Last Chance Exhibition Tour Night, August 24
Thursday, August 24, 5 – 8 p.m.
Figge Art Museum, 225 West Second Street, Davenport IA
On August 24, Davenport's Figge Art Museum invites art fans of all ages to see a trio of popular summer exhibitions before they leave, with guided tours focusing on The Life & Art of Charles M. Schulz, Ansel Adams Yosemite Portfolio III, and Endless Flight all taking place in the venue's Last Chance Exhibition Tour Night.
Curated by the Charles M. Schulz Museum and Research Center in Santa Rosa, California, the touring exhibit The Life & Art of Charles M. Schulz (on display through September 3) explores the cartoonist's personal history and his role as the inspiration and artistic talent behind Peanuts and its unique cast of characters including Charlie Brown, Lucy and Linus Van Pelt, and, of course, Snoopy. The exhibition follows Schulz from his Minnesota roots to his life in California and tracks the development of the characters that make up the unique world of Peanuts. Fifty-two original Peanuts comic strips, sketches, photographs, and elements of Schulz’s studio illuminate the story behind the popular and influential cartoon strip, while a range of ephemera including books, memorabilia, and toys will also be on display.
With the tour's principal focus currently exhibited in the exhibit Ansel Adams, the Sierra Club, & the Making of a Landscape (on display through August 27), Figge Executive Director and CEO Michelle Hargrave states, "Portfolio Three: Yosemite Valley captures the timeless beauty and grandeur of Yosemite, as seen through the lens of Ansel Adams. This exhibition highlights his meticulous composition and masterful use of light and demonstrates the profound impact Adams had on photography and conservation. As we celebrate his remarkable contributions, we hope that his artistic vision, craftsmanship, and deep reverence for the natural world will encourage visitors to contemplate, appreciate, and protect the sacred landscapes that inspire our souls.”
“The distinguishing factor in Adams work was his intimate familiarity with his subject," adds Figge Director of Collections and Exhibitions Andrew Wallace. "The countless hours he spent hiking and photographing the valley and surrounding peaks gave him invaluable perspective not only on Yosemite, but on the natural environment more broadly, His strong connection to the area made his photographs uniquely iconic and provided a reminder of why such landscapes need to be protected.”
Created at a time of increased Haitian migration into the United States, the artwork in the Edouard Duval-Carrié: Endless Flight exhibit (on display through September 17) casts central Voudou spirits, or lwa, as modern figures including a superhero, a stripper, and a soldier. The central wall of the altarpiece, echoing the architecture of a Catholic church, is accompanied by seven sculptural assemblages. These sculptures are in the form of ships and carts, and carry figures and symbols associated with Voudou spirits like Baron Samedi, the father of the spirits of the dead, and Erzulie Dantor, the goddess of love, motherhood, and vengeance. These vessels refer to the historical migration of colonists and enslaved Africans to Haiti, as well as the modern migration of Haitians fleeing their country due to political turmoil and poverty. Endless Flight is a key work in the Figge’s permanent collection and was acquired with the generous assistance of multiple donors.
The Last Chance Exhibition Tour Night takes place from 5 to 8 p.m. on August 24, admission to the Thursday-evening event is free, and more information is available by calling (563)326-7804 and visiting FiggeArtMuseum.org.
