Prior to my attendance of the Corcoran’s American Evolution: A History through Art exhibit opening on Wednesday morning, I was a bit apprehensive.
Hmm. This exhibit is another opportunity for a museum to present a typical, chronological smear of “great” American artists. This exhibit will render me healthy, patriotic, and appreciative of my vast land! Dammit - how many times have I seen this exhibit before? When curators Emily Shapiro and Sarah Newman explained the philosophy behind the exhibit to a small crowd of press, I realized that what I was about to witness was something refreshing and somewhat innovative instead. The showing, which opens to the public this Saturday, March 1, contains thematic arrangements in opposition to chronologic snoozefests. The art revolves around five major, over-archingly American themes: money, land, politics, cultural exchange, and the modern world. The art is comprised of a diverse collection of the Corcoran’s own holdings. And the art is informatively complimented by precise, relevant wall descriptions.
The exhibit kicks off in a blue room containing Stuart’s classic seated George Washington portrait beside a Warhol Mao as a prelude to the mood present throughout the rest of the display. A healthy juxtaposition between the classical and the provocative is present throughout; in this format, some of the art that risks appearing too safe or “done” transforms into an effectively intellectual and alluring display. Rooms fill with traditional smooth oil landscapes from Church and Bierstadt and simmer with contemporary abstraction from Hoffman, de Kooning, and Diebenkorn. Pieces are enjoyably consuming, quirky, and inherently American. A myriad of positive, negative, satirical, scenic, honest views of the country present themselves unapologetically throughout the exhibit.
The curators at the Corcoran are, in effect, making the public think about the reality of America’s past and present in an unconventional way. If all displays of American art could capably do this as well as the Corcoran has done it this time, we would be in a much better place. At least we can do it well in the Nation’s capitol.
for more details go to: http://www.corcoran.org/index.asp
