The Art Museum of West Virginia University opens again today with a new exhibition, new hours and new guidelines to keep visitors safe.
“Personal to Political: Celebrating the African American Artists of Paulson Fontaine Press” will be on view in the Upper Gallery at the museum through Dec. 13. The traveling exhibition was organized by Carrie Lederer, curator of exhibitions, Bedford Gallery, Lesher Center for the Arts, Walnut Creek, Calif.
Drawing on the diverse practices of several African American artists from across the United States, “Personal to Political” features more than 50 prints, paintings, quilts and sculptural objects.
At its core is the legacy of a fine-art print studio in Berkeley, Calif. — Paulson Fontaine Press — which over the past two decades has supported an unparalleled roster of internationally celebrated artists, including Martin Puryear, Kerry James Marshall and the Gee’s Bend Quilters. At once personal and political, these varied works of art demonstrate a collective experience expressed in uniquely individual ways.
“This exhibition was on the Art Museum’s calendar long before the pandemic began,” said Museum Director Todd J. Tubutis. “Yet opening it now seems more resonant than anyone could have imagined, after a summer of sustained protest over racial injustice and just weeks before November’s U.S. presidential election.”
The museum will be open 12:30-6 p.m. Friday-Sunday. As always, the museum is free to visit, but tickets must be reserved in advance. Ten timed-entry tickets will be available each half-hour; the final entry time each day will be 5 p.m. To make a reservation, visit: http://bit.ly/wvumuseum.
“After being closed nearly 25 weeks, we could not be more excited to once again welcome visitors from campus and the community to the Art Museum,” Tubutis said. “Everyone must wear a mask and practice physical distancing, and we have every confidence that will make for a safe and enjoyable visit.”
Another exhibition, “Brilliant: Recent Acquisitions to the Permanent Collection,” has been extended and will remain on view in the McGee Gallery through Dec. 6.
Info: https://artmuseum.wvu.edu/.
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