MMFA 2024: Georgia O'Keeffe and Henry Moore

Georgia O’Keeffe and Henry Moore:

Giants of Modern Art

February 10 – June 2, 2024

The Montreal Museum of Fine Arts (MMFA) is presenting the Canadian exclusive Georgia O’Keeffe and Henry Moore: Giants of Modern Art. This large-scale exhibition sets for the first time the work of American painter Georgia O’Keeffe (1887‑1986) in dialogue with the British sculptor Henry Moore (1898-1986).

The exhibition is organized by the San Diego Museum of Art. It examines in parallel the lives and the artistic paths of these two 20th-century icons. Through their over 120 works, as well as the additional recreation of each artist’s studio, visitors can discover the evolution of O’Keeffe’s and Moore’s artistic practices, and how the artists emphasized the fundamental relationship between the humanity and the natural world.

Though they lived on separate continents, O’Keeffe and Moore shared a coherent vision and approach to Modernism. Their commonality lies in their intense sensitivity to the natural world and their ongoing exploration of their rural and open environments surroundings. Natural forms were both for O’Keeffe and Moore central to their individual artistic creation.

Both O’Keeffe and Moore, on their daily excursions and travels, both artists collected stones, animal skulls and bones, gnarled roots, pieces of wood, and coiled seashells with which they filled their studios. Their vast collections of such found objects reveal striking similarities. The first ever, the meticulous recreation of their respective studios enables the public to see how these found objects shaped their creation and inspired some of their most important works.

Georgia O’Keeffe's studio

Henry Moore's Studio

A remarkable collection of works

O’Keeffe and Moore have been the subjects of innumerable exhibitions but never before has their work been brought together. The artworks in the exhibition come mainly from the Henry Moore Foundation, in Hertfordshire, England, and the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum, in New Mexico, as well as from approximately 20 museums and private collections.

The works on display comprise paintings, works on paper and sculptures in diverse media, ranging from plasters and bronzes to lead, rare woods like elm and lignum vitae, marble, as well as Hopton Wood stone, Cumberland alabaster and even a sculpture carved from stalactite. 

Masterpieces include in MMFA exhibition:

Moore’s stringed Bird Basket (1939), Reclining Figure (1959-1964), Working Model for Three Piece No. 3: Vertebrae (1968) and Working Model for Oval with Points (1968-1969),

and O’Keeffe’s Jack-in-the-Pulpit No. 3 (1930), Ram’s Head, Blue Morning Glory (1938) and Pedernal – From the Ranch #1 (1956). 

In addition, the present Montreal exhibition includes works from its own collection, including a transformation drawing and four sculptures by Moore, as well as a portrait of O’Keeffe photographed by Yousuf Karsh.

The exhibition also integrates a selection of video interviews conducted with the two artists at certain points in their careers.

Mary-Dailey Desmarais, MMFA Chief Curator, states:

“We are thrilled to collaborate with the San Diego Museum of Art to present the work of pioneering modern artists Georgia O’Keeffe and Henry Moore in Montreal. Illuminating the singular and powerful, if unspoken, dialogue between O’Keeffe and Moore, this exhibition sheds new light on their shared appreciation for the interconnection between humans and the natural world, an essential subject for our time.”

Anita Feldman, Deputy Director for Curatorial Affairs, San Diego Museum of Art, and Curator of the exhibition comments:

“The two artists met only once that we know of, on the occasion of Moore’s solo exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art, New York, in 1946. O’Keeffe had also had a solo exhibition there the same year. We have to wonder what this formidable institution was saying to devote their program to these two artists just as the world was reeling from the trauma of war. Could it be that their art offered something life affirming, positive and healing through its humanistic connection with nature?”

Iris Amizlev, Curator – Community Engagement and Projects at the MMFA and curator of the Montreal presentation, elaborates:

“Given the many similarities in O’Keeffe’s and Moore’s artistic interests, habits, formal explorations and iconographic vocabularies, it’s difficult to fathom that no extensive exchange of ideas ever occurred between them. Linked by an intangible connection that transcended time and space, they followed parallel trajectories of prolific output inspired by natural forms.”

After Montreal, the exhibition will be presented at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts (October 13, 2024 – January 20, 2025).

