‘Modern Masters’ comes to Reynolda House

October 6, 2011

“Modern Masters from the Smithsonian American Art Museum,” an exhibition that examines the complex nature of American art in the mid-twentieth century, will open at Reynolda House Museum of American Art on Friday, Oct. 7. The exhibition, North Carolina’s first from the Smithsonian American Art Museum in nearly 10 years, will remain on view through Dec. 31, 2011.

Several events will be going on during opening weekend. On opening day, museum staff will hold Looking Aloud Gallery Discoveries, a series of informal yet engaging 30-minute gallery experiences in the “Modern Masters” exhibition. The talks will be held hourly from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and are included with the price of admission.

On Sunday, Oct. 9 at 2 p.m., professor of music Louis Goldstein will explore the impact that the abstract expressionist painters of New York had on the great American composer Morton Feldman. In addition, Goldstein will perform Feldman’s piano music. Goldstein’s most recent recording was ranked in 2010’s top ten modern composition recordings by Wire magazine. This event is free for members and students and $8 for non-members.

Other professors also will be participating:

• On Oct. 13, Jay Curley, professor of modern and contemporary art, will discuss art and consumerism in the nuclear age at 5:30 p.m. Following the talk, an original and dynamic performance piece inspired by the Happenings of the 1950s titled “Performing Art Criticism” will take place. It will feature three professors: a spoken word performance by Herman Rapaport, Reynolds Professor of English, responsive movements by Christina Soriano, assistant professor of dance, and a premier of a work for solo piano by Goldstein. Curley will then moderate a discussion about art, criticism, and performance at mid-century.
• On Oct. 20: A panel discussion on preserving modernist buildings in the Piedmont Triad, which will begin at 5:30 p.m., will be moderated by Margaret Supplee Smith, architectural historian and retired professor of art at Wake Forest. The panel will include leading area architects, architectural historians and preservationists.

Find out more about the “Modern Masters” exhibit »
Read more in the Winston-Salem Journal »
See more on YouTube »