These artists, considered rebellious in their time, painted atmospheric landscapes, park and beach scenes, urban views and charming interiors, with particular interest in optical effects, light and the different seasons.
Atlanta, GA (PRWEB) May 26, 2009
Transcending Vision: American Impressionism 1870-1940 opens July 4, 2009 at the Millennium Gate Museum and remains on view through December 6. The exhibit is on loan from Bank of America through its Art in Our Communities Program.
The exhibition explores both the dissemination of Impressionism from its French roots into the American idiom and its reinterpretation of American landscape painting, including more than 120 important works by a diverse group of more than 75 artists such as Childe Hassam, Arthur Wesley Dow, Robert Spencer and others. These pieces trace both the development of Impressionism in the United States and the development of a truly American style of painting.
"This exhibition is one of great importance to the history of art in America and provides our visitors the chance to see these works by such noteworthy artists," said Rodney Mims Cook, Jr., President of the Millennium Gate Museum and the National Monuments Foundation. "The subject matter is truly American and resonates with all visitors."
"Bank of America is providing Atlanta audiences the opportunity to view the first generation of American painters to absorb the technique, brighter palette and subject matter of Impressionism from their French counterparts," comments Sally Singletary, Curatorial Advisor to the Millennium Gate Museum and Board Member of the National Monuments Foundation. "These artists, considered rebellious in their time, painted atmospheric landscapes, park and beach scenes, urban views and charming interiors, with particular interest in optical effects, light and the different seasons."
American Impressionism was a painting style imported to America after the 1880s both by artists who studied in France and by American collectors who developed a taste for this new style of painting. American Impressionists tended to retain more academic influences such as structure and realism in their work than the French; however both favored bucolic outdoor scenes with light being the real subject matter. American Impressionists also differed from their French counterparts by imbuing their work with larger ideas related to the emotional and spiritual character of the landscape.
In the exhibition, visitors will see the American Impressionists' interpretations of the American landscape - both rural and urban themes - including specific locations, moments in time and those of the middle class at leisure. The works represented span almost the entire length of the American Impressionism movement, ranging from early Hudson River School practitioners like George Inness in the late 1880s to artists like Robert Spencer in 1931.
A change in the times and the tastes of collectors may have marked the end of Impressionism as a formal movement in America, but its loose brushwork, two-dimensional surface painting defined by pattern and the treatment of paint, and its bright colors opened the doors to modern art.
"Bank of America is honored to collaborate with the Millennium Gate Museum in the creation and realization of this meaningful exhibition, which features such wonderful examples of American Impressionism art," said Milton H. Jones, Georgia Market President, Bank of America. "We are committed to strengthening artistic institutions and in turn, the communities we serve. Sharing our collection with the public through partners such as the Millennium Gate Museum not only makes business sense for the bank, but also helps support one of Atlanta's newest museums."
Through its Art in Our Communities Program, Bank of America has converted its corporate art collection into a unique community resource from which museums and nonprofit galleries may borrow complete or customized exhibitions. By providing these exhibitions and the support required to host them, this program helps sustain community engagement and generate vital revenue for the nonprofits, creating stability in local communities. From 2008-2010, Bank of America will have loaned more than thirty exhibitions to museums nationwide.
BANK OF AMERICA AND THE ARTS
Bank of America is a major supporter of the arts and heritage of the United States, with a unique approach that combines responsible business practices with good corporate citizenship. As a financial institution, Bank of America is accountable for serving its shareholders, customers, associates and the communities it serves. The bank's support of the arts and arts-related nonprofit organizations serves stakeholders in the short term by combining unique incentives and appeal to current and prospective customers by supporting local economies and the nonprofits that serve them, and ultimately by creating a positive economic environment in which to do business. Over the long term, our arts support enhances access to the arts and arts education, helping to fuel the creativity and innovation essential to our nation's progress.
THE MILLENNIUM GATE MUSEUM
The Millennium Gate's mission is to preserve and interpret Georgia history, architecture, culture and philanthropic heritage as well as highlight Georgia's historical and aesthetic relevance to the United States and to the world. The Millennium Gate is a 101-foot classically-styled monumental arch located inside Atlantic Station in Midtown Atlanta. People are drawn to the arch not only for its beauty, but also by its setting at the edge of a new park against a 3 acre lake. The Gate is designed in the tradition of classical Roman triumphal arches that have been built around the world over the past 2,500 years. The Gate houses a 12,000 square foot museum that narrates Georgia's and Atlanta's history through interactive technology, film, and exhibitions. It is the largest public monument to be built since the construction of the Jefferson Memorial. For more information, visit thegateatlanta.com.
THE NATIONAL MONUMENTS FOUNDATION
Founded in 2001 by Rodney Mims Cook, Jr., this organization seeks to build monuments which will uplift the communities in which they are built through a classical approach to urban design. It is comprised of individuals who are committed to the mission of creating self-sustaining destination landmarks which benefit the citizens of the United States. For more information, visit thenmf.org.
ABOUT ATLANTIC STATION
AIG Global Real Estate's Atlantic Station® is a 138-acre environmental redevelopment of the former Atlantic Steel Mill at the nexus of interstates 75 and 85 in Midtown Atlanta. Officially opened in 2005, the redevelopment is ultimately projected to include 12 million square feet of retail, office, residential and hotel space as well as 11 acres of public parks. For more information, visit the atlanticstation.com.
DIGITAL IMAGES AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST
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