ArtCorner

More Than 150 Drawings and Paintings by Master Viennese Expressionist Gustav Klimt to Fill the Entire Museum

Klimt Studio to Be Reconstructed Inside the Exhibition Galleries

NEW YORK (June 8, 2007)—On October 18, 2007, the Neue Galerie opens “Gustav Klimt: The Ronald S. Lauder and Serge Sabarsky Collections,” with more than 150 drawings and paintings by the controversial artist, on view together for the first time. In addition, the exhibition will feature an exact reconstruction, with original furnishings, of a room from the Klimt studio. “Gustav Klimt” unites the collections of Ronald Lauder and Serge Sabarsky, co-founders of the Neue Galerie, and will fill all the gallery spaces in the museum. Together their collections comprise the finest gathering of works by Klimt in the United States. The exhibition is organized by Renée Price, Director of the Neue Galerie. This is its sole venue, where it will be on view through June 30, 2008.

Gustav Klimt (1862-1918) was one of the giants of twentieth-century art. As the founder and first president of the Secession in 1897, Klimt was a central figure in the cultural life of Vienna’s Golden Age. As an artist, he provided a crucial link between nineteenth-century Symbolism and Modernism. His sensual portrayals of women and richly patterned landscapes anticipated many of the formal advances of his peers. Klimt pushed the boundaries of artistic expression and developed a unique pictorial vocabulary, drawing from sources of the past to create a refined, delicate, highly evocative style. Klimt’s work embodies the quintessence of fin de siècle Vienna.

The magnificently illustrated and accessibly written exhibition catalogue, edited by Renée Price and published by Prestel, is designed for the general reader, as well as artists and art historians. It features essays by Marian Bisanz-Prakken, Emily Braun, Alessandra Comini, Ronald S. Lauder, Sophie Lillie, Tobias Natter, and Renée Price, among others, and an interview with Maria Altmann.

Source: Neue Galerie preliminary press release on the Klimt exhibition

A close family member of mine had to spend a couple of days in the hospital. When I came to visit him I was surprised to see the really cool artworks he had hanging on the walls of his room.

Through an extensive research, I’ve learned that in order to help create a better environment for patients, hospitals have worked hard to ensure to boost patient’s morale by works of art in their surroundings.

Studies have shown that oil paintings and art can have a beneficial impact on patients. For a small cost, hospitals can hang oil paintings on the walls of hospitals and make a huge difference on the patient’s environment. Furthermore, analysis of hospital statistics has demonstrated that visual art and wall decor can decrease the use of pain-killing medicine.

Art has always been associated with a positive effect on both health and wellbeing. Art can help fade levels of anxiety and depression in patients during the wait prior to surgery.

Traditionally, oil paintings have been utilized in healthcare settings in two ways – as decorative pieces to improve the environment, and as therapeutic devices, especially for people with mental health problems.

With that said, wall décor and great art reproductions in particular have been playing an increased role in people’s general wellbeing and day-to-day health.

As I walked passed the Monet reproductions on the wall, I wondered what affect these masterpieces can have on a person’s vigor… There are a slew of different ways in which art and health can go together:

The way art makes you feel, dares you to dream and gives you the will to get better, back on your feet and see the bright future leading a healthy life.

It seems as if the benefits of art are just starting to be understood. Our lives can benefit from art on every level. So get inspired and get better. Let art lead you on the road to recovery.

Reds in home décor have been in style ever since the caveman glimpsed over at his bare cave, picked up some red tinted clay (that’s red ochre to us homo ‘décor’ sapiens) and began coloring his dwelling.

Red signifies force, passion, triumph and revolt. It literally gets your blood going. While it’s not a color for the faint of heart, you’ll be thrilled with the way red walls promote conversation (excellent for dining rooms) and adds elegance and style.

When it comes to accessories and furniture, a little red packs a powerful punch. You’d be surprised how complimentary it can be to the other colors and patterns in the room. Since red actually encourages hearty eating, it’s an ideal color for your kitchen and dinning area.

