From Feb. 11, 2016 to May 7, The David McCune International Art Gallery at Methodist University will host a traveling exhibition: “Rodin: Portraits of a Lifetime, Selections from the Iris & B. Gerald Cantor Collections” on loan from the Iris & B. Gerald Cantor Foundation which provides philanthropic leadership in two principal arenas, medicine and the arts.
In the medical arena, the Foundation supports institutions at the forefront of biomedical research and clinical care, with an emphasis on healthcare for women. In the arts, the Foundation supports exhibitions and other programs that encourage recognition and appreciation of the visual and performing arts.
An opening reception at the gallery is scheduled for 6 to 9 PM on Feb. 11. At 7 PM, Judith Sobol, Executive Director of the Iris & B. Gerald Cantor Foundation, will be the featured speaker. Both the reception and the exhibition are open to the public. After the opening, the exhibition will be available for viewing on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 11 AM to 5 PM, on Thursdays from 11 AM to 7 PM, and on Saturdays from noon to 4 PM. The gallery can arrange “touch tours” for groups of visually impaired visitors. Admission is free.
Auguste Rodin was a French sculptor who lived from 1840 to 1917. His most readily recognized work is “The Thinker,” and he is considered one of the world’s most important modern sculptors. David McCune International Art Gallery Director Silvana Foti said visitors will be amazed by Rodin’s ability to use bronze to express human emotion.
“I am confident that viewers will find this show’s 17 bronze Rodin sculptures to be a stunning installation featuring works that span the artist’s long career,” Foti explained. “The exhibition includes Rodin’s famous depictions of writers Victor Hugo and Honore de Balzac; of the musician Gustav Mahler; and of the artist Claude Lorrain. Also included in the show is a photographic portrait of Rodin by Edward Steichen.”
Foti said the exhibit will allow visitors to experience the works of a world-renowned artist in an intimate setting. “Art students everywhere study Rodin,” Foti said. “I was fortunate to see Rodin sculptures in museums in Europe and large U.S. cities, and it’s nothing short of amazing that a gallery in Cumberland County will have the opportunity to exhibit his work.”
The David McCune International Art Gallery is rapidly becoming a nationally recognized and locally valued art gallery through its diverse, dynamic, and high-quality programming. Recent shows have included works by nationally-recognized artists with local connections, invitational exhibits showcasing North Carolina-based artists who work in clay and glass, and artists who work with textiles.
Last spring, the gallery hosted “Picasso: 25 Years of Edition Ceramics from the Rosenbaum Collection.” In fall 2013, the featured exhibit was “Igneous Expressions.” It included works by contemporary glass artists including Harvey Littleton, John Littleton, Kate Vogel, and Mark Peiser.
This exhibition has been organized and made possible by the Iris & B. Gerald Cantor Foundation. In addition, the exhibition also received local financial assistance from the Cumberland County Tourism Development Authority (TDA), and sponsorship from Bryan Honda.
For more information on the David McCune International Art Gallery, visit davidmccunegallery.org. For more information on this upcoming exhibit, or to schedule a group visit, contact Silvana Foti at 910.425.5379, or sfoti@davidmccunegallery.org.