The count-down to the 100th anniversary of the Mulvane Art Museum has begun. Spanning the 95-year history of presenting exhibitions and educational programs, the Museum has welcomed generations of art appreciators. Community support has allowed the Mulvane to build and maintain a highly respected permanent collection. Leading up to the 100-year celebration in 2024, the Mulvane will highlight the art collection through changing annual exhibitions titled 100 minus. These exhibitions honor the artists, the art, and those who have visited and supported the Mulvane Art Museum over the course of a century.
The Mulvane Art Museum owns nearly 5,000 works of art, a majority of which are works on paper. 100 minus 5 features a selection of prints that have been rarely seen, and in some cases, this is the first time they are on exhibit. There is a narrative that runs through the exhibition but it is not a story in the traditional sense. Instead of characters and settings, the story here is one of artistic concepts and movements. Although the art of printmaking is the over-arching plot, the characters are Geometric Abstraction, figurative studies, contemporary versions of Abstract Expressionism, contemporary Surrealism, and the Post-Modern voice.
The prints presented for this exhibition celebrating 95 years of art, were created between 1965 and 2018 and represent a wide range of aesthetic values and formal considerations. Some of the artists utilize a minimalist idiom in the form of flat colors and shapes to organize space and, in some instances, to poke fun. Others are exploring classical forms and others are integrating text. Still others are utilizing non-traditional means to create impressions and convey meaning. In the end, each of the prints represent the rich and exciting story of printmaking and the history of the
Mulvane Art Museum’s collecting practices.
A reception for this exhibition will be held on Friday September 6th from 5 to 7pm. Hors d'oeuvres and beverages will be served.