A touch of Red is something that the great Session artist, Gustav Klimt, brought to the salons of Vienna. His emotions and passion are conveyed with every stroke of the red tinted brush. See how his reds come to life and shine light on its surroundings…

Get bold this year with your décor, either with exquisite artworks, or by adding a simple red table cloth in your kitchen. Invoke the passion of the regal kind!

France’s prime minister announced Tuesday that free access would be tested at a sampling of museums in Paris and other towns.

Francois Fillon, current Prime Minister of France, did not name any museums, but did say that he wants to make art more accessible for all to enjoy and learn. Fillon noted that several other European nations have made similar strides in the last few years.

“Access to our artistic heritage should be truly democratized,” Fillon said in his recent speech at the parliament.

The Louvre, France’s most famous museum and home to the Mona Lisa, currently charges standard admission of $12.

Fillon also said he wants young people to get a “culture passport” valid nationwide to give them easy access to cultural sites.

I think that would be amazing for the citizens of France and that would make Paris an even greater tourist attraction. I wonder if it would be possible to purchsae the “culture passport”, that would be a really great thing to have!

However, I wouldn’t wait for this law to be passed. It might take several years… nevertheless, if you are situated or plan on visiting Paris, go see the Mona Lisa, it is a wonderful experience that’s definitely worth the twelve bucks!

A reader recently asked me a question that I wanted to share with all of you:

I am hoping you can help me. I am trying to find out the current info and thoughts as to whether an oil painting needs to breathe to preserve its life and quality? I was told to glue and nail a piece of plywood to the back of a twisted canvas frame on oil, and one framer said that was bad since it would prevent the oil from breathing, while another said the current discovery is actually that an oil painting should not be exposed to the air. Can you help direct me to info on this? Was there an article in your publication about this?

In regards to your question,

There are some who suggest stapling a Kraft paper or thin cardboard to cover the back of your canvases. The paper should not touch the canvas. It will help to stop humidity from reaching the canvas as humidity will make the canvas tight or loose.

Canvases are primed before they are painted, so the back of them is exposed to climate change. The painted side is another story. It is completely sealed with gesso. If painters didn’t do that all the oil would sink into the cotton or linen canvas. And oil makes the canvas weak and could break easily. So covering the canvas with the cardboard won’t damage the painting layers.

About the air: oil dries by oxidation, so it has to be in contact with air in order for it to dry. They keep oxidizing even after you think they are already dry.

I have never heard of the theory that oils shouldn’t touch the air. I suppose all the Monets, Van Goghs and Renoirs would already have a glass to protect them and kept in a vacuum if that was the case.

If your oil painting is varnished then the painting layers will be protected for hundreds of years.

The people that offered you advice are both talking about two different things:

1. Breathing oxygen is bad. It will oxidize your canvas and some pigments will change color. We are talking eons here not decades before this becomes an issue.
2. Breathing moisture out is a must. Unless you have your panting in an environmentally controlled room your painting will need to ‘breathe out’ moisture.

Re-stretching a twisted painting is probably the best option.

Here are a few tips about taking care of your painting:

1. It is best to have them in some decent humidity 40-50% according to the curators I’ve spoken with.
2. Never hang oil paintings in direct sunlight. It is recommended however, to periodically expose oil paintings to the light for about an hour, it tends to make the oil come to life and freshens the look of the masterpiece.
3. I have read that it’s not good to keep paintings in dark places. You don’t need direct sunlight, but just regular indoor light, as oils tend to yellow when stored in dark places.
4. Don’t stow, canvases in wet areas or you can get some rot and mold.
5. Keep them away from direct dry heat or they may crack.
6. Never expose oil paintings to cigarette smoke!!!
7. Clean oil paintings, not acrylics with very mild soap and water and a very soft cloth.

I hope this helps you out… check out other articles about taking care of your oil paintings throughout the ArtCroner blog.

Ever since my last visit to L.A., I have been in-aw by the people’s love for art out west. The museums are good, even great. But the art community is really special.

That alone is a good reason to find the time and head out to the West coast where your appreciation for great art is shared by many.

