Mitchell Gallery 2015-2016 Exhibitions and Programs

House Proud: Nineteenth-Century Watercolor Interiors from the Thaw Collection August 23 - October 12, 2015

Chagall: The Early Etchings October 23 – December 17, 2015

Pure Photography: Pictorial and Modern Photographs from the Syracuse University Art Collection January 13 – February 28, 2016

American Impressionism: The Lure of the Artists’ Colony March 9 – April 24, 2016

St. John’s College Community Art Exhibition 2016 May 1 – 15, 2016

House Proud: Nineteenth-Century Watercolor Interiors from the Thaw Collection (Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum) August 26 – October 11, 2015

The Japanese Salon, Villa Hügel, Heitzing, Vienna (Detail) Rudolf von Alt (Austrian, 1812–1905) Austria, 1855 Brush and watercolor and gouache, graphite on white paper

COPYRIGHT: Photo: Matt Flynn. Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum

The Chinese Room in the Royal Palace, Berlin (Detail) Eduard Gaertner (German, 1801–1877) Germany, 1850 Brush and watercolor and gouache, graphite on white paper

COPYRIGHT: Photo: Matt Flynn. Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum

The Mitchell Gallery presents “House Proud: Nineteenth-Century Watercolor Interiors from the Thaw Collection,” an exhibition that examines the evolution of the domestic interior in 19th-century Europe. This exhibition was organized by the Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum, and explores the origins of the modern home through Eugene (St. John’s College, Class of 1947) and Clare Thaw’s generous gift to the museum of these 47 interior watercolors.

“House Proud: Nineteenth-Century Watercolor Interiors from the Thaw Collection” showcases the Thaw’s collection of 19th-century watercolor drawings, which meticulously detail the era’s interior furnishings and document the social, cultural, and aesthetic development of European domestic life. The collection includes examples of English, German, Russian, French, Italian, and Austrian domestic spaces.

“House Proud: Nineteenth-Century Watercolor Interiors from the Thaw Collection” was organized by Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum.

Interpretive Programs: August 28 Members Preview Reception. Be the first to preview the “House Proud” exhibition at this elegant wine and hors d'oeuvres reception from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. By invitation only. Become a member.

August 30 Opening Reception. Art Educator Lucinda Edinberg will lead a tour of the “House Proud” exhibition followed by a hands-on workshop from 3:30 to 5:00 p.m.

September 10 Thursday Try-It. Matt Klos, associate professor of painting and drawing, Anne Arundel Community College, will give a workshop on drafting principles for interior spaces associated with “House Proud” from 3:00 to 4:30 p.m. No experience necessary. Basic materials will be provided. Registration is required. Please call 410-626-2556.

September 16 Curator’s Lecture. Curator Gail Davidson will lecture on "Competitive Decorating: 19th-Century Themed Interiors" at 6:00 p.m. in the Conversation Room, across from the Gallery.

September 30 – October 13 Symphony on the Blue Danube. Mitchell Gallery travel to Krakow-Prague-Vienna-Budapest. The 2015 Symphony on the Blue Danube Trip is FULL. Click here to visit the Blue Danube page.

September 30 Art Express Lunchtime Tour. Art Educator Lucinda Edinberg will give a lunchtime gallery talk on the “House Proud” exhibition from 12:15 to 12:45 p.m.

October 1 Book Club. Join members of the Mitchell Gallery Book Club for a docent tour of the “House Proud” exhibition followed by a discussion of At Home with the Soanes: Upstairs, Downstairs in 19th-Century London by Susan Palmer from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. Registration is required. Contact Kathy Dulisse at 410-626-2530.

October 11 Sunday Afternoon Lecture. Art Educator Lucinda Edinberg will lead a tour of the “House Proud” exhibition at 3:00 p.m.

Chagall: The Early Etchings October 23 – December 17, 2015

Le Cheval s'étant voulu venger du Cerf, 1927-30, (Stag Hunting in the Forest), Etching, signed in the plate: lower left

In the early 1920s Parisian art dealer Ambroise Vollard commissioned artist Marc Chagall (1887-1985) to create a set of etchings. This selection of 65 prints illustrate two popular literary works: Nikolai Gogol’s (1809-1852) Dead Souls, an 1842 classic novel, and Fables, Aesop-like tales by French author Jean de La Fontaine (1621-1695). This selection of etchings was originally owned by the Italian art historian and critic Lionello Venturi. It was presented as a gift to Rosabianca Skira, wife of Swiss publisher Albert Skira.

“Chagall: The Early Etchings from the 1920s” was organized by Contemporary and Modern Print Exhibitions.

