The Kirkland Reinstalled
Director Hugh Grant has recently made significant changes to the display of all three of the museum's collection areas
with a total of 109 new artworks on view.
Survey of Colorado Art III
Untitled, by Charles Ragland Bunnell, 1958
This continues the series of exhibitions at Kirkland Museum to showcase Colorado art. Of the approximately 170 Colorado artists currently on view, 41 works have not previously been seen at the Kirkland. Highlights are the first bronze sculpture (a wall plaque) that we have acquired by Arnold Rönnebeck. He was a former Director of the Denver Art Museum, 1926-1929. One of his lithographs is on view as well. Several paintings, one never before shown, are also on view by Otto Bach, another former Director from 1944 to 1974. One of Eve Drewelowe’s undulating watercolors, done in a modernist regionalism style is on view for the first time, a gift from artist Helen Davis.
Sunlit Summit, by Eve Drewelowe, 1949
A newly acquired painting by Walter Paris, the first resident artist of Colorado Springs in 1871, is displayed. This small but exquisite watercolor from 1896 demonstrates the fine watercolor training of many British artists, including Hamilton Hamilton who also did a c. 1890 watercolor on view at the Kirkland. A four foot high copper and ceramic sculpture in three parts is first on view by Katie Martineau-Caron, revealing her usual imagination and technical ability. Two unusual mobile sculptures, one hanging from the ceiling in the main museum room and one resting on a coffee table in the main studio room, have just been installed. They are by Robert Delaney who can also be seen in the Colorado Abstract book and with other installations in and out-of-state. Recently on view is a three foot high welded and fabricated bronze sculpture by James Dixon, done with his typical intricate textures and forms.
Commitment, by James Dixon, 1996
Kirkland Museum has acquired its first three works by Barbara Locketz who taught at the University of Denver School of Art, with Vance Kirkland, from 1964 to 1971. She is a significant Colorado artist who is known for her metal and Lucite sculptures. A brass and stainless steel wall sculpture by her is on view at the Kirkland and we are loaning one of her free standing metal sculptures to the Ft. Collins Museum of Contemporary Art. New works by Amy Metier (painting 2010), Charles “Bill” Hayes (painting 1984), and Carley Warren (triptych acrylic sculpture 1982) are exciting additions to the collection. Two rare lithographs by Frank Mechau have gone on view; one titled Wild Horses (1936), edition of 250, is the same image as the large mural at the Denver Public Library; the other, The Red Mare (1945), edition of 25, is a color lithograph.
Wild Horses, by Frank Mechau, 1936
Significant acquisitions of decorative art
Arabesque Chair, by Folke Jansson, 1955
Twelve decorative art works are newly on display: •the rare and unique Arabesque Chair (1955) by Folke Jansson, one of a limited edition of 50 and surviving in the original yellow and black upholstery that looks like something on which Morticia would have enjoyed lounging; •a Bauhaus ceramic tea set (c. 1930) by Margarete Heymann- (Löbenstein) Marks in a dazzling combination of yellow and aqua; •a nest of three tables (1951) by Ico Parisi that were in the home of our Director Hugh Grant’s parents; •three additional Teco ceramics; •we finally have a piece by the third Massier family member, Jérôme Massier, a plate (c. 1900) done in their famous iridescent ceramic style with metal luster (reflets métalliques); brothers Clément and Delphin and cousin Jérôme worked together in the last part of the nineteenth century; We also have an additional work by Clément Massier, so now a total of 4 works on view by Clément and 2 on view by Delphin Massier; •plus more new decorative art items on view…
Rarely seen Kirkland paintings
Grand Canyon, by Vance Kirkland, 1928
25 paintings, 2 drawings and 1 print by Vance Kirkland (1904-1981) have been rotated. Most have not been displayed in many years and a few have never been on view. This is a chance to find what kind of depth we have in Kirkland works and to see how consistently good he was as a painter. These works encompass his Designed Realism, Surrealism, Hard-Edge Abstraction, Abstract Expressionism with his unique oil and water mixtures and his hallmark Dot Paintings. New on view works range from 1927 to 1979. –Don’t miss Nudist Colony at Red Rocks, 3 Million Years Ago.
Snowy Owl, by Vance Kirkland, 1943
The Kirkland Museum Collection: 100 Years of Colorado Art
May 22 - July 3, 2010
Fort Collins Museum of Contemporary Art
in the Main & Mezzanine Galleries
201 South College Avenue
Fort Collins, CO 80524
970.482.2787
www.fcmoca.org
The 100 Years of Colorado Art exhibition, just ended at the Arvada Center, is next traveling to the Ft. Collins Museum of Contemporary Art, showing May 22 through July 3. The exhibition is organized by Kirkland Museum from our permanent collection.
