Robert W. King - Press Release sample
1 like250 views
Renowned American artist Eric Fischl and Artrain, the nation's mobile museum authority, are launching an unprecedented new art exhibition called America: Now + Here. The exhibition will feature over 150 new works by leading American artists in various genres that reflect the emotions Americans have felt since 9/11. It will launch in Washington D.C. in 2010 and tour over 40 cities in the U.S. over the next two years aboard Artrain's mobile museum units. The goal is to stimulate civic dialogue and creative expression about what it means to be American today.
Robert W. King - Press Release sample
- 1. Artrain and renowned American artist Eric Fischl announce unprecedented art experience America: Now + Here preparing to take the national stage ANN ARBOR, MI / June 24, 2009 Artrain the nations mobile museum authority and renowned American artist Eric Fischl today unveiled an unparalleled cultural experience in the form of America: Now + Here. A moveable feast of work by leading contemporary artists, poets, playwrights, filmmakers and musicians, America: Now + Here was inspired by the juxtaposition of emotions that Americans everywhere have been feeling since 9/11 patriotic yet conflicted, determined yet anxious, celebratory yet guarded, privileged yet vulnerable. Fischl, who is also serving as curator, has set out to create a multi-genre, multi-media traveling exhibition that gives creative voice to these feelings and encourages others to speak up about what it means to be an American at this very charged moment. Over 150 of Americas leading artists have created new work specifically about our nation, reflective of this moment in time. America: Now + Here will launch from the nations capitol in April 2010 before traveling the country on a 40-plus stop tour over a 12-month period, with the potential to extend the show to 30 additional locales through 2011 based on demand. The exhibition will tour on board Artrains specially designed and innovative mobile museum units. Cities such as Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, New York and Seattle are currently being targeted as host communities in addition to towns and villages of all sizes, many which are not reached by traditional museums programs. "It is not a natural reflex for Americans to look to art to clarify the moment we live in, even though it is what art does best, said Fischl. This is not a role for any single artist or any single citizen, but taken together, a compelling conversation may emerge and help to reinvigorate our hopes, dreams and desires. Joining Fischl on the America: Now + Here curatorial team are Merrill Falkenberg, PhD. (visual arts); Carol Muske-Dukes & Bob Holman (poetry); Jon Robin Baitz & Marsha Norman (playwrights); Josh Woods (music) and a film curator yet to be selected. The palette of contributing artists for this event are some of Americas most acclaimed and revered, including visual artists Jasper Johns, James Rosenquist, Chuck Close, Barbara Kruger, Cindy Serham, Vic Muniz, Fred Wilson and Julian Schnabel; poets Robert Pinsky, Billy Collins, Rita Dove, Joy Harjo and Vijay Sheshadri; playwrights Edward Albee, Christopher Durange, Nilo Cruz, Tina Howe and David Henry Hwang as well as musicians Laurie Anderson, Sting, Paul Simon, Rosanne Cash and Lou Reed. We are delighted that America: Now + Here will be the first exhibition to tour the country in Artrains new mobile museum units. said Debra Polich, Artrain president/CEO. We believe that showcasing the work of the all-star lineup of artists will stimulate civic dialogue around local, regional and national issues and inspire creativity in communities across the country. Continued
- 2. Continued from page 1 America: Now + Here will be mounted and toured in Artrains fleet of transformable state-of-the-art semi-trailers that serve as mobile museum galleries. Each trailer meets art museum facility standards ensuring the care, custody and control of the objects and the design flexibility allows configuration for different site locations such as parking lots, fair grounds, fields, downtowns, etc. About Artrain Artrain is a national arts organization with roots in communities across the country. Initially building on the great democratizing power of Americas rail system, and today by utilizing the countrys roads and highways, Artrain delivers award-winning art exhibition and education programs to diverse audiences in cities and towns not usually reached by cultural institutions and touring exhibitions. With a mission to enrich lives and build communities through the arts, Artrain provides exceptional opportunities for learning, growth and art appreciation and encourages the development of local cultural programs. Winner of the 2006 National Medal for Museum Service Artrain was founded in 1971. More than 3.2 million people have visited Artrain during 845 community visits across the nation. About Eric Fischl Fischl studied painting at California Institute for the Arts and graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in 1972. Fischl's paintings, sculptures, drawings and prints have been the subject of a number of solo and major group exhibitions; and his work is represented in numerous private, museum and corporate collections including the Whitney Museum of American Art, The Museum of Modem Art, Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles, the St. Louis Museum of Art, Louisiana Museum of Art in Denmark, Paine Weber Collection, among others. The Mary Boone Gallery in New York represents Fischl. He lives in New York City and Sag Harbor, New York. Contact: Robb King Artrain, Inc. 734.417.1788 Robb.king@artrainusa.org # # #