Without further ado, here are this summer’s must-see art exhibits of the West Coast. So many things to see but with so little time, I chose three that absolutely stand out…

San Francisco Museum of Modern Art SFMOMA, San Francisco
Matisse and Beyond, The exhibition represents 20th century artists from various movements from Fauvism to Contemporary. Artists featured include René Magritte, Georgia O’Keeffe, Jackson Pollock, Diego Rivera and Mark Rothko. Runs all Summer long.

Getty Museum, Los Angeles
Manet’s “A Bar at Folies Bergere”, Revel in Impressionist Edouard Manet’s masterpiece set in Paris’ elaborate variety entertainment venue. Painted in 1882, just a year prior to his death, the work leaves viewers to ponder and be inspired by its perplexing contradictions and ambiguities. Runs through Septmeber 9, 2007

San Diego Museum of Art SDMA, San Diego
Impressionist Giverny: a Colony of Artists, 1885-1915
This summer, the San Diego Museum of Art will be the only North American venue of more than 100 Impressionist paintings, with key examples by Claude Monet and many other artists that graced the Mecca of Impressionist Art around the turn of the century. Runs through September 30, 2007

This summer’s must-see art exhibits continue through the Midwest and South… Some great art shows in almost every city, I chose three that absolutely stand out…

Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago – The Impact of Japanese Prints in 19th Century Europe. The exhibition portrays the influence of Japanese prints on the New Age artists of Europe. Works by Edgar Degas, Paul Gauguin, Edouard Manet and Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec will be compared with Japanese prints. Runs through October 1, 2007.

High Museum of Art, Atlanta – Immerse yourself in France’s historic art culture as part of the 2006-2009 Louvre Atlanta partnership. Magnificent paintings and sculptures acquired by France’s Louis XIV and Louis XVI are on display including works by Rembrandt and Francis Boucher. Runs through September 2, 2007.

Walker Art Center, Minneapolis – This exhibition examines the Pablo Picasso had in the development of American art over the past century by contrasting his work with that of groundbreaking American artists who were inspired by his example. The exhibition features 30 Picasso oil paintings as well as a wide-ranging display of works by nine American artists: Max Weber and Jackson Pollock. Runs through September 9, 2007.

If you’re busy and don’t have time to travel great distances to one of these attractions, simply checkout what’s going on in your local museum… they might have some great art on display… if you would like to recommend a museum then don’t hesitate to let me know…

For those of you who will be heading out on vacation in the following summer months, here is a quick tour of what great art exhibits are coming your way… The next couple of days I will give a coast to coast overview of the great exhibitions and galleries to look for this summer…

Summer’s top museums and gallery attractions across the country can only begin in New York. Manhattan is the un-disputed capitol of great art in the US (sorry LA)…

The MoMA, New York – Picasso’s Demoiselles d’Avignon celebrates its one-hundredth anniversary, and MoMA is commemorating the occasion with an exhibition of the genesis of this important work. Included are other works done immediately prior and subsequent to Demoiselles d’Avignon, to illustrate its influence of this masterpiece on Modern Art in general and on Picasso’s own career. Runs through August 27, 2007.

NEUE Galerie, New York – The collection of Neue Galerie New York covers a range of media, including painting, sculpture, works on paper, decorative arts, and photographs created in Austria and Germany between 1890 and 1940. The extended Neue Galerie collection is comprised of works by many German and Austrian artists of the times, but there is one painting that stands out and is considered the Mona Lisa of Modern times. Just catching a glimpse of Klimt’s Adele Bloch Bauer is worth the visit. Runs through June 2008.

Moving out of New York City, here are some other great exhibits showing on the East Coast…

Museum of Fine Art, Boston – Featuring Edward Hopper’s classic images from early- to mid-twentieth century, the collection comprises more than 90 of his works. Runs through August 19, 2007.

Museum of Art, Philadelphia – Pop Art and Its Affinities Works by artists who made important strides in the Pop Art movement are on display, including Andy Warhol and Roy Lichtenstein. Starts July 29 and runs through September 30, 2007.

So if you are tired of the art in your home or office this summer, get out and travel to see exquisite masterpieces… that’s what I’ll be doing… Hope you find this guide helpful, if you have any advice please share it!