Your monthly news & updates |
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A Storefront Show that Changed the Art World |
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It was on this day in 1951 that the Ninth Street Show opened in New York, the first art exhibition of the Abstract Expressionists. The poster advertising the show was designed by Franz Kline, who usually painted large black brushstrokes on white backgrounds. It listed the names of the 61 artists who were going to be in the show, and most of the poster was taken up by the words "9th St." in his typical style and, below it, "Exhibition of paintings and sculpture."
Ninth Street referred to an old store that the artists were leasing at 60 East Ninth Street in Manhattan. Kline, Conrad Marca-Relli, and John Ferren all had studios on the same street. They teamed up with the art dealer Leo Castelli, and they rented out the store, a vacant barber shop, for $70 a month. Castelli said, "It took about three days to install the show because artists came in and complained about the placement of their works. The show had a big sign on canvas which covered the whole front of the building. The opening was on a warm May day. There was a great crowd."
Each of the 61 artists had one piece in the exhibit. The artists included Willem de Kooning, Lee Krasner, Jackson Pollock, Fairfield Porter, Alfred Leslie, Robert Rauschenberg, and Robert Motherwell. Some of the artists were veterans of World War II, and in general they were responding to the post-war climate of the United States. The abstract expressionists built on the spontaneity of the expressionists, emphasizing the element of chance in art, which they combined with abstract, anti-figurative forms, focusing instead on communicating emotion. Abstract expressionism was the first art movement originating in America that was taken up by artists outside the country, and influenced the international art community.
The New York abstract expressionists are often referred to as the New York School, a school that includes some corresponding poets like John Ashbery, Kenneth Koch, and Frank O'Hara. Ashbery said:
"I have probably been influenced, more or less unconsciously I suppose, by the modern art that I have looked at [...] the abstract expressionist idea that the work is a sort of record of its own coming-into-existence [...] When I was fresh out of college, abstract expressionism was the most exciting thing in the arts [...] poetry seemed quite conventional in comparison. I guess it still is, in a way. One can accept a Picasso woman with two noses, but an equivalent attempt in poetry baffles the audience."
For the full article from a Writers Almanac press HERE
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Timothy Duffy Exhibition: Blue Muse opens on the 500 Craghead block one June 1, 2021. The Opening Reception will be held on Sunday June 6 from 2-5pm.
Come out to see these spectacular photos and learn more about the Music Maker Foundation.
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WANDERLOVE knitted panels will be collected and installed in the storefront right next to the 536 Gallery on Craghead. Come take a sneak- peek at this installation of color before the panels are installed and displayed on the Dan River Walking Trail. The gallery sneak peek for the public will be on Saturday June 26 From 2-5pm
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Governor Northam Lifts Mask Mandate to Align with CDC Guidance, Announces Virginia to End COVID-19 Mitigation Measures on May 28 |
Governor Ralph Northam lifted Virginia’s universal indoor mask mandate to align with new guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Governor Northam also announced that Virginia will ease all distancing and capacity restrictions on Friday, May 28, two weeks earlier than planned.
The CDC guidelines state that fully-vaccinated individuals do not have to wear masks in most indoor settings, except on public transit, in health care facilities, and in congregate settings. Businesses retain the ability to require masks in their establishments. The DMFAH staff who are not vaccinated will continue to wear masks.
The state of emergency in Virginia will remain in place at least through June 30 to provide flexibility for local government and support ongoing COVID-19 vaccination efforts.
The museum will continue to ask that face masks be worn by patrons when visiting the museum.
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Building Back History:40 founders of the Calvary Baptist Church circa 1897.
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Sybil Gilchrist wrote to the DMFAH
"I have two different photos of Martha Moorman that may have been taken in 1900. She was my great grandmother who was probably born enslaved in 1848 according to her marriage certificate of 1872. She lived on Poor House Hill and later died in 1920, while living on Ross Street. About 6 months ago, I met a cousin, Allen, for the first time. He is the great grandson of Martha, and like me, he has been researching our family’s history for many years. He is in Georgia and I am in Massachusetts. We have been exchanging stories and photos. He sent me a postcard of a woman whom he could not identify. A few days later, it occurred to me that is a younger Martha Moorman. It seems that this is a photo that was later placed on a postcard. In comparing the postcard to the other photos, I see facial, physical and clothing similarities. In the younger photo, Martha is wearing a cross around her neck. She was one of the 40 founders of the Calvary Baptist Church circa 1897. " Please contact Sybil Gilchrist if you have any more information about the 40 Founders.
