MODERNISM EXHIBITION AT ULRICH MUSEUM OF ART

Written by Clayton Kalina Wednesday, 09 March 2011 23:54

WICHITA, KANSAS — Modernisms: Selections from the Collection 1900-1940, an exhibition of works drawn from the Ulrich Museum's rich (and rarely exhibited) holdings of early 20th-century art will be on display at the museum February 1-March 4.  This interpretive exhibition samples some of the exciting artistic movements in Europe and the United States before World War II.  Works by William Gropper, Emil Nolde, Joan Miro, Pablo Picasso and others illustrate basic principles and aims of modernism.  Artists responded to strong social, economic, political and cultural shifts as well as to the transformations that new technologies introduced to daily life.

“A defining characteristic of modernism in the visual arts is its defiant imperative for new invention and for vocabularies other than the faithful representation of the visible world,” said David Butler, former director of the Ulrich, who curated the exhibition.  Modernism emerged in the 19th century and came to full flower in the first half of the 20th century.

This exhibition is in conjunction with an interdisciplinary symposium on the same theme, organized by the Wichita State University Department of English and co-hosted by the Wichita Art Museum.  The symposium takes place Friday, Feb. 16 at the Ulrich Museum of Art, and Saturday, Feb. 17 at the Wichita Art Museum.  For more information on the symposium, please visit www.wichita.edu/ulrich, call (316) 978-3664, or e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .  This exhibition is generously supported by Richard D. Smith and Sondra M. Langel.

The Edwin A. Ulrich Museum of Art at Wichita State University serves as the area’s premier venue for modern and contemporary art, and for new work by emerging and established artists of national and international reputation. With an active acquisition program stressing recent work by a group of younger artists, the collection includes outstanding examples of contemporary works. Located on the campus of Wichita State University, and home to the world-renowned Martin H. Bush Outdoor Sculpture Collection, the museum is open 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday-Friday, and 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Admission is always free, and guided group tours are available. Visit : www.ulrich.wichita.edu