COLLECTION NAME:
University Art Galleries (UMassD)
mediaCollectionId
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University Art Galleries (UMassD)
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true
exhibition_title:
The George and Helen Spelvin Folk Art Collection
exhibition_title
The George and Helen Spelvin Folk Art Collection
exhibition_title
false
exhibition_dates:
January 31 - March 12, 2009
exhibition_dates
January 31 - March 12, 2009
exhibition_dates
false
exhibition_year:
2009
exhibition_year
2009
exhibition_year
false
exhibition_location:
University Art Gallery (UMass Dartmouth Galleries)
exhibition_location
University Art Gallery (UMass Dartmouth Galleries)
exhibition_location
false
exhibition_curator:
Beauvais Lyons, The Hokes Archives, University of Tennessee
exhibition_curator
Beauvais Lyons, The Hokes Archives, University of Tennessee
exhibition_curator
false
exhibition_note:
This exhibition will survey the creations of eleven different artists in the collection. Examples include enamel painted records by Lucas Farley, Arthur Middleton's painted portraits of American Presidents, numerous "limberjack" puppets by Lester Dowdey, velvet paintings of brides by Charlotte Black, flower paintings on book pages by Emma Whorley, and some of the best examples of "mug jugs" by North Carolina potter Rufus Martinez. E. B. Hazzard's "alien communication device," made of over 300 flattened tin cans on a modified tent pole structure and Max Pritchard's hand-printed religious tracts on cereal boxes are also represented in the collection. The show also includes the inter-racial rag doll friendship chain by Loretta Howard, whose grandfather was a member of the Ku Klux Klan. Over the past twenty-five years, when they were not busy with their jobs as a schoolteacher and an insurance agent, Helen and George Spelvin have devoted their energy to the study and collection of visionary folk art. Today, when there is a renewed enthusiasm for folk art, the Spelvin Collection is certain to make a significant contribution to this growing field. While a small number of works from their collection have been loaned to museums, including the Smithsonian Institution and the Erie Museum of Art, no comprehensive public showing of their collection has ever taken place. This exhibition is on a national tour after having been first presented at Carnegie Mellon University in January and February of 2001.
exhibition_note_
This exhibition will survey the creations of eleven different artists in the collection. Examples include enamel painted records by Lucas Farley, Arthur Middleton's painted portraits of American Presidents, numerous "limberjack" puppets by Lester Dowdey, velvet paintings of brides by Charlotte Black, flower paintings on book pages by Emma Whorley, and some of the best examples of "mug jugs" by North Carolina potter Rufus Martinez. E. B. Hazzard's "alien communication device," made of over 300 flattened tin cans on a modified tent pole structure and Max Pritchard's hand-printed religious tracts on cereal boxes are also represented in the collection. The show also includes the inter-racial rag doll friendship chain by Loretta Howard, whose grandfather was a member of the Ku Klux Klan. Over the past twenty-five years, when they were not busy with their jobs as a schoolteacher and an insurance agent, Helen and George Spelvin have devoted their energy to the study and collection of visionary folk art. Today, when there is a renewed enthusiasm for folk art, the Spelvin Collection is certain to make a significant contribution to this growing field. While a small number of works from their collection have been loaned to museums, including the Smithsonian Institution and the Erie Museum of Art, no comprehensive public showing of their collection has ever taken place. This exhibition is on a national tour after having been first presented at Carnegie Mellon University in January and February of 2001.
exhibition_note
false
exhibition_genre:
Folk Art
exhibition_genre
Folk Art
exhibition_genre
false
exhibition URL:
exhibition_url
http://www1.umassd.edu/cvpa/universityartgallery/past/2009/spelvin.cfm
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copyright notice:
COPYRIGHT NOTIFICATION: Under the direction of the Visual Resource Center digital collections are made available to the UMass Dartmouth campus community for the sole purpose of classroom instruction and study in accordance U.S. Copyright Laws . All other uses are prohibited and are subject to copyright infringements.
copyright_notice
COPYRIGHT NOTIFICATION: Under the direction of the Visual Resource Center digital collections are made available to the UMass Dartmouth campus community for the sole purpose of classroom instruction and study in accordance U.S. Copyright Laws . All other uses are prohibited and are subject to copyright infringements.
copyright notice
false
work_title:
George and Helm Spelvin Folk Art Collection
work_title
George and Helm Spelvin Folk Art Collection
work_title
false
work_technique:
mixed media
work_technique
mixed media
work_technique
false
work_note:
Beauvais Lyons created a fictitious couple, the Spelvins, and documented their background and interest, and further made all of the work of the 11 artists in their collection in varying styles that reflect the differing attitudes and backgrounds of these imaginary artists. The exhibition includes introductory and biographical text panels with black and white photographs of the collectors and artists. Known to many from his works of archaeological parody over the past 25 years, folk art represents a fairly new thread in Beauvais Lyons' work. However, regardless of its subject, this new work continues his interest in calling into question the authority of the museum, as well as the credibility of biography. For inattentive viewers, this show may be easily mistaken for the real thing. For those who look closely, this show offers a provocative critique of the field of contemporary folk art. Here is a press release within this press release that presents the exhibition as a genuine undertaking:
work_note
Beauvais Lyons created a fictitious couple, the Spelvins, and documented their background and interest, and further made all of the work of the 11 artists in their collection in varying styles that reflect the differing attitudes and backgrounds of these imaginary artists. The exhibition includes introductory and biographical text panels with black and white photographs of the collectors and artists. Known to many from his works of archaeological parody over the past 25 years, folk art represents a fairly new thread in Beauvais Lyons' work. However, regardless of its subject, this new work continues his interest in calling into question the authority of the museum, as well as the credibility of biography. For inattentive viewers, this show may be easily mistaken for the real thing. For those who look closely, this show offers a provocative critique of the field of contemporary folk art. Here is a press release within this press release that presents the exhibition as a genuine undertaking:
work_note
false
work_topic:
In 1997, the Spelvin Collection was donated to the Hokes Archives at the University of Tennessee. The Spelvins bequeathed their collection to the University of Tennessee, Knoxville to "serve as a creative resource for research and teaching." The collection is comprised of more than 900 art objects, many of which are undocumented in the world of folk art. The national touring exhibition presenting the collection was assembled by Beauvais Lyons, Director of the Hokes Archives and an Ellen McClung Berry Professor of Art.
work_topic
In 1997, the Spelvin Collection was donated to the Hokes Archives at the University of Tennessee. The Spelvins bequeathed their collection to the University of Tennessee, Knoxville to "serve as a creative resource for research and teaching." The collection is comprised of more than 900 art objects, many of which are undocumented in the world of folk art. The national touring exhibition presenting the collection was assembled by Beauvais Lyons, Director of the Hokes Archives and an Ellen McClung Berry Professor of Art.
work_topic
false
work_reference:
work_reference
http://web.utk.edu/~blyons/spelvin.htm
work_reference
false
work_reference:
work_reference
http://www1.umassd.edu/calendar/?ek=14402
work_reference
false