifacts from many of the world’s richest cultures including ceramics, furniture, fashion, glass, jewelry, metalwork, photographs, sculpture, textiles and paintings.

Tyler Museum of Art

The Tyler Museum of Art, accredited by the American Association of Museums, is located at 1300 S. Mahon Ave., adjacent to the Tyler Junior College campus off East Fifth Street. Regular hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, and 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday. (The museum is closed Mondays and major holidays.) Lunch is available in the Museum Café from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, and the TMA Gift Shop is open during Museum hours. For more information, call (903) 595-1001 or visit www.tylermuseum.org.

Object of Devotion: Medieval English Alabaster Sculpture from the Victoria and Albert Museum (image courtest the TMA)

Tapestry II by Carol Benson, 2010 (image courtesy the Collection of Jamie Peebles)

Images of pop icons and vibrant graffiti collide with thoroughly deconstructed objects and subdued tones in the two latest one-person exhibitions to open at the Tyler Museum of Art. Works by Texas contemporary artists Carol Benson and Derrick White will be on view July 24 through September 11 at the Museum in its Bell Gallery. Containment of Thought: Recent Works by Carol Benson and A Little or a Lot: Recent Works by Derrick White comprise works on paper including paintings and collage, as well as three-dimensional artworks.

“Exhibiting works by contemporary Texas artists is an important part of the TMA’s curatorial and institutional vision, and we are proud to include works by Derrick White, one of Tyler’s own artists and educators,” said TMA Curator, Ken Tomio. While works by the two artists are very different, their works similarly employ every day objects and icons. “Carol Benson reiterates common items such as a bowl or the frame of a house many different ways, creating an ongoing study of what is suggested by the structures. Derrick, on the other hand, combines multiple characters and layers bold color and texture to create something that is both immediately recognizable but somehow unexpected.”

Both exhibitions were organized by the Tyler Museum of Art.

Containment of Thought: Recent Works by Carol Benson, About the Artist

Tapestry II by Carol Benson, 2010 (image courtesy the Collection of Jamie Peebles)

Carol Benson is a contemporary artist from Fort Worth, Texas who uses everyday objects to communicate her artistic message. By reducing an item to its most basic line and shape, the artist suggests rather than imposes meanings on her viewer. Benson’s work often focuses on the fundamental structure of a subject. Her house paintings show physical layers, from the skeleton of a frame to washes of bright color that cover the structure, suggesting a layering of thought and significance.

Born in Baytown, Texas, Benson earned her MFA in Painting and Drawing from Texas Christian University. Her professional experience includes both solo and group exhibitions across Texas, New Mexico and New York. Influenced by simplicity, Benson attempts to recreate an experience of first-time exploration through her work as an artist.

A Little or a Lot: Recent Works by Derrick White, About the Artist

What it is, What it Will.... by Derrick White, 2007

Derrick White is an artist based in Tyler and art professor at Tyler Junior College. His artwork includes sculpture and paintings, and is typically characterized by a fusion of brush strokes, mixed-media collage, and screen-printing. Interplay between people and objects often contribute to the dynamic composition typical of his art.

The artist earned his BFA and MFA from the University of North Texas. White’s art has been shown in exhibitions across Texas, and he has garnered various awards and recognition over his years as a professional artist. As a child, White drew cartoon characters and pop icons. His current work employs an experimental mix of colors, shapes and images and ranges from the playful to the unusual.

Tyler Museum of Art

The Tyler Museum of Art, accredited by the American Association of Museums, is located at 1300 S. Mahon Ave., adjacent to the Tyler Junior College campus off East Fifth Street. Regular hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, and 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday. (The Museum is closed Mondays and major holidays.) Lunch is available in the Museum Café from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, and the TMA Gift Shop is open during Museum hours. For more information, call (903) 595-1001 or visit www.tylermuseum.org.

The City of Dallas Office of Cultural Affairs has announced a call to artists for the White Rock Lake Centennial Commemorative Sculpture project. The project is open to all professional artists not currently under contract with the City of Dallas Public Art Program or anyone currently employed by the City of Dallas. This is a gran opportunity to leave a lasting impression on our beautiful city.

White Rock Lake

A historic destination park in the Dallas Park System was completed in 1911. The 1,015 acre city lake is located at 8300 East Lawther Drive serves as a recreational lake for the City of Dallas. From its earliest days, area residents used it for rest and relaxation by constructing cabins and docks on leased property along its shoreline. This urban lake is enjoyed by over 2 million visitors each year.

