Through September 25, 2011
Schwartz Galleries of Prints and Drawings
Paul Peters, American; Hilly Landscape (detail), 1946; watercolor and ink
over graphite pencil. Gift of John S. Newberry
This exhibition of more than 170 prints and drawings by over 100 artists is
designed to bring viewers of all ages closer, both figuratively and
literally, to art through a very accessible subject matter that has
captivated all cultures on many levels. Thirty works are hung lower than
usual at a height that allows younger visitors to comfortably look the
animals right in the eye. Specially designed "Creature Features" are spread
throughout the galleries to engage youngsters in a thoughtful examination of
the contents of selected works.
Simple poems are used to stimulate imagination to play out active scenes
taking place in complex works such as Felix Darley's Feeding the Horse or a
Japanese woodcut that considers a tiger's nightly prowls. A "Where's
Waldo"-like game to find a tiny deer hidden in the foliage is played with
Paul Peters's little watercolor Hilly Landscape. Birdcage, Saul Steinberg's
simple but charming depiction on ledger paper of birds, encourages viewers
to think about how to draw the winged creatures. And then there's Grant
Wood's January, a lithograph of a snowy scene without an animal, only the
trace evidence that one had been there. Children can compare the tracks
across the field with those of various animals to determine whether Wood
was, perhaps, referring to squirrels, rabbits, or birds.
The zoo doesn't have to end at the gallery doors. Animals prowl the halls
throughout the museum. On the first floor alone, you can start with Andy
Warhol's giant red panda directly across from the Schwartz gallery's Prentis
Court doors, then head to the north wing and find the roaring lion in the
Asian galleries, the leopard in the African ones, and a rooster in the
Islamic gallery. You can explore the rest of the museum on your own looking
for animals, or you can stop at the Family Fitting Room table in Prentis
Court for suggestions for your hunt.
It's a Zoo in Here! can serve as inspiration for kids and adults to create
their own creatures at Saturday drop-in workshops during July. Use crayons,
markers, colored pencils, and decorative papers to create your favorite
animal. If you'd like to leave your finished creations, we will post them in
our community gallery.
Above: Paul Peters, American; Hilly Landscape, 1946; watercolor and ink over
graphite pencil. Gift of John S. Newberry