The Lobby

Artists habitually want the viewer to decipher what the artwork means to them, often rebuffing any attempt at an explanation. Jasper Johns, the celebrated American artist, is famously elusive. He once joked that, of the dozens of books that have been written about his art, his favorite one was written in Japanese. What he liked is that he could not understand it. (New Yorker Feb 7, 2018, “ Jasper Johns Still Doesn’t Want to Explain His Art” )  The art works included in the exhibition, Somewhere in the Middle, allow just that. Instead of simple explanation, the viewer is thrust into narratives, be it abstraction or representation, without explanation, placing them squarely in the midst of a story that is currently unfolding.

Join us on August 3rd for an art-filled Saturday that's all about having a chance to explore, create, and have a blast with art. Guided by our knowledgable team of art educators, your child will discover the secrets hidden within iconic artworks. They'll get to recreate their own versions of timeless masterpieces in a hands-on activity while learning more about the artists' techniques, styles, and the stories that influenced their creations.

Here, in the preface of our current exhibition, "Shriek of Color," we explore the power of color as a means to set context and become a tangible element of the narrative. The age-old question of whether form or color takes precedence in an artist's work elicits complex responses. The choice of color can evoke distinct impressions, moods, content, and even environments. In "Shriek of Color," the artists wield color for precisely these reasons. The results are at times abstract, at other times representational, and frequently, color assumes a life of its own, serving as a compelling character in the narrative.

What is a line? What is a dot? We are taught in early in school that these concepts are straightforward—that a line is simply “the shortest distance between two points.” or, alternatively, “a row of closely spaced dots.”—but in an increasingly interwoven and overlapping world, is that uncomplicated definition still sufficient? In this exhibit, a line is envisioned not only as a vector of utility, but also as a conduit for whimsicality, a site for potential and exploration. The line is no longer about creating the shortest distance, it is about discovering what a line can be—the alternative spaces that can be imagined beyond the bounds of convention, and how artists challenge this easily recognized visual form in different permutations, materials, and arrangements.

The Earth Laughs exhibition at The Lobby is taken from an Emerson quote which expresses, “The Earth Laughs in Flowers”—How appropriate for a private collection which prioritizes beauty! And this exhibition certainly does not disappoint. Through a diverse body of work ranging from traditional oil painting, books, sculpture, ceramic, design, paintings without paint, to a major video installation, The Earth Laughs hopes to highlight the splendor and awe that we feel before nature through the form of the flower.

The first installation, “The Drop,” will launch on Thursday, May 12, and extend through August 2022. The artists include Daniel Buren, Leonardo Drew, Fred Eversley, Sam Gilliam, Jenny Holzer and Jack Whitten. Drew, a renowned contemporary artist, will introduce his work at the opening.