White Rock Lake offers a wide variety of outdoor activities including: hike and bike trails, sailing, bird watching areas and wetlands sites, scenic picnic areas,rental facilities and fishing piers.

Cultural, sports and others events are held at the lake throughout the year around the lake and at the Bath House Cultural Center. This City of Dallas Cultural Center is a welcoming venue for visual and performing artists. The historic Art Deco-style Bath House houses a 116-seat black box theater, three gallery spaces, the White Rock Lake Museum, and several multipurpose spaces. The Center is dedicated to fostering the growth, development, and quality of multicultural arts in Dallas by emphasizing innovative visual and performing arts and other multidisciplinary arts events.

Goals for the White Rock Lake Centennial Commemorative Sculpture

• The 100 year history of White Rock Lake must be a part of the design.
• The theme of water conservation and the natural environment near the installation site must be reflected in the design.
• The desired vertical configuration must be tall enough to be highly visible from the adjacent roadway, Garland Road.
• The character of White Rock Lake including the architecture on White Rock Lake Spillway Promenade that runs along Garland Road must be a part of the design.
• The materials for the sculpture must be consistent with the materials found at the lake including the White Rock Lake Spillway Promenade.
• Lighting to ensure good visibility at night must be planned as a part of the design.
• The White Rock Lake Centennial Commemorative Sculpture must become an icon for the lake.

Eligibility

All professional artists are eligible to apply except for artists currently under contract with the City of Dallas Public Art Program. Employees of the City of Dallas, their spouses, members of the Public Art Committee, or any consultants under contract for any phase of these projects are ineligible. The City of Dallas Cultural Policy does not accept qualifications from undergraduate students for Public Art projects.

Specific qualifications for this project include

Demonstrated successful completion of a public art project of similar size and scope,

Demonstrated ability to work with a design team to meet the goals for the White Rock Lake Centennial Commemorative Sculpture.

Commitment to complete the design, fabrication and installation of the project at the selected location within the budget specified.

Submission Format

By mail: Send the materials listed above on a CD to: Kendall Ferguson, Public Art Coordinator 1925 Elm Street, Suite 400 Dallas, Texas 75201.

Email Submission: Send materials listed above to: whiterocklakecentennial@gmail.com File size not to exceed 2MB.

Submission Deadline September 7, 2011

Questions

Please direct all submission-related inquiries to: Kendall Ferguson, Public Art Coordinator 214-670-3284 kendall.ferguson@dallascityhall.com.

Terms and Conditions

Application for any project advertised by the City of Dallas Public Art Program constitutes acceptance of the terms and conditions outlined in this prospectus as well as recognition of ordinances and policies of the City of Dallas (including the Good Faith Effort and the Minority and Women Owned Business enterprise goals of the City.) The City reserves the right to reject all submissions and to terminate the selection process without prior notice. Submission materials become the property of the City.

“This is a great opportunity for parents to channel their children’s excitement over the summer’s blockbuster films like X-Men First Class and The Green Lantern into creative expression,” said Ken Tomio, TMA Head of Education. “We have prepared art activities that will broaden the kids’ understandings of how characters are created and how storylines are developed, as well as further develop artistic skills like drawing.”

Saturday’s activities include “Superhero Storyboards,” where children can create their own adventures and sketch plots out onto a comic strip-style storyboards. Art educators will be on hand to help children design their very own superheroes, complete from super power to costume design using drawing, color, and of course, imagination. Finally, participants will learn to create the quintessential superhero accessory, the mask!

“We encourage parents to take their children through the gallery and explore the incredible vintage movie posters included in Remember When. This exhibition offers parents an opportunity to take a walk down ‘Memory Lane’ and share their own memories with their children,” said Mr. Tomio. Remember When: Marvels and Memories from the Collection of Dr. James Clark includes over 500 items ranging from 1940s and 50s era movie posters and memorabilia to historical items from World Wars I and II.

Family Days are offered on the second Saturday of the month, and are free of charge. Light refreshments are provided in the classroom. Also on view is A Legacy of Love and Freedom: Quilt Paintings by Sedrick Huckaby, which includes the colossal painting titled A Love Supreme, considered by many to be the artist’s magnum opus.

The Tyler Museum of Art, accredited by the American Association of Museums, is located at 1300 S. Mahon Ave., adjacent to the Tyler Junior College campus off East Fifth Street. Regular hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, and 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday. (The Museum is closed Mondays and major holidays.) Lunch is available in the Museum Café from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, and the TMA Gift Shop is open during Museum hours. For more information, call (903) 595-1001 or visit www.tylermuseum.org.