Art Knowledge News - Keeping You in Touch with the World of Art...

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• Our Editor Tours The Reina Sofia in Madrid ~ Home Of Pablo Picasso's Famous "Guernica"
• Saatchi Says He’ll Give Britain His Gallery and Over $37 Million in Art
• Stanley and Audrey Burton Gallery to host ‘Obsession: Art from the Lodeveans Collection’
• Akron Art Museum hosts American Masters of Art Nouveau
• The Morgan Library & Museum opens Exhibition on the Great - and Enduringly Popular - Novelist Jane Austen
• Imaginary Impressionism by Artist Mila Ryk on Exhibition
• The Nevada Museum of Art exhibits 'A Graphic History of the American Flag'
• The Art Fund Helps Hunterian Acquire A Work About Surrealist Leonora Carrington
• Painting with Connections to Captain Cook Bought for Captain Cook Memorial Museum
• MCA Denver Showcases Large-Scale Works by Damien Hirst
• Natasha Kissell Modernist Landscapes
• Banksyyy ~ Best of British now an American Arts Hero ?
• Jim Lambie's Modern Sculpture
• Sperone Westwater exhibits Recent Sculptures by Bertozzi & Casoni
• This Week in Review in Art Knowledge News

Our Editor Tours The Reina Sofia in Madrid ~ Home Of Pablo Picasso's Famous "Guernica" Posted: 04 Feb 2011 08:44 PM PST The Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía, along with the Museo Nacional del Prado and the Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza forms the Madrid "golden triangle" of art museums. The Reina Sofia was originally built to house the city's hospital between 1776 and 1781 from plans by the architect Francisco Sabatini. For the next 200 years, numerous additions and renovations were made and the hospital building narrowly escaped demolition several times. However, a Royal Decree in 1977 declared it to be a National Historic Monument. Plans to turn the building into a new modern and contemporary art museum were drawn up and Architect Antonio Fernández Alba was commissioned to oversee the renovation. The Reina Sofia Art Center opened in April 1986, initially providing temporary exhibition galleries on the lower two floors only. Finishing touches were added by architects José Luis Iñíguez de Onzoño and Antonio Vázquez de Castro, along with the striking steel and glass external elevators, which gave the building its contemporary look. On 10 September 1992, their Majesties King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia (after whom the museum is named) inaugurated the Permanent Collection of the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía and the building and collection were fully opened to the public. In 2005, a spectacular extension, designed by Pritzker-prize winning architect Jean Nouvel was officially opened. Nouvel's design created new annexes and linked the old building with the new by forming a plaza in between the buildings containing the towering sculpture "Paintbrush" by Roy Lichtenstein. The new Nouvel buildings greatly increased the overall floor space by 60% (and the display space by 50%) giving the museum 84,048 square meters, including a 450 seat auditorium, temporary exhibition rooms, a friendly bar, restaurant, library and the museum shop. In addition to its exhibition functions, The Reina Sofía is dedicated to conserving and restoring fine art as well as undertaking research and maintenance that ensure proper conservation. To facilitate these activities, the museum has a modern chemical analysis laboratory, a photography research lab, infrared reflectography and x-ray diagnostics capabilities. The museum Library, which is open to the public, hosts an extensive collection of works from 1900 to today, as well as some nineteenth-century works. Currently, the Library is undertaking a project to digitalize documents that are of particular interest to the public. The permanent collection of the Reina Sofia came from the former Museo Espanol de Arte Contemporaneo (MEAC), supplemented by new acquisitions and transfers from other museums, including amongst other works, and rather contentiously, the arrival of Pablo Picasso's world-famous work, "Guernica" from the Prado. Picasso has stipulated that the work could only return to Spain after democracy was restored, and that once in Spain, it should reside in the Prado. The Reina Sofia is mainly dedicated to Spanish art including excellent collections of Spain's two greatest 20th century masters, Pablo Picasso and Salvador Dalí. Along with the MACBA in Barcelona, the Reina Sofia now gives Spain world-class museums of modern and contemporary art to rival the Pompidou Centre in Paris, Tate Modern in London and Museum of Modern Art in New York. Visit the museum's website at: http://www.museoreinasofia.es The permanent collection is displayed on 2 floors, the 2nd and the 4th. On the second floor, art up to 1945 is displayed under the heading of "The advent of the twentieth century - utopias and conflicts (1900-1945)". This begins with a selection of works that look at the origins of Modernism in Spanish art, placing together artistic currents from different parts of Spain - Basque painters such as Ignacio Zuloaga, Dario de Regoyos and Juan de Echevarría, Catalan Modernists such as