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Racine Art Museum Explores the Uncomfortable Insect World
Catherine Chalmers: American Cockroach
April 18 - September 12, 2010
Catherine Chalmers, Drinking, 2004 Type C color print  |
Internationally known artist and photographer Catherine Chalmers explores the life of this most maligned of insects by imaginatively constructing vignettes seen both from behind the lens of the camera and from the perspective of the insect itself. Open April 18 through September 12, 2010, Catherine Chalmers: American Cockroach features artwork that humanize these insects and call our attention to the preciousness of all life.
This mid-career survey of large-scale color photographic images includes
three bodies of the artist's work and a number of her recent videos. In
her large works, Chalmers documents roaches living in an insect-sized
dollhouse and roaches that have been painted and placed on flower petals
that camouflage their bodies. In another series, insects that have died
a natural death are staged in mock executions, hanging in gallows and
sitting in small electric chairs. The artist creates these images to
humanize these insects and call out attention to the preciousness of
life.
On Friday, May 7, 2010 at 6:30 pm, Catherine Chalmers will guide visitors through a behind-the-scenes tour of American Cockroach with RAM Executive Director and Curator of Collections, Bruce W. Pepich. Chalmers will do a booksigning immediately following the tour at 7:30 pm.
This event takes place during downtown Racine's Free First Friday in May. Enjoy free RAM admission and extended hours from 10:00 am to 9:00 pm. Visitors are encouraged to participate in a free family hands-on art event from 4:00 to 8:00 pm. In addition, don't miss RAM's Awesome Art Sale from 10:00 am to 8:30 pm. This is an excellent opportunity to purchase original, museum-quality artwork by well-known artists at affordable prices. Featuring many never-seen one-of-a-kind works of art, this biannual sale is a great place to add to an art collection or start one now.
All the Buzz: Insects Invade RAM
This summer, the Racine Art Museum will be invaded by insects - as depicted by contemporary artists. RAM announces an exciting array of exhibitions and programming that feature these crawling, flying, hovering, and often times, beautiful creatures at both museum locations. RAM hosts Jennifer Angus: Patterns of Insect Life, an exhibition that calls our attention to the inherent beauty of insects while exploring ideas of home and comfort.
Visitors are invited to marvel at the unexpected natural beauty created by a life-long Milwaukee resident. The Insectopedia of JoAnna Poehlmann features graphics and artists' books unified by both the subject matter of insects and her clever use of visual and verbal puns.
Insects and Invaders in RAM's Collection presents artworks from RAM's significant permanent collection that depict insects, their view of the natural environment, and their predators in the cycle of life. Works in a variety of craft media such as ceramics, metals and wood will be included. Eccentric Insects features installations of small-scale works by mid-career contemporary artists, working in fibers, glass and metal, who have created imaginative works depicting insects and insect imagery specifically for RAM's smaller Ruffo and Schumann Galleries.
The presentation of this exhibition at the Racine Art Museum was made possible by: Presenting Sponsors - Karen Johnson Boyd and William B. Boyd, RAM Society Members, The Hearst Foundation, Inc., and Windgate Charitable Foundation; Gold Sponsors - Racine United Arts Fund, The Richard and Ethel Herzfeld Foundation, and Wisconsin Arts Board; Silver Sponsors - Osborne and Scekic Family Foundation and Real Racine; Bronze Sponsors - E. C. Styberg Foundation, Inc., In Sink Erator, Midwest Contemporary Glass Art Group, and Target
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Together, the two campuses of the Racine Art Museum, RAM in downtown Racine at 441 Main Street and the Charles A. Wustum Museum of Fine Arts at 2519 Northwestern Avenue, seek to elevate the stature of contemporary crafts to that of fine art by exhibiting significant works in craft media with painting, sculpture and photography, while providing outstanding educational art programming.
Docent led contemporary craft and architectural tours of the museums are available. Both campuses of the Racine Art Museum, are open to the public Tuesday - Saturday 10:00 am - 5:00 pm, and are closed Mondays, Federal holidays and Easter. RAM is open Sunday Noon - 5:00 pm, while Wustum is closed Sundays. An admission fee of $5 for adults, with reduced fees for students and seniors, applies at RAM. Admission to Wustum is free. Members are always admitted without charge to either campus.
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For more information or to request images, please contact:
Laura Gillespie
RAM Marketing Assistant
262.638.8300 x 114
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All the Buzz
Media Preview
Tuesday, April 27
11:00 am - 2:00 pm
Details
Request Invitation
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