Taft Museum of Art Calendar of Events July 2010

Taft Museum of Art - July 2010

Special Exhibitions

TruthBeauty: Pictorialism and the Photograph as Art, 1845–1945
Though August 8
The photographs of the pictorialist movement are among the most spectacular works in the medium’s history. The works in this exhibition rival painting with expertly crafted, one-of-a-kind images. Included are works from George Eastman House by Julia Margaret Cameron, Frederick Evans, Alfred Stieglitz, Clarence White, Edward Steichen, and early works by Edward Weston and Ansel Adams.

Pictorialism was both a movement and a style of photography that produced spectacular images over a century’s time. When photography was invented in the early part of the 19th century, most people considered it a faddish mechanical trick and very far from fine art. Some early photographers, however, sought to elevate the medium to the status of painting by emulating the compositions, symbols, visual effects, and moods of painting. This international movement peaked in the years between 1895 and 1925.

Tracing this influential vein of photography, this exhibition includes 118 vintage masterpieces from well-known photographers such as Alvin Langdon Coburn, F. Holland Day, Robert Demachy, Gertrude Käsebier, and Heinrich Kühn. Also featured are surprising early works by such photographers as Edward Weston, Imogene Cunningham, and Ansel Adams, who are widely known as modernists but began as pictorialists.

TruthBeauty is a smaller version of the exhibition by the same name produced by Vancouver Art Gallery. Both versions were curated by George Eastman House International Museum of Photography and Film, from which the works in the exhibition were selected.

Turner Watercolors from the Taft Collections
Through July 25
Along with two major oil paintings, one from early in his career and one late, the Taft Museum of Art holds ten watercolors by Joseph Mallord William Turner (British, 1775–1851). Spanning the first half of the 19th century, these watercolors depict landscapes of Switzerland, Germany, England, Scotland, and Italy. Historically, they broke new ground in the artistic fields of book illustration, travel views, and the watercolor medium itself.

Programs & Events

Shop Sale, July 1-11, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
Find unique items at great prices during the Shop Sale. Save 45-75% on a variety of merchandise including jewelry, scarves, baby gifts, stationery and candles!

Sundays, 1:30 p.m.
Highlights of the Taft
After lunch or before a concert on Sunday afternoons, join a Taft docent for a tour of the highlights of the Museum’s world-renowned collection. Free with Museum admission. No reservations are taken. For information call (513) 684-4515.

Saturday, July 1, 1:30 p.m.
Gallery Talk: TruthBeauty with Jymi Bolden
Talk a special walk through the exhibition Pictorialism and the Photograph as Art, 1845–1945 with the curator. Free with Museum admission. RSVP: (513) 684-4515.

Wednesdays, July 7, 12:45 p.m. and 1:15 p.m.
Taft in 10: Independence Day: Portrait of George Washington
Come for lunch—stay for a quick (sound) bite in the galleries. Enjoy an informal ten-minute conversation every Wednesday as we serve up some of the Museum’s many masterpieces as well as some lesser-known nibbles. Free with Museum admission or lunch in the café. Find more information at http://www.taftmuseum.org/pages/taftinten.php.

Thursday, July 8, 6 p.m.
Shutterbugs in Cinema: Motion Pictures and Still Photographers:
Funny Face, 1957 (103 minutes)
Directed by Stanley Donen, starring Fred Astaire and Audrey Hepburn
A fashion photographer convinces a reluctant bookstore sales clerk to accept a contract as a high-fashion model. Inspired by the exhibition TruthBeauty: Pictorialism and the Photograph as Art, 1845-1945, enjoy three classic films in different genres. Explores how life and art intersect through the lens of the still photographer as leading man. Cincinnati Public Radio film critic Larry Thomas will introduce each movie and lead a discussion afterward. The exhibition will be open until each film begins. Film screenings are free. Optional box dinner is available for $12 with advance purchase. Reservations are recommended. Information: (513) 684-4515.

