Transformations of a Visionary: Paul Mommer – Gallery Walk – March 12

Description

Opening the Mommer Files; after hours
Gallery Walk and Talk Lecture with Eric Murphy
Light refreshments
Sat. March 12
4-5:30PM

 

Exhibition January 17 – March 13, 2016

Transformations of a Visionary: Paul Mommer
Curated by Loretta Corbisiero

Rediscover the artist Paul Mommer (American, born Luxembourg, 1899-1963), a well-known and frequently exhibited artist of the mid-twentieth century who was featured in three impressive retrospectives; two at the Museum of Modern Art: Twentieth Century Portrait (1942) and Romantic Painting in America (1943) as well as one at the Metropolitan Museum of Art: American Painting (1950). Transformations of a Visionary: Paul Mom-mer is a retrospective of the artist which highlights the diversity of his style and technique throughout the first half of the twentieth century. This exhibition offers an opportunity to experience the work and historical documentation of the artist.

Mommer exhibited extensively from 1932 until his death in 1963. His style and technique ranged from Romantic and Aesthetic Realism, to Abstraction. His exhibition history includes: New School for Social Research, Art Institute of Chicago, Whitney Museum of American Art, Midtown Gallery, Corcoran Gallery, Museum of Modern Art, Carnegie Institute, Metropolitan Museum of Art, National Institute of Arts & Letters, National Academy, Brooklyn Museum of Art, and the National Cathedral of Washington D.C.

His artwork is included in the permanent collections of: Brooklyn Museum of Art, Hunter College, Hirshhorn Museum, Metropolitan Museum of Art, Munich State Museum, National Arts Club, University of Alabama, Universi-ty of Minnesota, and the Walker Art Institute.

The artist is well documented and well received by curators and critics. The MoMA believes that “an artist of long established reputation is hardly necessary to mention” and “[Mommer’s] development has been followed by leading artists who are aware of his independent contribution in that direction – Milton Avery and Edwin Dickinson, to mention only two.” Noted critic Jerome Klein wrote in the 1950’s “Some day Mommer will be recognized as one of the few significant artists of this period.” The artist died suddenly in 1963 and only one piece of his work has been exhibited since, in the 50th Anniversary Exhibition 2005/06 at the Terrain Gallery.

This exhibit is curated by Loretta Corbisiero through Heart for Art, Inc. a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that encourages, supports, and creates opportunities for the arts, artists, and arts professionals with an emphasis on, creating, exhibiting and engaging communities. Heart for Art, Inc. provides Grassroots to Global Arts Programming, a full art immersion experience through development, awareness and collaboration of the arts.

This exhibition was made possible thanks to the inquisitive nature of a seventeen-year old girl, her passion for art, and her instinct to seek advice from her mentor. The first time in nearly 50 years, the work of her great grandfather, Paul Mommer, is again on view for the public to see.

The high school student approached her art teacher regarding her great-grandfathers artwork, as the family was unsure of what to do with the works. She felt confident that she would find the answers to her questions by reaching out to her teacher. This was the beginning of a student and teacher uncovering the artist’s life and his work, while embarking on the endeavor of researching, documenting, and now exhibiting this collection. Given the appropriate title of “Curatorial Assistant” the student is now pursuing a higher education in the arts with the intention of preservation, conservation and education with the focus of establishing a foundation for the artist Paul Mommer.

Museum Hours are Thurs/ Fri. from 10-4 PM and Sat/ Sun. 12- 4 PM

Organizers

Event categories: Exhibitions and Workshops/Classes.Event tags: Art, Artist, Exhibit, Gallery, Museum, Story Telling/Reading, Suffolk, Tour, and Workshop.