| Arvada Center: The Kirkland Museum Collection |
| Written by Ken Hamel | |||
The Kirkland Museum Collection - 100 Years of Colorado ArtThe Arvada CenterJanuary 21 – April 4, 2010
  This is the Arvada Center's first ever collaboration with the Kirkland Museum and will be the largest display of their Colorado collection ever, thereby allowing enthusiasts the opportunity to see the Kirkland’s vast collection in one location, at one time. The exhibit showcases over 100 Colorado artists chosen from the 350 in the Kirkland Collection – a journey through Colorado art – from early traditional work, to impressionist paintings, surrealism, referential abstraction, and pure abstractions. The upper galleries will showcase works on paper, and the main gallery will display primarily sculptures and works on canvas or panel. “It has been my longtime aim to organize a major presentation of Colorado art,” states Kirkland’s Director and Curator Hugh Grant. “Conversations with national and regional scholars have supported the judgment that Colorado ranks quite high for its art history among the 50 states. This extensive exhibition will demonstrate the sweep of artistic innovation that occurred in Colorado over 100 years and beyond.” The timeline of this exhibition focuses primarily on a century of art, from 1875 to 1975. 100 Years of Colorado Art begins in 1875, one year before Colorado became a state, with the early traditional work by Hamilton Hamilton, Helen Chain, Henry Elkins and Richard “Judge” Tallant initially presenting the rich artistic history in the Centennial State. The diversity, breadth and power of our state’s art history continues with such works as the impressionist paintings of John Thompson, Charles Partridge Adams, Elisabeth Spalding and Frank Vavra; Herbert Bayer, Julio de Diego and Mina Conant working in surrealism; Charles Bunnell, Edgar Britton and Edward Marecak developing referential abstraction; and finally the pure abstractions of Vance Kirkland, Al Wynne, Dorothea Dunlop and others. As a tribute to the continuing contribution by artists to Colorado history, a last section of the exhibition is devoted to works after 1975, many furthering these historic styles. The six divisions of the show will be displayed in the six distinct areas of the main gallery on the first floor. The exhibition continues in the upstairs gallery showcasing the important drawings and prints of Colorado, including lithographs, etchings, engravings, woodcuts, embossings, aquatints and serigraphs. Artists Vance Kirkland, Frank Mechau, Jenne and Ethel Magafan, George Elbert Burr, Lawrence Barrett, Nadine Drummond and others made significant contributions in these media. “The Arvada Center is truly delighted with the opportunity to be partnering with the Kirkland Museum,” states Arvada Center Executive Director Gene Sobczak. “It is an honor and privilege to be working with Hugh Grant and his team on such an amazing display of historical Colorado art.” Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities 6901 Wadsworth Blvd. Arvada, Colorado 80003 Mon-Fri: 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM Sat: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM Sun: 1:00 - 5:00 PM 720.898.7255 http://arvadacenter.org
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