Saturday, July 10, 1:30 p.m.
Drop-in Tour: TruthBeauty: Pictorialism and the Photograph as Art, 1845–1945
On Saturday afternoons, Taft docents will lead a tour of this special exhibition. Free with museum admission, no reservations are taken.

Sunday, July 11, 2010, 1–3 p.m.
Adult Digital Photography Workshop
Learn ways to enhance your photographs and find out about editing software. Participants will visit the special exhibition TruthBeauty and take photographs using elements of composition and other techniques seen in the exhibition. Following a critique session, participants will learn how the editing software Picasa can improve their final images.

Please bring a fully charged digital camera, a blank memory card, a card reader, and your imagination! Instructor Lisa Britton is a professional photographer who teaches at the Art Academy of Cincinnati. Her work has been exhibited nationally and internationally.

Reservations required. Call (513) 684-4513 or visith http://www.taftmuseum.org/pages/studioprograms.php

Sunday, July 11, 1:30 p.m.
Gallery Talk: TruthBeauty with Nancy Huth, Education Curator
Talk a special walk through the exhibition Pictorialism and the Photograph as Art, 1845–1945 with the curator. Free with Museum admission. RSVP: (513) 684-4515.

Wednesdays, July 14, 12:45 p.m. and 1:15 p.m.
Taft in 10: Storming the Bastille: Meissonier's The Three Friends
Come for lunch—stay for a quick (sound) bite in the galleries. Enjoy an informal ten-minute conversation every Wednesday as we serve up some of the Museum’s many masterpieces as well as some lesser-known nibbles. Free with Museum admission or lunch in the café. Find more information at http://www.taftmuseum.org/pages/taftinten.php.

Thursday, July 15, 7 p.m.
Lecture: Seeing but not Believing: The Creative Artist and Photography
Dennis Kiel looks at a select group of pictorialist photographers and their attempt to establish photography as art. Kiel is chief curator at the Light Factory Contemporary Museum of Photography. The exhibition TruthBeauty: Pictorialism and the Photograph as Art, 1845-1945, will remain open until the lecture begins. Cost for this program: Free for members or students. $10 for nonmembers. Reservations are recommended. Call (513) 684-4515 or order online at http://www.taftmuseum.org/pages/lectures.php

Saturday, July 17, 10 a.m.–12 p.m., Taft Museum of Art
Families Create: Family Crests and Coats of Arms
Coats of arms and family crests tell who people were, where they were from and what they did. Tell your own story in a coat of arms you design on a colorful background. Explore the world of art through gallery visits and activities designed for children ages 5–12 and adults to learn, create, interact, and have fun together. Cost for each program: $8 for members and Cincinnati Arts Association members, $12 for nonmembers (includes Museum admission) Reservations are required. Call (513) 684-4524 or order online www.taftmuseum.org/familiescreate.htm

Sponsor: Charles H. Dater Foundation. Weston Art Gallery Families Create! Program Sponsor: Whitney and Phillip Long. Fine Arts Fund Partner: Duke Energy Corp.

Friday, July 17, 1:30 p.m.
Gallery Talk: TruthBeauty with Tamera Muente, Curatorial Assistant and Exhibitions Coordinator
Talk a special walk through the exhibition Pictorialism and the Photograph as Art, 1845–1945 with the curator. Free with Museum admission. RSVP: (513) 684-4515.

Sunday, July 18, 1-4 p.m.
Third Sunday Funday: Kid Detectives
Explore art to find clues about the lives of kids long ago, hear stories about kids from the past, make an old-fashioned craft, and play summertime games. Learn about real detective work from the Youth Services Officer of the Cincinnati Police Department. Bring the whole family to the Taft Museum of Art on the third Sunday of each month this summer to explore, create, and play, all for FREE. Activities including self-guided tours, art-making, storytelling, and games are ongoing, so stop in when you have time and stay as long as you like. All programs are FREE. No reservations taken. For more information, call (513) 684-4524

Sponsor: The Charles H. Dater Foundation
Free Sundays are made possible by a grant from the Carol Ann and Ralph V. Haile, Jr./U.S. Bank Foundation.

