Springfield Art Museum announces 90th anniversary exhibits

(From the Springfield Art Museum)

he Springfield Art Museum turns 90 in 2018 and is celebrating with a special exhibition calendar packed with local, regional, and international interest.

New in 2018
Frolic of the Mind: The Illustrious Life of Rose O’Neill (April 14 – August 15, 2018) - This comprehensive exhibition traces the prolific career of artist, illustrator, author, poet, and inventor Rose O'Neill. Frolic of the Mind will feature 150 works from public and private collections including the Springfield Art Museum, the Huntington Library and Art Museum, the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Bonniebrook Home and Museum, the National Portrait Gallery, and the Smithsonian American Art Museum. A fully illustrated catalogue featuring several guest essays will bring new research to the topic.

Decades: 90 Years of Collecting (September 15, 2018 – February 17, 2019) - In honor of the Museum’s 90th birthday, this exhibit will trace the history and growth of the Museum’s permanent collection beginning with the initial acquisition, in 1928, of a landscape painting by Philadelphia artist Mary Butler. The exhibit will be divided into decades, presenting 10 objects per decade, and will examine the shifting trends and diversity of the Museum’s permanent collection. A wide range of objects will be exhibited including paintings, prints, ceramics, textiles, and historical objects.

Contemporary Cuban Printmaking (December 8, 2018 – March 17, 2019) - Pulled entirely from the collection of the Racela Educational and Charitable Foundation, this exhibition presents over 70 prints by thirty-three Cuban artists who have all worked at the Taller Experimental de Gráfica de Habana – the oldest, continuously running print workshop in Cuba. From its inception, the workshop has focused on connecting artists with traditional printmaking techniques and fostering a dynamic artistic community based on the sharing and exchange of ideas, experimentation, and art criticism. This supportive community has allowed Cuban artists a relative freedom of expression, even amid the country’s larger political and cultural issues.

Returning in 2018All School Exhibition (March 3 – April 29, 2018) and MFA Student Showcase (May 4 – 20, 2018) – These two shows present a unique snapshot of the continuum of work being produced in public, private, and parochial educational settings throughout Springfield – from Kindergarten to Higher Education.

Watercolor USA 2018 (June 2 – August 26, 2018) – This annual summer favorite returns with over $20,000 in cash prizes and possible Museum purchase awards available. This will be the 57th showing of the very best in contemporary American watermedia, judged by Kelly Kane, former Editor-in-Chief of Watercolor Artist magazine.

Four by Four (4x4): 2018 Midwest Invitational (August 25 – November 18, 2018) - The biennial 4x4 exhibition recognizes and encourages contemporary artists working in all media who reside in the four-state region of Missouri, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Kansas. This year's artists include Shawn Bitters (Kansas), Jason Cytacki (Oklahoma), Dawn Holder (Arkansas) and Meghan Roswell (Missouri).

Art in Our City (Zone 2: March 24 – October 14, 2018; Zone 3: October 20, 2018 – March 17, 2019) – This special exhibition highlights local artists and the character of Springfield’s unique neighborhoods. In 2018, work from 17 artists representing 8 neighborhoods in City Council Zones 2 and 3 will rotate into Avant Art, the Museum’s new flexible, social gallery that combines art, retail, and limited beverage and snack service.

Evergreen in 2018New works from American artists from the 18th Century onward will continue to rotate quarterly into Creating an American Identity, our semi-permanent exhibition of our permanent collection. Rotating works of art on and off display not only helps preserve the art, it also helps keep our galleries fresh and relevant to our patrons. Patrons can also enjoy installation pieces like Anne Lindberg’s titled sky and Dale Chihuly’s Autumn Persian and Feather Chandelier, year-round.

Plan to join us for any, or all, of these exciting exhibits during our 90th Anniversary year at the Springfield Art Museum, located at 1111 E. Brookside Drive. Admission is always free. Donations are gratefully accepted.