The Skirball Cultural Center Presents the Art and Magic of Harry Houdini

Written by Joseph Bonansinga Wednesday, 11 April 2012 22:42

Los Angeles, CA.- The Skirball Cultural Center is proud to present "Houdini: Art and Magic, on view through September 4th. Magician, escape artist, and showman extraordinaire Harry Houdini (1874–1926) has remained an object of fascination for generations. Combining biographical and historical artifacts with contemporary art inspired by his physical audacity and celebrity, Houdini: Art and Magic explores Houdini as an individual and an enduring cultural phenomenon, documenting the period in American history when the young Jewish immigrant helped shape the cultural landscape and became an acknowledged mass-market star. Featuring more than 150 objects — including film clips, stunning period posters, dramatic theater ephemera, rare photographs, original props (including a straitjacket, milk can, and Metamorphosis Trunk used by Houdini), and the work of select avant-garde artists — the exhibition reveals Houdini’s legacy as an iconic figure, both in his time and in ours, who has inspired artists today to reconsider his role as a daring persona.

Born Ehrich Weisz in Budapest, Harry Houdini was a Jewish immigrant to the United States. His first escape was with his family, when he was four, fleeing anti-Semitism in Central Europe and settling in Appleton, Wisconsin. The young Weisz quickly found the bright lights of the stage more appealing than the dim synagogue of his father's rabbinic profession. After running away to join the circus, he made his debut as trapeze artist "Ehrich, Prince of the Air" at age nine. The metaphor of escape is essential to Houdini's phenomenal success: resisting the title of magician, he favored "escape artist." At the height of his fame, Harry Houdini was a living icon. "Houdini: Art and Magic" reveals how the magician's sustained acclaim rested on his use of common objects, especially his own body, to perform uncommon feats.

His ability to imbue those feats with suspense and mystery, without the usual smoke and mirrors, distinguished him from other performers and imitators. He represented the human ability to escape and transform boundaries, both physical and metaphysical. He defied death in as many ways as he could imagine — and in public. The same qualities that produced such delight, apprehension, fear, and excitement in Houdini's audiences at the turn of the twentieth century — the progression from the ordinary to the extraordinary, and the transcendence of mortal limitations — have likewise galvanized many avant-garde artists at the turn of the twenty-first century. "Houdini: Art and Magic" presents the art work of these contemporary artists — among them Matthew Barney, Jane Hammond, Vik Muniz, Deborah Oropallo, and Raymond Pettibon—in the context of Houdini's life and work.

Hailed by The New York Times as "a lesson on how to connect the eye to heart and mind," the Skirball Cultural Center has established itself as one of the world's most dynamic Jewish cultural institutions, and among the most prominent cultural venues in the United States. Its mission is to explore the connections between four thousand years of Jewish heritage and the vitality of American democratic ideals. It seeks to welcome and inspire people of every ethnic and cultural identity in American life. The Skirball features an extraordinary museum, changing exhibitions, engaging music, theater, comedy, film, family, and literary programs, Zeidler's Café, and Audrey's Museum store, and a new interactive family destination inspired by the Noah's Ark story — all in a stunning architectural setting designed by renowned architect Moshe Safdie. Over 500,000 people visit the Skirball each year. They may be coming to enjoy an exhibition, attend a music program, participate in a meeting hosted by a community organization, educational institution, or local business, or partake in a life-cycle event such as a baby naming, wedding, or memorial service. The Skirball's acclaimed school program serves over 50,000 children and teachers annually from public, private, and parochial schools. The Skirball's core exhibition Visions and Values: Jewish Life from Antiquity to America traces the experiences and accomplishments of the Jewish people over four thousand years. The galleries include multimedia installations, rare artifacts, photographs, interactive computer stations, and sound recordings that lead visitors on the Jewish people's journey, culminating with their history in the United States. The story presented is about retaining one's own culture while adapting to life in America. As with all Skirball exhibitions and programs, it seeks to communicate universal themes to people of all heritages and beliefs. Visit the center's website at ... http://www.skirball.org/

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