Wednesday, July 21, 12 p.m.
Taste of the Taft: Heroes of Ohio
Suspense and humor mingle in tales from the rich fabric of Ohio's history and folklore as master storyteller Rick Sowash tells the tales of Ohioans who made a difference in the lives of others. This annual series of luncheon lectures returns with a lineup of local luminaries giving presentations on history, culture, and society under the tent on the terrace. Box lunch is included. Reservations are required. Cost for this program is $22 . Group rate for 8 or more is $17. Call (513) 684-4515 or register online at http://www.taftmuseum.org/pages/taste.php

Sponsor: Stanley and Frances D. Cohen Lecture Series
Fine Arts Fund Partner: Western & Southern Financial Group

Wednesdays, July 21, 12:45 p.m. and 1:15 p.m.
Taft in 10: A Question of Perspective: Mauve's Changing Pasture
Come for lunch—stay for a quick (sound) bite in the galleries. Enjoy an informal ten-minute conversation every Wednesday as we serve up some of the Museum’s many masterpieces as well as some lesser-known nibbles. Free with Museum admission or lunch in the café. Find more information at http://www.taftmuseum.org/pages/taftinten.php.

Thursday, July 22, 6 p.m.
Shutterbugs in Cinema: Motion Pictures and Still Photographers:
The Bridges of Madison County, 1995 (135 mintues)
Directed by Clint Eastwood, starring Clint Eastwood and Meryl Streep
A National Geographic photographer happens into the life of a lonely farm wife while her family is away. Inspired by the exhibition TruthBeauty: Pictorialism and the Photograph as Art, 1845-1945, enjoy three classic films in different genres. Explores how life and art intersect through the lens of the still photographer as leading man. Cincinnati Public Radio film critic Larry Thomas will introduce each movie and lead a discussion afterward. The exhibition will be open until each film begins. Film screenings are free. Optional box dinner is available for $12 with advance purchase. Reservations are recommended. Information: (513) 684-4515.

Saturday, July 24, 1:30 p.m.
Drop-in Tour: TruthBeauty: Pictorialism and the Photograph as Art, 1845–1945
On Saturday afternoons, Taft docents will lead a tour of this special exhibition. Free with museum admission, no reservations are taken.

Sunday, July 25, 2 p.m.
Taft Sessions: Wake the Bear
Acoustic music returns to the Taft Museum of Art this summer with free concerts under the tent in the garden. Born in the second bedroom of his Cincinnati home, Scott Cunningham began recording as Wake the Bear in 2004. From aliens, chickens, and surviving the ’80s—to a dog, a god, and a good many drinks—the music wears its heart on its sleeve, without the cheese. The sound weaves assorted keyboards, guitars, rhythms, ’70s women‘s choirs, gin-soaked vocals and dog whines. Wake the Bear’s third album, Player Piano, is entirely inspired by the Kurt Vonnegut novel of the same name. Local indie bands come out of the bars and into the daylight to share their tunes. Come early for lunch and a Highlights of the Taft tour. Stay late to experience the exhibition TruthBeauty: Pictorialism and the Photograph as Art, 1845–1945. This concert is free, no reservations are taken. Cash bar and light snacks available. For information, call (513) 684-4526 or go online to www.taftmuseum.org

Media sponsors: WNKU, CityBeat

Wednesdays, July 28, 12:45 p.m. and 1:15 p.m.
Taft in 10: I'm Not Lion: A Pair of Chinese Temple Guardians
Come for lunch—stay for a quick (sound) bite in the galleries. Enjoy an informal ten-minute conversation every Wednesday as we serve up some of the Museum’s many masterpieces as well as some lesser-known nibbles. Free with Museum admission or lunch in the café. Find more information at http://www.taftmuseum.org/pages/taftinten.php.

The Taft Museum of Art is at 316 Pike St., in downtown Cincinnati. The Museum is open Wednesday through Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $8 for adults, $6 for students and seniors and free for children under 18. The museum is free to all on Sundays. Call 513-241-0343 or visit the website at www.taftmuseum.org for additional information.