Emory Report

August 3, 1998

Volume 50, No. 36

Carlos Museum exhibit highlights marquee Atlanta collections Continuing a tradition of periodically presenting overviews of local collections, the Carlos Museum will mount "Connections and Contradictions: Modern and Contemporary Art from Atlanta Collections" Aug. 15 through Oct. 4. The show is the second such exhibition the museum has mounted. The first show, organized by Genevieve Arnold in 1987, was inspired by art history professor Clark Poling's "Contemporary Art in Atlanta Collections" show, held at the High Museum of Art in 1976. This year's exhibit, also organized by Arnold, will offer a somewhat different emphasis. "It addresses a few of the shifts in attitudes over a fairly broad period of the 20th century by including selections of earlier modern works along with very current examples of painting, sculpture, photography and artists' books," Arnold said. "This exhibition is the first of the three to include photographs, reflecting the fairly recent acknowledgment of photography as one of the most potent forms of 20th century artistic expression," Arnold said. "The earlier works of James VanDerZee, Man Ray, W. Eugene Smith and Piet Zwart, to list a few in the exhibit, are evidence that the recognition has been late in coming. "'Connections and Contradictions' will endeavor to show, through juxtaposition of these with more recent work, the ongoing changes in the way present-day photographers such as Nan Goldin, Christopher Bucklow ... and Elizabeth Turk approach their medium," she said. "The representation in local collections of such important artists of our century as Pablo Picasso, Marcel Duchamp ... and others encouraged an examination of their influence on more recent painting and sculpture," said Arnold. "While paintings of such artists as Anselm Kiefer, Richard Artschwager, Edward Ruscha, Robert Therrien, Moira Dwyer, Annette Cone-Skelton, and sculpture by Tony Cragg, Ann Hamilton and Tony Oursler, indicate some reference to the past, there is at the same time work of striking originality." Three general categories form the structure of the exhibition: works that incorporate a literary connection (use of words, letters or references to such); the use of the figure (or "body," as it is known in the '90s) as subject; and nonobjective work (found to be of continuing interest in local collections). The exhibition also reflects the widespread interest in combining various media. The exhibition will also feature a gallery talk by Arnold; an Atlanta gallery tour via luxury coach; a concert by Atlanta contemporary music ensemble Thamyris; a two-part workshop for children; and other gallery talks. For information on programs, call 404-727-6118. --Joy Bell Return to Aug. 3, 1998, contents page