Santiago Rusiñol, Isidre Nonell and Ramon Casas. Next is the first Avant-Garde Room, with pieces by the Uruguayan Joaquín Torres García and other artists who worked in Spain, such as Francis Picabia, and the Delaunays (Robert and Sonia), followed by a room dedicated to Juan Gris, including his celebrated "Guitar in Front of the Sea" and "The Open Window". Then comes the major draw for most visitors: the Picasso Rooms, with "Guernica" in the centre, but also including "Woman in Blue" amongst other works. Joan Miró, Julio González and Salvador Dalí have rooms of their own. Miró works include "Man with a Pipe", "Portrait II" and "Femme Et Oiseau Dans La Nuit". Paintings by the Dali include, "Landscapes at Cadaqués", "The Great Masturbator", "The Endless Enigma", "Self Portrait" and "The Enigma of Hitler". Other rooms focus on international Surrealism (Max Ernst and Renee Magritte), Luis Buñuel and Spanish art of the 1930s. Additional works of art include the imaginative oil creation of "Toros" (Tauromaquia) by Benjamín Palencia, the welded copper sheets that make up "Etude de Prophète" by Pablo Gargallo, the seductive shades of blue in "Belomancie" by Ives Tanguy, José Solana's "The Gathering at the Café del Pombo" and works by international artists such as Francis Bacon's "Reclining Figure", and a serene sculpture by Henry Moore. Under the title of "The war is over? Art for a Divided World (1945-1968)", the 4th floor centers on contemporary artists work since 1945, starting with figurative art and the beginnings of abstraction in Spain, taking in Antoni Tàpies, Manuel Hernández Mompó, Jorge "Oteiza" Enbil, Pablo Palazuelo and Equipo 57. Providing an international context, there are also works by Francis Bacon, Henry Moore and Lucio Fontana, alongside Antonio Saura and Eduardo Chillida. Later rooms feature Pop Art, figurative work by Eduardo Arroyo and Minimalism, with pieces by Ellsworth Kelly and Dan Flavin. Amongst the highlights on the fourth floor are "Sequeros" by Lucio Munoz, "Composición" by Jose Guerrero García and "Sin título" by Pablo Pier Calzolari. A third permanent exhibition area is in an annex, under the title of "Paradigm Shift". This contains works from the 1960s and 70s, from Spanish artists (including Luis Gordillo) and others (including Barnett Newman and Philip Guston) who struggled against what they perceived to be the conventions of the time. Until March 27th 2011, the Reina Sofia is exhibiting a retrospective (and the first exhibition to be held in Spain) of the photographic works of Jean-Luc Mylayne under the title "Jean-Luc Mylayne - Traces of Heaven in the hands of time". Mylayne photographs common birds, species like the robin or sparrow, in their natural habitats, places where the human impact on the landscape is evident, as arable land, gardens or parks. However, ornithological considerations are not the main object of his work. Rather, his approach is more inventive and original, combining a significant conceptual, formal wit with the infinite patience required to get the perfect image. His photographs have a universal sense, reflecting the artists concerns over the cycle of life and death, decline and erosion of natural resources, and the fundamental interdependence of the elements that make up each individual biotype. Born in Marquette, France, in 1946 Jean-Luc Mylayne has lived and worked throughout the world since 1976, when he decided to devote himself to photography, with his partner and collaborator, Mylène Mylayne. With his degree in philosophy, Mylayne decided early to focus on the medium of photography rather than painting or poetry, an art form for which he also feels great attraction. He has previously had solo exhibitions in institutions like the Musée d'art contemporain de Lyon (2009), the Museum of Contemporary Art Cleveland (2008), the Lannan Foundation in Santa Fe and Gladstone Gallery, New York (2004). This is just one of the seven temporary exhibitions that the Reina Sofia is able, with its vast gallery spaces, to display. ANNOUNCEMENT: Our Editor has been invited to visit Museums and cultural sites worldwide, and they are featured on our Home Page (center). Because of the Editor's travel we will be posting many interesting articles from our archives, some of the BEST Articles and Art Images that appeared in your magazine during the past six plus (6+) years . . and we are publishing current art news articles on the left hand side under RECENT NEWS .. Enjoy

Saatchi Says He’ll Give Britain His Gallery and Over $37 Million in Art Posted: 04 Feb 2011 08:38 PM PST LONDON.- Art collector Charles Saatchi has a gift for Britain. It includes Tracy Emin's messy bed, Grayson Perry's explicit pottery and a room full of engine oil. The advertising tycoon, whose patronage made household names of artists like Emin and Damien Hirst, announced Thursday he is donating his London gallery and 200 works in its collection to the nation as a new public art museum. The gallery said the works, valued at more than 25 million pounds ($37 million), will be given to the government. The 70,000-square foot (6,500-square meter) Saatchi Gallery will be renamed the Museum of Contemporary Art, London.

