Curators Perspective

Rockwell Museum of Western Art Kicks off 30th Anniversary with A Curator's Perspective Exhibition

JANUARY 9, 2006

What: A Curator's Perspective: Symbols & Symbolism

Where: Rockwell Museum of Western Art, Corning, New York

When: Exhibition Dates: January 19 - May 29, 2006
Opening Reception: January 19, 5:30 p.m. - 7 p.m.
Press Preview: January 19, 5:00 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.

CORNING, NY- Symbols are everywhere and are accepted as part of our daily lives. We respond to symbols whenever we stop at a red light or draw an arrow to indicate a direction.

Much like today, artists historically used symbols to communicate ideas in art as well, a subject that the Rockwell Museum of Western Art's Curator of Collections will focus on in the upcoming exhibition, A Curator's Perspective: Symbols & Symbolism. The relevant links between traditional symbolism and aspects of society will be explored and interpreted through the eyes of the Curator. An exhibition devoted to Curator Sheila K. Hoffman's iconology expertise intersects with the Museum's extensive permanent collection. This display will present hand-selected paintings, works on paper, and mixed media from more traditional artists like E.I. Couse to contemporary artists like Jaune Quick-to-See Smith.

The third in a series, A Curator's Perspective: Symbols & Symbolism will be on view to the public in the second floor Special Exhibition gallery from January 19 - May 29, 2006. What makes the Perspective series different and special from most others is that it reflects what only one person sees. However, Hoffman purposefully created this show so that others can see what she sees so that it can mean something to everyone.

"Art can be understood and enjoyed by everybody," says Hoffman. "My approach is to make art accessible, not daunting or boring."

About the Curator

Hoffman came to Corning in 2004 from the Saginaw Art Museum in Michigan. There she fulfilled the dual role of Executive Director and Chief Curator. She has curated or overseen more than 55 exhibitions on subjects as diverse as European Baroque art and contemporary South African art - always finding ways to make the subjects interesting and relevant to visitors of all ages.

Exhibition Related Programming

The exhibition will open with a reception at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, January 19 at the Rockwell Museum of Western Art. At 6:00 p.m., opening remarks by Curator of Collections, Sheila K. Hoffman, will be given as she briefly explores the exhibition and explains her thought process in selecting each piece and a brief description of the symbols.

Also, enjoy hors d'oeuvres and the opportunity to participate in an art making activity: Create a Symbol. Guests will have the opportunity to reflect upon the exhibition by creating a symbolic badge representing individuals' personalities.

Museum members are invited FREE of charge. The public is encouraged to attend; admission to the event for not-yet-members is $6.50. Reservations can be made by calling 607.974.2333.

While attending the opening for A Curator's Perspective, please also take a moment to stop and view our current special exhibition Cultural Reflections: Inuit Art from the Collections of the Dennos Museum Center, which will continue to run through May 29, 2006. This exhibition gives the region a rare opportunity to view the evolution of the dynamic Inuit culture still in process. The collection is a reflection of life on the land; a record of daily events and serves as a visual narrative for keeping alive the old ways; the old life of skin tents and snow houses, the nomadic life when seasonal hunting dictated lifestyle and, in essence, survival.

Accredited by the American Association of Museums, the Rockwell Museum of Western Art is located in the center of the Finger Lakes Wine Country of New York Sate and in the heart of Corning's Gaffer District. The Museum is open to the public seven days a week; hours are 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Membership to the Museum includes yearlong free admission.