Buffalo Rising Online

Jun 29th, 8:58am By Melissa Lockwood

Some of the Albright-Knox's favorites are once again be on display, as the Gallery seeks to celebrate their reputation as collectors by re-installing approximately 120 pieces from its permanent collection. Currently on view, the exhibit incorporates paintings, sculptures, and photographs dating anywhere from the 1850's to the present.

“We are constantly looking for ways to diversify our permanent collection installations and aim to consistently showcase not only "favorites", but also infiltrate the installation with more recent acquisitions to exemplify that any museum that collects contemporary art is constantly growing,” reveals Holly Hughes Associate Curator at the Gallery.

Themes to be portrayed include The Birth of Modernism, American Modernity, The Abstract Gesture, Pop Goes the World, Less is More, and Picture This. “The themes were selected based on the strengths of the collection within the context of the development of modern art and spans the gamut from European Academic painting to Pop to Contemporary Art,” according to Hughes.

The Birth of Modernism explores impressionism, boasting works by some of its earliest pioneers, such as Vincent van Gogh's The Old Mill (1888), as well as venturing toward later variations and experimentations with André Derain's The Trees (1906) and Henri Matisse's La Musique (1939). Additionally, this portion of the exhibit will incorporate Cubist pieces, including Pablo Picasso's Nude Figure (1906). Further, Surrealist and German Expressionist works will provide a visual time line of Matisse's La Musique in the development of modern art in Europe.

Pieces from the American Modernity portion will range in date from before the American Civil War to the start of US involvement in World War II. American paintings such as Albert Bierstadt's The Marina Piccola, Capri (1859), the founding piece of the museum, will be on display. Bierstadt donated his painting as a gift to the Albright-Knox upon its establishment in 1862.

The Abstract Gesture will feature abstract expressionist works. The Albright-Knox made a name for itself as one of the world's leading collectors in Abstract Expressionist works by controversially collecting many of its pieces the same year as their completion. Such pieces representing the hub of the Gallery include Sam Francis' Blue-Black (1952).

Pop Goes the World represents an artistic rebellion to the spontaneity and self-expression of Abstract Expressionism. Such artists included familiarity concepts within their pieces, including Andy Warhol's 100 Cans (1962). This theme incorporates pieces from several works of the 1960's as well as more modern ones, including Jim Lambie's Plaza (2005).

Similarly, another movement arose in response to American Expressionism, Minimalism, which is more fundamentally oriented. Artistic images were shaved of any illusion or narrative and focused primarily on basic structural forms. Less is More includes pieces such as The Tree, by Agnes Martin (1965), as well as later ones like Robert Mangold's Column Structure IX (2006).

Photographs incorporated in Picture This range in date from the early part of the 20th century to modern day, yet represent the Albright-Knox's longstanding relationship with photography. Photographers featured include early 20th century photographers such as Charlotte Spaulding Albright, as well as more contemporary photographers like John Pfahl.

This exhibit will be on display at the Albright-Knox Art Gallery now through 2010. Pieces will be rotated at times, “which means potentially, there will always be something new!,” says Hughes. The Gallery hopes to re-debut Lucas Samamras’ The Mirrored Room (1966), currently undergoing conservation treatment, this summer. Visit the Gallery's website for information regarding entrance ticket costs.
An extended list of some of the pieces on view:

The Birth of Modernism:
The Tow-Path Argenteuil – Claude Monet (1875)
The Old Mill – Vincent van Gogh (1888)
The Trees -- André Derain (1906)
Nude Figure – Pablo Picasso (1906)
Glass, Grapes, and Pear – George Baraque (1929)
La Musique – Henri Matisse (1939)

American Modernity:
The Marina Piccola, Capri – Albert Bierstadt (1859)
Croquet Players – Winslow Homer (1865)
Music and Literature – William Harnett (1878)
Church at Old Lyme, Connecticut – Childe Hassam (1905)
Fields of Grains as Seen From the Train – Arthur Dove (1931)

The Abstract Gesture:
Blue-Black – Sam Francis (1952)
Elegy to the Spanish Republic No. 34 – Robert Motherwell (1953-54)
Dialogue I – Adolph Gottlieb (1960)

Pop Goes the World:
100 cans – Any Warhol (1962)
Ace – Robert Rauschenberg (1962)
Baby Girl – Marisol (1963)
The Generals – Marisol (1961-62)
Plaza – Jim Lambie (2005)

Less is More:
Jill – Frank Stella (1959)
The Tree – Agnes Martin (1965)
Column Structure IX – Robert Mangold (2006)
Untitled – Fred Sandback (1982/1984)

Picture This:
Photographs from the early part of the 20th century by: Charlotte Spaulding Albright, Wilbur H. Porterfield, Augustus Thibaudeau.
Contemporary photographs by: John Pfahl, Sharon Harper, and Orit Raff.