On view now through September 6, 2009 at the Norton Museum of Art , Off the Wall: The Human Form in Sculpture features American and European sculpture based on the theme of the figure and dating from the late the 1800s to the present.
The works are presented in three categories: Tell Me a Story, Head Shots, and Full Frontal. Over 30 figures, by artists such as Constantin Brancusi, Gaston Lachaise, Edgar Degas, Hiram Powers, and Max Ernst, will be on parade for viewing and judging on the specific qualities of sculpture which set it apart from other visual arts such as painting, drawing and printmaking.
Sculpture is the art of carving, modeling, welding or otherwise producing figurative or abstract art in three dimensions. For centuries sculpture was considered a lesser art – from the late Renaissance until the nineteenth century, painting was the superior art form on the assumption that art represents reality and that the painted image is best suited to do this.
Off the Wall was designed to challenge this view and allow the viewer to compare and contrast across the media of sculpture, from the classical allegories of Greek Mythology to the “everyman” depicted in many of the busts, from the humorous three-dimensional self-portraits to the smooth and idealized female form. The diversity of techniques and material used within the realm of sculpture are also explored in this exhibition – ranging from the direct carving of stone and wood, to the shaping and polishing of bronze.
The Norton Museum of Art is open Tuesday to Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday, 1 to 5 p.m. (Closed on major holidays.) General admission is $8 for adults, $3 for visitors ages 13-21, and free for Members and children under 13. An additional charge may apply for special exhibitions. West Palm Beach residents receive free admission to the permanent collection every Saturday, with proof of residency. Palm Beach County residents receive free admission to the permanent collection the first Saturday of each month, with proof of residency.
Norton Museum of Art 1451 S. Olive Avenue, West Palm Beach, FL 33401 Phone: 561.832.5196 Fax: 561.659.4689
www.norton.org
