Future Exhibitions
Reflections and Undercurrents: Prints of Venice, 1900-1940
Reflections and Undercurrents: Prints of Venice, 1900-1940 is organized by Eric Denker, Ph.D., senior lecturer at the National Gallery of Art. The exhibition includes ninety-five works: etchings, preliminary drawings, etching plates, sketchbooks, and photographs. Reflections and Undercurrents: Prints of Venice, 1900-1940 focuses on the art of Ernest David Roth (1879-1964). Roth was one of the most significant etchers of the first half of the twentieth century. This exhibition places the art and artist in the broader context of American and European etchers of the period. Ernest Roth was born in Stuttgart, Germany in 1879 and immigrated with his parents to the United States at the age of five. Little is known of his early life. He did not write many letters and was said to have been very shy. He studied painting at the National Academy of Design under Edgar Ward and George Maynard and at the New York School of Art under Luis Mora. He began as a landscape painter and was a regular contributor to the exhibitions at the National Academy. His geometric and colorful paintings usually depict views of such European towns as Seville, Venice and Toledo. As in his etchings, Roth concentrated on painting simple architectural views: people were rarely included in his scenes. He was devoted to truthful renderings of the architectural subjects he chose. Although not trained as an architect, Roth had an innate sense for architectural form and was a meticulous craftsman.
The Spirit of Music "The Spirit of Music," celebrates the 45-year journey of one of the area's preeminent choral organizations, The Waterbury Chorale. This organization has carried the spirit of Waterbury locally, nationally and internationally. From it's inception, The Chorale has produced high level performances from the world's great musical masters. Local community involvement has included collaboration with the Waterbury Symphony Orchestra, participation in the Waterbury Arts Festivals, the Anne Frank Exhibit, the thousand-voice chorus for The Special Olympics World Games Opening Ceremonies, dedication of the Jewish Community Center of Southbury and the recent opening of the Palace Theater. Music is a gift to be shared with cultures at home and abroad. This experience will carry you through The Waterbury Chorale's journey, audibly and visually.
The Federal Art Project in Connecticut From the early 1930s to the outbreak of World War II, the federal government invested substantial funds in back-to-work programs, including work projects in the arts. In Connecticut, 165 Connecticut artists created more than 5,000 pieces of art. About 1,700 of these paintings, murals, and sculptures were allocated to public institutions throughout the state.
This WPA program marked the first time that the federal government had ever made a concerted effort to invest directly in American artistic culture, Franklin D. Roosevelt's administration set up Federal Theater, Music, Dance and Writers projects as well as an Art Project. Their intention was to put creative people to work, and in case of the Art Project, this meant employing painters, sculptors, photographers (to document the art work), and carpenters (to build frames). Some of the artists would enjoy great success and others would disappear—along with much of the artwork. Who were these artists and where did their artwork go? Were these items still tucked away or on display in libraries, hospitals, and state buildings? Were they in private collections? A joint project between the Connecticut State Library and the Mattatuck Museum, funded by the Connecticut Humanities Council, got underway in October 2009. Their goals include locating and documenting as much artwork as possible, adding the information to the database at the Connecticut State Library ( http://wpa.cslib.org ), mounting an exhibition and publishing a catalogue. This important part of the state's cultural history is especially resonant today. Please contact the museum ( croznoy@mattatuckmuseum.org ) if you know of any Connecticut WPA art or artist. |
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