Either Side Of Gray: Exploring Black And White

Nearly 30 works of art from the Museum’s permanent collection will be featured in the exhibition, which delves into the infinite manifestations achieved through black and white and its usage in art around the world, across time and over stylistic boundaries. It will be on view from March 28 to June 29, 2008 on the M2 level of the Museum.

“We picked a theme that would allow us to incorporate works from each of our departments,” said Edwina Phillips, McDermott Graduate Curatorial Intern. “In Either Side of Gray, we have European, American, pre-Colombian and other art represented.”

Highlights of the exhibition are a Piet Mondrian self-portrait; a never-before exhibited Peruvian painted cloth, c. A.D. 800; Phil/Fingerprint, a Chuck Close painting; Print #1, a Robert Mapplethorpe photograph; Cupid, a Josiah Wedgwood Factory sculpture; an African mask and works from other cultures and by prominent artists. The exhibition will not be arranged chronologically but instead will blend the works to allow a dialogue and dynamic interaction of black and white to weave the pieces together.

“It’s a very visual show, very visually arresting,” said Errin Copple, McDermott Graduate Curatorial Intern. “It’s cross-cultural, cross-chronological and gives viewers the opportunity to view some rarely exhibited works.”

The intern-curated exhibition was the brainchild of Dorothy Kosinski, senior curator of painting and sculpture and The Barbara Thomas Lemmon Curator of European Art. Kosinski thought it would be a way for the curatorial interns to experience the process of organizing a show, including the planning, selection of art and installation of an exhibition. Educational programs, including gallery talks, are planned with Either Side of Gray, and will be spearheaded by programming interns in the Education department at the Museum.

“This exhibition is an excellent opportunity for our curatorial interns to enhance their experience here,” Kosinski said. “The process of planning an exhibition on their own will give them unmatched real-world experience as they pursue professional curatorial careers.” -- www.dallasmuseumofart.org