Interpretive Programs: October 25 Opening Reception. Art Educator Lucinda Edinberg will lead a tour of the “Chagall” exhibition followed by a hands-on workshop from 3:30 to 5:00 p.m.

November 4 Lecture. Christopher With, educator (retired), National Gallery of Art, will lecture on “Time is a River without Banks: Marc Chagall and Book Illustrations, 1925-1930” at 5:30 p.m. in the Conversation Room, across from the Gallery. Mitchell Gallery members are invited to a wine and cheese reception immediately following the lecture.

November 8 Caritas Society Event “A Movie and an Author" – A screening of Chagall, a Lauro di Venturi documentary film, followed by Stanley Meisler’s discussion of his recent monograph, Shocking Paris: Soutine, Chagall and the Outsiders of Montparnasse. Both the movie and the book explore the context in which Chagall produced the etchings on display in the Mitchell Gallery. Enjoy a wonderful afternoon of cinema, book discussion with Mr. Meisler, and tour of the Chagall exhibit. Then enjoy a reception featuring French wine and cheese along with book signing by Mr. Meisler. 3:00 to 6:00 p.m., FSK Auditorium. Tickets $20 in advance, $25 at the door.

November 10 Tuesday Try-It. Lynn Schwartz, noted author and teacher, will guide participants through writing a short fable in the style of Chagall, “Fables of La Fontaine” from 3:00 to 4:30 p.m. No experience necessary. Basic materials will be provided. Registration is required. Please call 410-626-2556.

November 18 Art Express Lunchtime Tour. Art Educator Lucinda Edinberg will give a lunchtime gallery talk on the “Chagall” exhibition from 12:15 to 12:45 p.m.

December 3 Book Club. Join members of the Mitchell Gallery Book Club for a docent tour of the “Chagall” exhibition followed by a discussion of Dead Souls by Nikolai Gogol from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. Registration is required. Contact Kathy Dulisse at 410-626-2530.

December 8 Seminar. St. John’s tutor David Townsend and artist Ebby Malmgren will lead a seminar related to the exhibition at 7:00 p.m. Space is limited. Registration is required. Call 410-626-2556 to register.

December 13 Sunday Afternoon Lecture. Art Educator Lucinda Edinberg will lead a tour of the “Chagall” exhibition at 3:00 p.m.

Pure Photography: Pictorial and Modern Photographs from the Syracuse University Art Collection January 13 – February 28, 2016

Barbara Morgan, Emanation, printed 1940, Courtesy of the

Syracuse University Art Collection

Alfred Stieglitz, The Steerage, 1907 Courtesy of the Syracuse University

Art Collection

Gordon Parks, Dock Stevedore at

Fulton Fish Market, 1943, Courtesy of the Syracuse University Art Collection

Photography’s evolution as an art form has been influenced by countless individuals, thematic styles, and chemical processes. Initially, photography was used largely to document what surrounded or intrigued the public eye. As more individuals began using cameras, the idea grew that photography could be a form of art in addition to a form of documentation. This captured the attention of many artists, most notably Alfred Stieglitz (American, 1864-1946), who formed the Photo Secession movement and helped establish Pictorialism.

Pictorial Photography emerged from the shadows of a “point and shoot” craft into a style where artists strived to create painterly, romantic images. These soft and atmospheric images could be easily mistaken for a monochromatic painting, etching, or drawing. Several modern photographers are represented in this exhibition, including Edward Steichen (American, 1879-1973), Éugene Atget (French, 1857-1927), Berenice Abbott (American, 1898-1991), and Manuel Alvarez Bravo (Mexican, 1902-2002).

“Pure Photography: Pictorial and Modern Photographs from the Syracuse University Art Collection” was organized by the Syracuse University Art Galleries.

Interpretive Programs: January 13 Gallery Talk. Curator Emily Dittman will discuss the exhibition “Pure Photography” at 5:30 p.m. Mitchell Gallery members are invited to a wine and cheese reception immediately following the lecture.

January 17 Opening Reception. Art Educator Lucinda Edinberg will lead a tour of the “Pure Photography” exhibition followed by a hands-on workshop from 3:30 to 5:00 p.m.

January 19 Tuesday Try-It. "A Hands-On Short Course That Will Help You Craft Your Own Personal Vision" from 3:00 to 4:30 p.m. Bring your camera and learn the art of light and shadow from Robert Madden, former National Geographic staff photographer. We will go on location on the St. Johns campus where you will be able to photograph a variety of subjects. No experience necessary. Basic materials will be provided. Registration is required. Please call 410-626-2556.

February 3 Art Express Lunchtime Tour. Art Educator Lucinda Edinberg will give a lunchtime gallery talk on the “Pure Photography” exhibition from 12:15 to 12:45 p.m.

