American art arrives on the international scene: Smart Museum exhibition explores influence of surrealism

During the 1930s and 1940s, a new avant garde was in the making as the European surrealist movement began to influence artists in the United States. This pivotal moment in art history will be explored in “Surrealism in America During the 1930s and 1940s: Selections from the Penny and Elton Yasuna Collection,” opening at the University of Chicago’s Smart Museum of Art on Tuesday, Nov. 23. The exhibition will continue through Sunday, March 12.

The exhibition, organized by the Salvador Dali Museum will feature 73 works of art by 56 artists and will include sculpture, paintings, drawings and photography. This presentation will inaugurate the Smart Museum’s new Richard and Mary L. Gray Special Exhibition Gallery, following an extensive renovation of the museum and the reinstallation of its collection.

“Surrealism in America” will show the pervasive influence of European surrealism and emphasize the diverse responses of American artists. Featured artists include Alexander Calder, Joseph Cornell, Man Ray, Kay Sage, and Dorothea Tanning. The evolution of abstract expressionism, with surrealism as a catalyst, is explored through early works by Arshile Gorky, Adolph Gottlieb, Robert Motherwell, Mark Rothko and others. Works by some of the European surrealists who fled to America during World War II are also presented; these artists include Max Ernst, André Masson, Kurt Seligmann and Yves Tanguy.

“This exhibition explores a fascinating but little-studied moment in art history,” said Stephanie Smith, Smart Museum Associate Curator. “It should be of great interest to the Chicago community, especially in light of surrealism's importance to so many of the city’s artists, collectors and museums. It is also a particularly appropriate show for the Smart Museum. As part of the University of Chicago, the Smart has a history of presenting exhibitions that combine visual and intellectual appeal, and our newly installed permanent collection will place surrealism within a broader context.”

A 174-page color catalogue, featuring essays by William Jeffett, Curator of Exhibitions at the Dali Museum, and Martica Sawin, art historian, critic, surrealism specialist, and author of Surrealism in Exile and the Beginning of the New York School, will be available in the museum store.

The Smart Museum has recently completed a $2 million renovation designed by noted architect John Vinci of Vinci/Hamp Architects. Renovation and reinstallation of the museum’s collections features new galleries, an education study room, and state-of-the-art storage facilities. Featured in the new Old Master Gallery is “The Place of the Antique in Early Modern Europe,” on view through Feb 29.

SPECIAL EVENTS

• Sunday, Nov. 21
  Grand Reopening Reception, 4 to 7 p.m.
  Opening for “Surrealism in America” and reception showcasing the museum’s renovation and reinstallation. Also opening: “The Place of the Antique in Early Modern Europe.”

• Monday, Dec. 6
  Lecture: “Surrealism in America,” 5 p.m.
  The Arts Club of Chicago, 201 E. Ontario Street
  Featuring guest speaker William Jeffett, Curator of Exhibitions, Salvador Dali Museum. Co-sponsored by The Arts Club of Chicago. Reservations required: (312) 787-3997.

• Sunday, Dec. 12
  Mostly Music Concert, 4 p.m.
  Please call (773) 667-1618 for details and information. Admission is $15.

• Sunday, Jan. 9
  Family Day, 1 to 4 p.m.
  Open house for the community, featuring exhibition tours and family activities.

• January through March
  Film series in conjunction with DOC Films, 7 p.m.
  Max Palevsky Theater, Ida Noyes Hall, 1212 E. 59th St.
  An eight-week series of surrealist films. Admission is $3 per film; for information, please call (773) 702-8574.

• Saturday, March 4
  Collectors Series, 10 a.m.
  Details TBA. Admission is $25; please call (773) 702-3673 for information.