Click on images to enlarge them.

All photos @ Nadia Slejskova

This article's dedicated internet address, or click on the title above the very first photo.

Visit the the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts website to check on the opening hours and to purchase your ticket online.

The grandson of the artist Henry Moore, whose name is also Henry Moore and who works at the Henry Moore's Foundation in England, was also present at the Press Conference. He is captured in the two photos below.

Métiers d’art 2023

Salon des Métiers d’art 2023

Montreal Annual Arts and Crafts Show

67th Edition

December 7 - 17, 2023

The  Métiers d’art 2023 returns to the Palais des congrès de Montréa this yearl. It's importance, especially during the holiday season, is to highlight Quebec know-how, encourage its transmission, and to supports creativity and innovation. By far the largest show for locally made products in Canada, the Salon des Métiers d'Art du Québec is the best place to meet artists and craftspeople in the arts and crafts, whose work is distinguished by their skillful and exceptional qualities.

This year, the Salon des crafts d’art du Québec (SMAQ) is celebrating its 67th Edition. More than 215 professional artisans from four corners of Quebec invite visitors to prepare for the holidays at the Palais des congrès de Montréal under the theme “Find local art”. The intension is, to make the visitors to fall under the spell of the talent and know-how of the Quebec creations. This Edition, as always, is festive, urban, fashionable and eco-responsible. Workshops, conferences and exhibitions will also be part of the event, also featuring meetings, exchanges and passionate artisans.

Salon des Métiers d'Art du Québec is the best place to meet artists and craftsmen whose work is distinguished by exceptional qualities.

Marc Douesnard, an artistic ironworker and the President of the CMAQ board of directors, stated:

"Quebec artisans are recognized worldwide for their exceptional know-how and immense creativity. Seize the opportunity to participate in the co-creation of future artistic trends by establishing privileged links with those who imagine the trends of tomorrow."

The flavors pavilion highlights the quality of products that are the pride of Quebec producers, processors and passionate chefs in our. The architecture and heritage pavilion allows the public to discover professions specializing in heritage conservation and restoration interventions, such as stone cutters or art blacksmiths.

Click on images to enlarge them.

All Photos @ Nadia Slejskova

For more information in this years show, visit the Salon des métiers d’art de Montréal website.

PAC 2023: St. Lawrence River

THE ST. LAWRENCE RIVER - ECHOES FROM THE SHORES

MULTI-SENSORY EXPERIENCE

November 30, 2023 - March 3, 2024

Pointe-à-Callière, Montréal Archaeology and History Complex, is offering visitors a multi-sensory exhibition that will immerse them in the full majesty of the St. Lawrence River and its thousands facets. This immense waterway, one of Canada’s longest rivers, has been a true axis of communication between diverse riverside communities and the millions of people who live on and visit its banks.

The exhibition showcases the immeasurable wealth of the St. Lawrence, which has been designated as a historic heritage site by the National Assembly. To tell the river’s story, Pointe-à-Callière has put together a corpus of 300 significant objects drawn from rich Quebec museum collections mainly from the Musée maritime du Québec, Capitaine J.E. Bernier, and the Musée de la civilisation - Québec as well as from its own collections.

The ten-stop visit traces the river’s rich history and explores its vast territory through themes such as river transportation, naval construction, shipwrecks, shipping methods, battles and conquests, different types of fishing, leisure activities, tourism and environmental issues. Along the way, projected images, textures, smells and sounds will engage the senses in fond memories that recall the beauty of this priceless natural treasure!

Anne Élisabeth Thibault, Executive Director of Pointe-à-Callière. Stated:

“In keeping with our mission to promote the Montréal of yesterday and today, this exhibition gives a multidisciplinary perspective of the majestic waterway that gave rise to Montréal’s birth and development. The river is an essential access route and, even today, it has positioned Montréal as a key hub of international trade. The St. Lawrence has always led to the economic and socio-cultural development of its riverside communities, and millions of people’s lives have depended on its shores. The history of this natural jewel, which is intrinsically linked to our city, deserves to be explored,” explained Anne Élisabeth Thibault, Executive Director of Pointe-à-Callière.”