Stanley and Audrey Burton Gallery to host ‘Obsession: Art from the Lodeveans Collection’ Posted: 04 Feb 2011 08:37 PM PST Leeds, UK - Challenging and thought-provoking new artworks from around the globe will be shown in a forthcoming exhibition at the Stanley and Audrey Burton Gallery, University of Leeds. They are on loan from the prestigious Lodeveans Collection of international contemporary art, established in April 2006 by visionary father and son collectors, Stuart and John Evans. The exhibition, 'Obsession: Contemporary Art from the Lodeveans Collection,' runs from 22 September until 28 November 2009. Opening Reception: Tuesday, 22 September, 2009, 6-8pm. The Gallery is open Mon-Sat, 10-5pm, and admission is free.

Akron Art Museum hosts American Masters of Art Nouveau Posted: 04 Feb 2011 08:35 PM PST AKRON, OH.- Luminous paintings, stylish furnishings and dazzling decorative objects by the husband and wife team considered to be American Masters of Art Nouveau are featured in California as Muse: The Art of Arthur & Lucia Mathews. The exhibition opened at the Akron Art Museum and runs through Sunday, September 7, 2008.

The Morgan Library & Museum opens Exhibition on the Great - and Enduringly Popular - Novelist Jane Austen Posted: 04 Feb 2011 08:34 PM PST NEW YORK, NY.- The extraordinary life, work, and legacy of one of the greatest novelists in the English language, Jane Austen (1775–1817), are the focus of a new exhibition at The Morgan Library & Museum from November 6, 2009, through March 14, 2010. Offering a close-up portrait of the iconic British author, whose popularity has surged over the last two decades with numerous motion picture and television adaptations of her work, the show provides tangible intimacy with Austen through the presentation of more than 100 works, including her manuscripts, personal letters, and related materials, many of which the Morgan has not exhibited in over a quarter century. In 1816 Austen became ill but continued writing. She died in 1817, at the young age of 41.

Imaginary Impressionism by Artist Mila Ryk on Exhibition Posted: 04 Feb 2011 08:31 PM PST Chicago, Illinois (USA) -  On view through August 1, 2010, International Artist Mila Ryk of Morton Grove, Illinois, USA will be showcasing her artwork at the Art Stripped Down for Naked July at The National Pastime Theater, Chicago, IL. Mila Ryk, a 3rd generation artist born in the Ukraine, she immigrated to United States in 1991.  Inspired by Art Nouveau and amazed by the endless beauty of Orchids, she developed her unique style and technique, which gave her the ability to share her vision and feelings with viewers. Mila Ryk unites line work of figures, brushstrokes, colors and nature in one single form of harmony and beauty.

The Nevada Museum of Art exhibits 'A Graphic History of the American Flag' Posted: 04 Feb 2011 08:30 PM PST   RENO, NV – The Nevada Museum of Art will examine the design of the American flag in the exhibition Long May She Wave: A Graphic History of the American Flag. From Civil War-era flags and Native American moccasins to political campaign buttons and heirloom quilts, Long May She Wave: A Graphic History of the American Flag assembles thousands of American flag-related objects and artifacts from the private collection of Kit Hinrichs, one of the world's leading graphic designers and a partner in the international design firm, Pentagram. Long May She Wave: A Graphic History of the American Flag  on exhibition through February 22, 2009 and is planned to coincide with the 2008 United States presidential election.

The Art Fund Helps Hunterian Acquire A Work About Surrealist Leonora Carrington Posted: 04 Feb 2011 08:28 PM PST LONDON.- The acquisition of Leonora was made possible with help from independent charity The Art Fund, the National Fund for Acquisitions and the Scottish Arts Council. The work cost a total of £35,997.50, of which £13,000 came from The Art Fund. Leonora is a mixed media work, including a 16mm film featuring an encounter between Skaer and Leonora Carrington, aged ninety, made when Skaer paid a visit to the artist's Mexico City home in 2006. The film focuses on details of the elderly artist's appearance and the objects in her home. The installation also involves drawings on paper and wooden three-dimensional forms made by Skaer, inspired by her meeting with Leonora.

