Living Large At The Tang - An Exhibit Of Large-scale Artworks, With Opportunity To Meet The Artists

SARATOGA SPRINGS - The Tang Teaching Museum and Art Gallery at Skidmore College is offering visitors an unusual chance to view large-scale works from its collection and to gain a greater appreciation for the role of a “teaching museum.” One Work, which runs through June 1, is accompanied by a series of five dialogues with the artists. The events are open to the public free of charge. The exhibition features a selection of recent large-scale artworks from the museum’s collection that showcase a range of approaches to subject matter and media. The works include painting, photography, sculpture and installation. The exhibition offers one work each by artists David Brooks, James Esber, Elger Esser, Anya Kielar, Julian LaVerdiere, Ann Pibal, Katy Schimert, Jonathan Seliger and Beverly Semmes. Alongside the gallery installation, One Work will be the site for a series of dialogues with the artists organized by Skidmore students in an art history seminar that explores the archive and how the museum documents its collection “We are turning the Wachenheim Gallery into a classroom and inviting the public in,” says Dayton Director Ian Berry, who is teaching the course. The educational opportunity extends to the community as well, Berry explains, offering a “free mini-course on what’s happening in contemporary art.” Five of the artists visiting the college will offer One Work: One Hour dialogues on Thursdays at 5:30 p.m. in the gallery, as follows: - Abstract painter Ann Pibal, February 20 - Sculptor David Brooks, March 20 - Multimedia artist Anya Kielar, March 27 - Beverly Semmes, who creates large-scale installations, April 3 - Julian Laverdiere, an artist and production designer whose works have included the installation “Tribute in Light” (2002) on the site where the World Trade Center stood, on April 24 Lavardiere’s work in the Tang’s exhibition, “Lost Cornerstone” (2003), is a recreation of one of the giant eagle sculptures that graced the entrance of NYC’s old Penn Station. The work has a cameo role in the upcoming movie “The Amazing Spiderman 2,” which is due to be released around the time of his visit to Skidmore. The Tang Museum, located at Skidmore College is open noon–5 p.m. Tuesday–Sunday, with extended hours through 9 p.m. on Thursdays and is closed on Mondays and major holidays. The Tang hosts some 40,000 visitors annually. For more information call (518) 580-8080 or visit www.skidmore.edu/tang.