A GATEWAY TO THE INTERIOR CONTINENT

First Nations people have used the river’s banks for millennia, drawn sustenance from its resources, and used its waters to travel, trade and communicate. In the New France era, the St. Lawrence was a gateway to the inner North American continent for explorers and the backbone of the network that made up the fur trade. During the French Regime, the river’s configuration dictated where settlers could set up their villages, meaning that Québec City, Trois-Rivières and Montréal were all born out of and developed from their specific landscape geographical settings and geometry.

A pivotal moment in the history of the river and Montréal was the construction of the Lachine Canal. As the first in a chain gradually linking the Atlantic Ocean to the Great Lakes, the canal let ships bypass the Lachine Rapids, a major obstacle to shipping. Since then, Montréal’s incredible expansion has been closely linked to the St. Lawrence River,

SHOWCASED ITEMS

The objects to discover include the majestic Lady Edmonton figurehead from the Edmonton  three-masted vessel; models of ships such as the RMS Empress of Ireland, the CSDL Tadoussac, and the CGS Mikula icebreaker; artifacts from shipwrecks such as the Elizabeth and Mary; accessories and clothing, including the cap of famous Quebec sailor Joseph-Elzéar Bernier; a diving suit; and naval construction tools. The exhibition also features commemorative objects that point to key sites along the river’s trajectory and that come from battles fought on the waterway, such as Sir William Phips’ attempt to conquer Quebec in 1690 and the Battle of the St. Lawrence during the Second World War.

In addition to these artifacts that raise the curtain on part of the river’s history, the exhibition features astonishing archival images, compelling testimonials, and rich documentary materials. Works that illustrate how the river has always been a source of infinite inspiration include the musical opus Flore Laurentienne by Gaspé composer Mathieu David Gagnon, which accompanies the exhibition’s final stop: a masterful projection by Silent Partners Studio of a dreamlike voyage on the St. Lawrence.

Influencing both its environment and the communities that use it, the river is presented in a setting that matches its immensity and portrays its future challenges, including its preservation for future generations.

The waves of the St. Lawrence await!

MORE ACTIVITIES

Lectures

To accompany the temporary exhibition The St. Lawrence River, Echoes from the Shores, Pointe-à-Callière is organizing two lectures on the exhibition’s different aspects and theme

The river and its shipwrecks 

The story of the wrecks of the Elisabeth and Mary (1690), RMS Empress of Ireland (1914), and other underwater sites will illustrate the vast array of contexts and lessons that maritime archaeology has to teach us.

Sunday, December 10, 2023 at 1 pm

Discovering the majestic St. Lawrence 

St. Lawrence enthusiast Serge Lepage will tell stories about how the river’s unique characteristics and complex environment make it home to exceptional plant and wildlife and how this river helped develop the northeast part of the continent. He will also discuss the environmental impacts of human activities on the quality of its waters as well as new threats to its ecosystems.

Sunday, January 28, 2024 at 1 pm

Cultural activities

As a holiday treat, families can take part in creative workshops related to the exhibition between 1 pm and 4 pm from December 26 to 30, 2023 and from January 2 to 6, 2024. Enjoy painting and arts and crafts and build a model lighthouse!

Click on images to enlarge them.

All Photos @ Nadia Slejskova

For more information on the current exhibitions, activities and programs, visit the PAC Museum's website.

McCord Stewart 2023: Holidays Activities

LAUNCH DAY

November 25 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The Montreal's McCord Stewart Museum is throwing open its doors for the launch of its holiday programming, celebrating the traditions well appreciated by Montrealers at this time of year. Public is invited to reconnect with their inner child as they discover or rediscover Ogilvy’s mechanical Christmas window displays, and admire an enchanting dolls’ castle where the guests of an 18th-century held dance events in their finest attire.  

On the program on this special day: free access to all exhibitions, storytelling, guided tours, workshops to create snowy landscapes, children’s face-painting as well as many other surprises for the whole family!

Café Notman is also joining in the festivities, with free hot chocolate for everyone at the Museum on that day (while supplies last). The Museum Boutique is offering a 25% discount on children’s books on the Launch day.

For more information visit the McCord Stewart Museum website for Launch Day.

HOLIDAYS ACIVITIES

Check the museum's Holidays Activities scheduled  from November 25 to January 7, 2023.