The Carter Goes (More) 2.0
A happy coincidence - as our blog turns 2 years old this month we have some fun new 2.0 features to show off!
By popular demand, you can now subscribe to our blogs and calendar with our new RSS feeds. There are also four new ways to come say hi - we are now on Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, and Flickr.
And don’t forget, this Sunday is your last chance to see our exhibition Sentimental Journey: The Art of Alfred Jacob Miller before it heads to the Joslyn Art Museum in Omaha.
Parking Lot Moment
Driving in to work today I heard a story on NPR that kept me in my car long after I arrived at my destination. The story talks about the murals that are on view at the Justice Department headquarters. It was an incredible reminder of the power that art can have in educating, inspiring, and uniting the country.
The artwork above is in the Carter’s collection, but not currently on view. It is by John Steuart Curry, one of the artists featured in the story. The image is of John Brown who is one of the more controversial figures in our nation’s history.
One More List
Thank you to Gaile Robinson at the Fort Worth Star Telegram for including Marsden Hartley and the West: The Search for an American Modernism in her list of best exhibitions in 2008.
More Lists
I want to send a special thank you to our friend over at Fort Worth West and Clear for including two Carter exhibitions, Intimate Modernism: Fort Worth Circle Artists in the 1940s and Marsden Hartley and the West: The Search for an American Modernism in the list of top five art events in 2008. Take a moment to check out two of the great exhibitions that will be on view in 2009.
Marsden Makes the Top Ten
In case you missed it, on Friday Michael Granberry at the Dallas Morning News included the Carter’s exhibition, Marsden Hartley and the West: The Search for American Modernism in his list of Top Ten Art Happenings in 2008.
Holiday Past
I recently received a beautiful hand-made holiday card from an artist friend of mine. This reminded me of the illustrated letters created by artist Charles M. Russell.
This Christmas message was especially poignant because it was created shortly before Mr. Russell’s death. You can see the attached message from his widow, Nancy, in the lower left-hand corner.
You can find out more about Charlie’s “paper talk” (his name for his correspondence) here and in our latest publication.
Beyond the Galleries
There are many discoveries to be found at the Carter beyond what is displayed in the galleries. Often the art works are only the tip of a much larger collection of material, much of it textual and documentary. It is this assortment of letters, diaries, books, clippings, and sketches that make research and analysis of art beyond its immediate visual appeal possible. These items illuminate the artist’s intent, the work’s context in time and place, variations, and changes, without which much of an artwork’s tale is lost.
The recent Carter publication, Chimneys and Towers: Charles Demuth’s Late Paintings of Lancaster, is a fine example of the art research that is possible with supporting documents. Betsy Fahlman and Claire Barry approach Demuth’s work from differing angles but both are able to elaborate upon their discussions of context and content because of their use and study of his archives.
Take a moment during your next visit to the Carter to use our Library and Archives and see what you can discover.
Put Some Howdy in Your Holiday!
Frederic S. Remington (1861–1909)
A Dash for the Timber,1889
Oil on canvas
Amon Carter Museum, Fort Worth, Texas
1961.381
Calling all cowboys and cowgirls—come on down to the Carter for this month’s Target Family Fun Day, Holiday Howdy! From 1 to 4 p.m. this Sunday, cowpokes of all ages can participate in the many minds-on activities that are designed to bring the Carter’s outstanding collection of Western art to life. In addition to fun looking and art-making activities, representatives from the Fort Worth Herd will be onsite (and in full Drover attire) from 1 to 3 to demonstrate the skills and tools that real cowboys and cowgirls need to do their jobs. From 3 to 4, join us for a poetry slam—cowboy style—as students from Timberview High School in Mansfield read the cool cowboy poems that they wrote after seeing the works of Frederic Remington and Charles M. Russell during their October field trip to the Carter. The day is sure to be a hoot and a holler, and we hope to see y’all there!
Less Arts Coverage in DFW
Another sign of the times: news of decreased arts coverage (and a surprising collaboration) in the Star-Telegram and Dallas Morning News.