Category: past-exhibit

Art and the Automobile

June 5 through June 29, 2013

Celebrating the 40th anniversary of the release of American Graffiti, the movie, the Modesto Art Museum and the Building Imagination Center are hosting Art and the Automobile. This multi-part exhibition explores cultural and artistic responses to the automobile, which has transformed life in the 20th century more significantly than any other single factor.  Inspired by the ubiquitous presence of the car, the exhibit focus upon several different aspects of cars in society, including licenses plates from all 50 states, car detail photography, and photography of cars taken between 1960 – 1970.

Leather, Linen, and Lace

Leather, Linen, and Lace explores the beauty and craft of fabric, in this case leather, linen, and all the manifestations of lace including needle, bobbin, tatting, crochet, and pulled thread in cotton, silk, linen, and synthetics. Pieces range from the early 19th to early 21st century. Most amazing is a pair of Battenberg lace gloves from the mid 1800s. At the center, at 6:30 and 7:30 pm during the Third Thursday Art Walk, April 18th, Cathy Jennison gave a short talk on the history and culture of lace.

3 Hearts and Wonderwall

This exhibit is made up of two huge independent installations: 3 Hearts by Wisconsin artist Lisa Marie Barber and Wonderwall by Modesto resident Deborah Barr Brayman. 3 Hearts is a massive arrangement of ceramic pieces on the wall and floor. The human figures are life size within a collection of objects in a shrine like arrangement. Wonderwall makes use of hundreds of painted glass lenses that sprawl across the wall and hang from the ceiling. Painted and sculptured human figures complete the arrangement. The two installations are sensually stimulating, playing with color and light, and are delights for the eye.

Industry Standard: 20^th Century Industrial Design

Industry Standard: 20^th Century Industrial Design is a celebration of the design of everyday objects of the 20th century from cameras, to tools, to kitchen gadgets, to office equipment. The oldest object is an Underwood typewriter from 1901, and the most recent is a juicer from 1990. This particular typewriter was the most in demand piece of office equipment from 1901 to the 1930s. It was the early 20th century’s equivalent to an ipad in 2013. Among the other treasures are clocks by two of the most influential designers of the century, Kem Weber and Henry Dreyfus. All the objects demonstrate sensitivity to both beauty and function.

Modesto: the Next 100 Years

Modesto: the Next 100 Years explores several development projects in the city including the new passenger rail station and the popular downtown parklets. Through maps, drawings, and photos, many provided by the city planning department, visitors will get an understanding of the complexity of these projects and how they will change the urban fabric of Modesto. The exhibit is part of the museum’s program Building a Better Modesto.

Dream World: Art of the Movie Poster

November 10 to January 5, 2013

Modesto Art Museum presents Dream World: Art of the Movie Poster.  Dozens of movie posters from the 1920s to 1970s, including posters for All About Eve, Grand Hotel, Pajama Game, African Queen, White Cargo, Maltese Falcon, and many more at the Building Imagination Center.

Fall Fling: A Juried Exhibition from the Art Club of CSU Stanislaus

The Art Club of CSU Stanislaus is a collection of artists and art appreciators that have decided to come together to educate others about art through art and community service.  Art students were asked to submit work to be considered for inclusion in the Fall Fling exhibition. The Art Club received submissions from over 20 different artists, and brought in independent juror Sugata Rai to select the best work for the show.   Of the submissions received,  three were chosen as best in show.  Those students will be participating in their own show as an award, this December, at nearby Gallery 909.

Fall Fling  premiered Thursday, October 18th, 2013 at the Building Imagination Center.

Design Proposals for 1950s Art Deco Gas Station Renovation

An exhibition of sixteen gas station makeover painting submissions from the community. The winning design, by Ben Simonson of Manteca, California, was used to repaint a 1950s streamlined Art Deco style Union Station gas station on Needham Street, Modesto, and is shown below.

The Architecture of Robert W. Beharka AND Architecture Photography & Art Exhibition

September 15-October 15, 2012.

Coinciding with the fifth annual Modesto International Architecture Festival, the Modesto Art Museum is hosted two exhibits of architectural art.

Architecture Photography and Art Exhibition
Architectural paintings, drawings, photographs, watercolors, and other art from artists of all ages. The exhibit is made possible in part by a grant from Target.