February 4 Book Club. Join members of the Mitchell Gallery Book Club for a docent tour of the “Pure Photography” exhibition followed by a discussion of Classic Essays on Photography by Alan Trachtenberg from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. Registration is required. Call 410-626-2556.

February 21 Sunday Afternoon Lecture. Art Educator Lucinda Edinberg will lead a tour of the “Pure Photography” exhibition at 3:00 p.m.

American Impressionism: The Lure of the Artists’ Colony March 9 – April 24, 2016

Edward Willis Redfield (American, 1869-1965), Winter in the Valley, c. 1920s, oil on canvas, 36 x 50 inches Museum Purchase, Reading Public Museum, Reading, Pennsylvania

Edward Willis Redfield (American, 1869-1965), Winter in the Valley, c. 1920s, oil on canvas, 36 x 50 inches Museum Purchase, Reading Public Museum, Reading, Pennsylvania

This comprehensive exhibition features one of the Reading Public Museum's greatest strengths—its collection of works by American Impressionists. The exhibition includes 50 oil paintings and nearly 20 works on paper dating from the 1880s through the 1940s. Outstanding landscapes—ranging from snow covered hills to sun filled harbors—seascapes, penetrating portraits, and remarkable still lifes, imbued with rich textures, reveal the artists’ interest in capturing effects of light and atmosphere in their work.

The exhibition is arranged according to the artists’ colonies that played a critical role in the development of American Impressionism, including those at Cos Cob and Old Lyme in Connecticut; Cape Cod, Cape Ann, and Rockport, in Massachusetts; New Hope and Philadelphia in Pennsylvania; Taos, New Mexico; and California. In addition, American expatriate artists such as Mary Cassatt and John Singer Sargent are examined.

Other leading artists of the movement include William Merritt Chase, Childe Hassam, Ernest Lawson, Julian Alden Weir, John Twachtman, Chauncey Ryder, Frank W. Benson, William Paxton, Abbott Thayer, Guy Wiggins, Charles Webster Hawthorne, Colin Campbell Cooper, Daniel Garber, and Edward Redfield, among others. Read the exhibition brochure.

"American Impressionism: The Lure of the Artists’ Colony” was organized by the Reading Public Museum, Reading, Pennsylvania. This exhibition is generously supported by the Helena Foundation.

Interpretive Programs: March 11 Members Preview Reception. Be the first to preview the “American Impressionism” exhibition at this elegant wine and hors d'oeuvres reception from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. By invitation only. Become a member.

March 20 Opening Reception. Art Educator Lucinda Edinberg will lead a tour of the “American Impressionism” exhibition followed by a hands-on workshop from 3:30 to 5:00 p.m. All are welcome, no registration necessary.

March 23 Lecture. Scott Schweigert, curator of art and civilization at the Reading Public Museum, will lecture on “American Impressionism through the Lens of the Artists’ Colonies” at 5:30 p.m. in the Conversation Room, across from the Gallery.

March 29 Tuesday Try-It. Artist Abigail McBride will lead a workshop on Impressionist palettes from 3:00 to 4:30 p.m. No experience necessary. Basic materials will be provided. Registration is required. Please call 410-626-2556.

April 2 Evening of Art, Food, Drink and Dancing celebrating "American Impressionism" from 7:00 to 10:00 p.m. Register now for An Evening in an Artists' Colony with the music of the Tiki Barbarians in the Great Hall in McDowell Hall. The gallery will also be open. View the invite by clicking the image.

April 5 Seminar. St. John’s tutor David Townsend and artist Ebby Malmgren will lead a seminar related to the exhibition at 7:00 p.m. Space is limited. Registration is required. Call 410-626-2556 to register.

April 7 Book Club. Join members of the Mitchell Gallery Book Club for a docent tour of the “American Impressionism” exhibition followed by a discussion of Strapless by Deborah Davis from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. Registration is required. Contact Hydee Schaller at 410-626-2556.

April 13 Art Express Lunchtime Tour. Art Educator Lucinda Edinberg will give a lunchtime gallery talk on the “American Impressionism” exhibition from 12:15 to 12:45 p.m.

April 17 Sunday Afternoon Lecture. Art Educator Lucinda Edinberg will lead a tour of the “American Impressionism” exhibition at 3:00 p.m.

St. John’s College Community Art Exhibition 2016 May 1 – 15, 2016

This annual exhibition offers members of the St. John’s College community an opportunity to explore the visual arts. The result, a diverse collection of ceramics, paintings, drawings, prints, sculpture, textiles, and photographs, elegantly represents the artistic talent of the community.

Interpretive Programs: May 1 Artists Opening Reception from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m.