Oklahoma City
George Washington: A National Treasure
Oklahoma City Museum of Art
until April 11, 2004
The Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery has launched it's most
ambitious touring exhibition with a multi-city tour of the famous Lansdowne
Portrait of the first President of the United States, George Washington.
Title: George Washington (Lansdowne Portrait)
Artist: Gilbert Stuart, 1796.
Medium: Oil on canvas
Permanent Collection: National Portrait Gallery. Smithsonian Institution
Anonymous loan.
Image Courtesy of the Oklahoma City Museum of Art
Gilbert Stuart, a noted portraitist, painted the work in 1796, for the first
Marquis of Lansdowne giving the portrait its nickname. The portrait had been
commissioned by Senator William Bingham and his wife as a gift to the
Marquis. It was a gesture of appreciation for the Marquis support of the
American cause in the British Parliament.
The imposing 8 foot by 5 foot painting illustrated Washington in a
commanding pose gesturing with his right hand. The background is impressive
with it's use of symbolism such as the medallion decorating the chair with
thirteen red and white vertical stripes. The rainbow used to illustrate the
end of the storm, in this case the American Revolution.
Thanks to the Donald W. Reynolds
Foundation the National Portrait Gallery
was able to purchase this important work.
Special Events:
February 22, 1-4pm:
George Washington’s 272nd Birthday Party
Film: The Man Who Wouldn’t Be King
March 7, 2-3 pm:
“Original of originals”—Gilbert Stuart’s Portraits of George Washington,
Slide lecture by Ellen G. Miles,
National Portrait Gallery
March 27, 1:00-4:00 pm
Family Day: Coming of Age Along the Potomac
Living History Performance 1:30-2:30 pm includes children's introduction to the exhibition.
March 28: 2-3 pm
“The Glorious Burden” Living History Performance for Adults
with William Sommerfield
After leaving Oklahoma City in April the tour continues to Little Rock
and New York City before returning to it's permanent home in Washington, DC.
Exhibition Schedule
April 23 to August 24, 2004 at Arkansas
Arts Center
Fall 2004 at Metropolitan Museum of
Art
Oklahoma City Museum of Art at www.okcmoa.com
Binche, Belgium
The Carnival of Binche
February 22 through 24, 2004
Carnival of Binche, Belgium
© of the Belgian Tourist Office NYC/USA
Image Courtesy of the Belgian Tourist Office NYC/USA
In a celebration lasting three days before the Christian
Season of Lent the people of Binche host a Carnival and welcome the world to
embrace the fun.
Included within the celebrations are costume balls,
rehearsals, parade of Mam'selles a Circle of friendship by youth
groups and the ceremonial dressing of Gilles, the emblem of
both the medieval town of Binche and of the Carnival of Binche. Elaborate
and colorful costumes dominate the festivities with some of the lore having
been passed down through the townspeople.
On February 24th the event everyone has been preparing for
occurs when each Gille makes his traditional march to the town's Grand'
Place ready to perform his dance. Gille's costume is decorated with lions,
crowns and stars in patriotic colors of red, yellow and black. The
white feathered headdresses can way upwards of seven pounds.
The Carnival of Binche is on the
UNESCO Heritage List. While visiting Binche don't miss the Carnival and Mask
Museum.
Belgian Tourist Office
NYC/USA at www.visitbelgium.com
Victoria, British Columbia
|
Untitled Landscape, 20th Century
Medium: Ink on Paper
Gift of Brian McElney
Permanent Collection: Art Gallery of Greater Victoria
Image Courtesy of the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria
|
Romantic Views:
Chinese Landscapes.
Art Gallery of Greater Victoria
until March 7, 2004
"All the skill which the European artists devoted to portraiture and to the depiction of human figures, the Chinese have given to
their passionate love of painting Nature.", says Curator of Asian Art, Barry Till to describe the exhibition
Romantic Views: Chinese Landscapes.
These landscapes focus on painting techniques of volume, light shadow and texture clearly with an impressionist influence choosing to realize rather
than directly copy nature. Chinese landscape paintings are notoriously romantic and tranquil inviting the audience into the scene
|
Art Gallery of Greater
Victoria at www.aggv.bc.ca
| 