Painting with Connections to Captain Cook Bought for Captain Cook Memorial Museum Posted: 04 Feb 2011 08:27 PM PST LONDON.- A painting linked to the family of legendary explorer Captain Cook has gone on permanent display at the Captain Cook Memorial Museum in Whitby. The pen, ink and watercolour work was painted by 18th century artist William Hodges and is entitled Matavai Bay, referring to the bay on the Pacific island of Tahiti which it depicts. The painting was acquired with help from a £25,000 grant from independent charity The Art Fund. Additional funding came from the Normanby Charitable Trust, Garfield Weston Foundation, the MLA/V&A Purchase Grant Fund, Pilgrim Trust, Cook Museum Trust, Sir George Martin Trust as well as individual donors.

MCA Denver Showcases Large-Scale Works by Damien Hirst Posted: 04 Feb 2011 08:26 PM PST   DENVER, CO - MCA DENVER proudly presents Damien Hirst's signature works, including the piece "Saint Sebastian, Exquisite Pain", 2007 from the Natural History series, which features animals preserved in formaldehyde and displayed in large glass vitrines. The exhibition opens October 7, 2008 and runs through August 30, 2009. A public reception will be held on Friday, October 10 from 6-10pm. The Hirst pieces at MCA DENVER are on loan from the Artist and the Goss-Michael Collection. This exhibition is curated by Cydney Payton, Executive Director and Chief Curator of MCA Denver.

Natasha Kissell Modernist Landscapes Posted: 04 Feb 2011 08:24 PM PST Wainscott, NY - Jill Fortunoff Gerstenblatt is delighted to present new paintings by Natasha Kissell at – ScopeHamptons, July 14 - 16th 2006, located at East Hampton Studios, 75 Industrial Highway, Wainscott, NY.

Banksyyy ~ Best of British now an American Arts Hero ? Posted: 04 Feb 2011 08:20 PM PST   London - Banksy is the most exciting artist to come out of the UK for more than a decade - or so many people on both sides of the Atlantic will tell you. But is he really so much more than a prankster with a spray can? Guardian art critic Jonathan Jones gives his view. It's not often you hear someone roar the name of an artist as if they were cheering on a football player. In Bristol, however, I once heard a man scream out "Banksyyy!" as he walked past one of his murals. He was in good company. Hollywood, the New Yorker magazine, Sotheby's (which sells him), Damien Hirst (who collects him) and Glastonbury (where he recreated Stonehenge with a group of portable toilets) all concur that Banksy is the artist of our time, the rising star, the news. A poll of 18- to 25-year-olds recently named him an "arts hero" in third place behind Walt Disney and Peter Kay, and ahead of Leonardo da Vinci.

Jim Lambie's Modern Sculpture Posted: 04 Feb 2011 08:19 PM PST Glasgow, Scotland - Glasgow's Gallery of Modern Art has acquired a major piece of sculpture, Seven and Seven Is or Sunshine Bathed the Golden Glow by Turner-shortlisted artist Jim Lambie. The purchase of this vibrant and exciting work has been made possible by a £76,700 grant from independent charity The Art Fund. Seven and Seven Is was created for the 2008 Glasgow International Festival of Visual Arts.

Sperone Westwater exhibits Recent Sculptures by Bertozzi & Casoni Posted: 04 Feb 2011 08:17 PM PST NEW YORK, NY.- Sperone Westwater presents an exhibition of recent sculpture by the Italian team Bertozzi & Casoni. The artists' second solo show at the gallery, it consists of ceramic works in their remarkably realistic signature style. Bertozzi & Casoni reveal their brash and irreverent view of past arts and contemporary culture in their work. On exhibition 8 January through 20 March, 2010.

This Week in Review in Art Knowledge News Posted: 04 Feb 2011 08:16 PM PST This is a new feature for the subscribers and visitors to Art Knowledge News (AKN), that will enable you to see "thumbnail descriptions" of the last ninety (90) articles and art images that we published. This will allow you to visit any article that you may have missed ; or re-visit any article or image of particular interest. Every day the article "thumbnail images" will change. For you to see the entire last ninety images just click : here . When opened that also will allow you to change the language from English to anyone of 54 other languages, by clicking your language choice on the upper left corner of our Home Page.  You can share any article we publish with the eleven (11) social websites we offer like Twitter, Flicker, Linkedin, Facebook, etc. by one click on the image shown at the end of each opened article.  Last, but not least, you can email or print any entire article by using an icon visible to the right side of an article's headline.

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