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Congratulations to our DMFAH Graduates !!! |
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Tripp Hayes is an intern at the museum who has spent a significant amount of time working in collections. He is in Dan River High School’s graduating class of 2021, and plans on attending Stony Brook University in New York in the fall. While there, Trip will double major in history and philosophy which will propel him into graduate studies. After his schooling, Tripp hopes to become a tenured professor at a prestigious university so that he can help to study, teach, and research the many multifaceted and nuanced aspects of world history. |
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Aidan graduated on May 15 from Danville Community College with an AA&S in Liberal Arts and Social Sciences. In the fall she will transfer to Eckerd College to continue her studies in anthropology and archaeology, and minor in ancient studies with a specialization in Greek mythology. In the future, she plans to spend time with the Peace Corps, before going to graduate school and working as an archeologist. |
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Daniel is a recent graduate of James Madison University with a Bachelors degree in History. His main area of interest is the intellectual history of radical politics in the United States from the late nineteenth century until the end of World War Two. The politics of succession and white supremacy which permeate the air of both the past, and at times the present, are the very subject of Daniel’s studies, and he hopes to use this previous experience to further contextualize the many narratives that Danville has to tell. Daniel hopes to continue his education by pursuing a PhD, and using the experiences that he gains from his time at the museum to expand his horizons into public history as well. |
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Annie graduated from Emory University with a major in Art History and minor in Religion. Her degree includes a concentration in Museum Studies, and her interests involve curatorial practices in small museums.
Annie has worked “virtually” with the museum while accessing our collection files for maintenance procedures. Annie and the Museum Interns have taken on the Herculean task of going meticulously through our collections for updates, and aligning our file and object data with our PAST PERFECT data platform.
Annie began as a DMFAH volunteer for visitor services in June of 2019, but quickly revealed her enthusiasm to gain experience in museum operations and work behind the scenes. Annie will join us again this summer to participate in the MAP accreditation program the museum is pursuing.
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John was born in the UK but moved to Danville when he was 4, eventually attending the Dan River Middle School.Upon graduating from Dan River High, John joined the Air Force, first serving in Texas at Goodfellow AFB for 4 years, then in Nebraska at Offutt AFB for 2 years. Following his active-duty commitment, he transitioned to the Air Force Reserve, and returned to Danville to attend Danville Community College, majoring in Network Administration. Deciding that accumulating volunteer hours was important for his career development, he joined the internship program at DMFAH in July of 2020.
John has just graduated, and is deciding between getting an IT position close to home or moving on to a 4-year degree program. When he’s not volunteering or studying, John enjoys classical piano, outdoor sports, chess and culinary practices.
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Sign up for Summerstack Camp at the DMFAH |
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Also... Read Books, earn Prizes |
Join the Danville Public Library Summer Reading Challenge!
This summer the adult reading goal is 1200 minutes. Between now and July 31, that is less than 20 minutes a day!
We also have a community goal of 200,000 minutes of summer reading. We would love for you to be a part of helping us reach that goal this year.
Get more information and instructions on our Summer Reading Website
Sign up for the challenge on Beanstack
Take a look at our calendar for adult programs to join such as bookclubs, a writer’s group, and craft activities.
Call 799-5195 if you have any questions or need assistance signing up.
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Tuesday the 27th - TRUTH Talk on Social Injustice & Awareness |
This Tuesday the 27th from 6-7:30 via Zoom, Dr. Slade Lellock’s Sociology course on Social Movements is hosting a TRUTH Talk on “Social Injustice in Danville: What is it, and what can be done,” featuring Shakeva Frazier (Danville Church and Community Tutorial Program); Carl Lut Williams (Sports Historian and owner of AZEEZ Communications); and Felice McWilliams (Founder of Making Danville Smile).
Averett's goal is to raise awareness of past and present social injustices in the City, by hearing from a diverse panel of perspectives, including a performer who will raise our spirits.
Please see the poster (right) for registration info and QR code https://bit.ly/3mwC3jH
Summer Reading Program
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