MWPAI Voices

The Museum of Art owns a garden settee that was made in Utica, about 1870, by the Phoenix Iron Works. These are some things I learned about it, from reading Masterpieces of American Furniture from the Munson-Williams-Proctor Institute (1999).

The settee reveals some interesting things about the United States and its burgeoning industrialization. It is made of cast iron because metals were becoming increasingly recognized for their aesthetic value in furniture. And, thanks to mass production, this kind of form became available to a growing middle class of consumers.

Metal is also, of course, ideal for outdoor use as garden furniture. The design on the back of the seat is called fern-and-blackberry, based the motifs used. The fern was a popular Victorian houseplant and the manufacturer cleverly reproduced the word F E R N in the seat so that is legible in the cast shadow.  The pattern of fronds demonstrates that, even though it is based on nature, the design is that of nature tamed. And, the idea of sitting on a settee in nature is a further demonstration of taming nature through “civilizing” artifacts.

You can see this charming settee in the “Saturated Sight” exhibition in Gallery One North, Museum of Art, on view through July 8.

Memphis, Tennessee

I knew that Memphis has a fascinating history and is a great music town, but I didn’t know it is also a great museum town. I highly recommend a visit there, especially in spring when the gardens are in all their glory.

Dixon Gallery and Gardens

My friend and co-worker, Michael Somple, and I recently went to the Dixon Gallery and Gardens, in Memphis, to preview an exhibition that the MWP Museum of Art is considering for the future. Curator Julie Pierotti was our gracious host and made us feel very welcome. Although, fyi, the picture below is not a portrait of Julie.

Dixon Gallery and Gardens

The larger art museum, the Memphis Brooks Museum of Art, is located in the heart of Overton Park. The Brooks collections feature an array of sculpture, painting, and decorative arts, from ancient to contemporary, including an impressive display of African art.

We had the good fortune of timing, in that Utica-based artist Chris Irick is having a one-person show at the Metal Museum in Memphis and we were delighted to stop in there, too. The Metal Museum is on the grounds of a former Civil War hospital and it overlooks the mighty Mississippi River.

Tributaries: Chris Irick, at the Metal Museum, Memphis

Of course, a visit to Memphis wouldn’t be complete without a stop at Graceland.

The Dining Room at Graceland

As museums go, it is excellent in its visitor services (good signs, friendly and helpful staff) and audio tour, which includes helpful narration about Elvis’s home life and career; comments from Elvis, Priscilla and Lisa Marie; as well as generous samplings of the King’s music.

A fan's portrait of Elvis, at Graceland

There is a lot to see at Graceland. In addition to the home itself, there are several out buildings that house awards and costumes and cars; I was especially impressed with the seemingly endless gallery of gold and platinum records.

National Civil Rights Museum at the Lorraine Motel, Chris Afir, photographer

I have to return to Memphis because in our two short days, there was plenty that we missed, including the National Civil Rights Museum at the Lorraine Motel, where Dr. King was assassinated, and the Stax Museum, where all that marvelous music from Otis Redding, Carla Thomas and the like was created.

Did I mention the food? The gastronomic gods were shining on us because our hotel was serendipitously right across the street from Corky’s Barbeque, which is consistently voted the best bbq restaurant in town. Memphis is known for its dry rub bbq, by the way. In addition to ribs, at Corky’s we also ate hush puppies, yum, which I can’t ever find here.

Corky's Bar-B-Q, East Memphis

Then there was Gus’s Fried Chicken. We also drank lots of sweet tea and began to compare different versions of fried green tomatoes, though we only got to two. And, yes, we did share a fried peanut-butter-and-banana sandwich at Graceland; it tastes better than I expected, honestly.

PrattMWP Freshmen Exhibition

Friday afternoon the School of Art Gallery opened the annual Freshmen exhibition and it’s a great show.

Hanging sculpture by Solji Kim

The faculty recommended two artists for the top awards for this year’s work, Solji Kim and Colleen Doody. Good work, gals!

Figure drawing by Colleen Doody

Here are some more pictures and stories:

Danielle Landers, from Canastota, told me that she has learned a lot her first year at PrattMWP: “At the beginning of the year, I wouldn’t have been able to draw fabric like this.”

Alyssa Viloria, from Leonia, NJ, entered as a sculpture student and found her drawing and painting courses a real challenge but feels good about how she has applied herself.

Alyssa Viloria and her sculpture

Christian Martinez , from Montgomery, NY, likes his LCD class but discovered he doesn’t like making sculpture!

Cartooning by Christian Martinez

Congratulations, artists!

Sculpture by Karina Mendez