li
to create extensive
By Jason Hardy
Staff writer
For an artist to be inventive and creative in the
presentation of ideas is essential to creating qual
ity art.
For many museums, the same criteria applies
to presenting the actual art. More are seeking out
new ways of acquiring and showcasing quality
collections.
One such way is by collaborating with other
museums, an example of which can be seen this
weekend at the Sheldon Memorial Art Gallery,
12th and R streets.
“Parallel Perspectives: Early Twentieth
Century American Art” opens Friday with a
reception at 5 p.m. The exhibit is a combination
of 35 pieces from the Sheldon’s permanent col
lection and another 35 works from the Addison
Gallery of American Art in Andover, Mass.
Dan Siedell, curator and interim director of
the Sheldon, said the event was a way of present
ing an impressive body of work without having to
spend copious amounts of money to secure it.
“I think it’s die trend in the museum profes
sion just because of the lack of funds,” he said.
“It’s an easier way than one institution doing it
alone because it’s certainly difficult to secure
loans for traveling exhibitions.”
The exhibit is die second in a series of collab
orative exhibitions organized by the Addison
Gallery and supported by the Henry Luce
Foundation’s American Collections
Enhancement Initiative.
To organize the show, Siedell met with Susan
Faxon, associate director and curator of the
Addison Gallery, and decided on a goal for the
exhibition and what pieces would be included.
“The exhibition focuses on early 20* century
American art because it’s a strength of the
Addison and the Sheldon,” Siedell said. “A lot of
these works are masterpieces known throughout
the country as important paintings, but they’re
often seen in isolation. We were interested in
putting them in the context of our own collec
tion.”
Faxon said the first exhibit was held at the
University of California Berkeley Art Museum,
but that “Parallel Perspectives” was much more
comprehensive.
“It’s a way of bringing collections together to
increase their visibility and audience understand
ing of why we chose them,” she said. “Dan and I
worked together extraordinarily well because we
have like collections, interests and a like focus.
“Also, our collections are extraordinarily
Parallel Perspectives:
Early 20^ Century
American Art
WHERE:
Sheldon Memorial Art
Gallery, 12th& R Streets
I WHEN: Feb. 25 - May 9
COST: Free
THE SKINNY:
Two galleries join together
to present cohesive,
modern exhibit.
matched, so in that way it was easier than borrow
ing from a lot of different places.”
Once the collection was established, Siedell
said he was impressed with the overall quality
and comprehensiveness of the works being pre
sented.
“This is important because the resources that
the Addison and the Sheldon have aren’t just a
Please see SHELDON on 10
Courtesy Photo
Joseph Stella’s “Battle of Lights, Coney Island”
is included in the Sheldon’s exhibit.