Beach Museum of Art exhibition encourages conversations on differing interpretations
Monday, Aug. 29, 2022
Archie Scott Gobbler's "Kneeling Flag" enamel on aluminum sculpture is part of the "Do You See What I See?" exhibition, which opens Sept. 6 at Kansas State University's Beach Museum of Art. | Download this photo.
MANHATTAN — "Do You See What I See?" opens Tuesday, Sept. 6, and runs through Tuesday, May 27, 2023, at Kansas State University's Marianna Kistler Beach Museum of Art. Enjoy the exhibition in person in the Marion Pelton Gallery and virtually at beach.k-state.edu when the online exhibition opens in October.
This exhibition brings attention to the reality that people have different ideas about popular images, which can often lead to misunderstanding and disagreement. Visitors can see recent museum acquisitions by artists Paul Rucker and Archie Scott Gobber and important works from the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, including a portrait by Grant Wood and a large sculpture of an ear by John Baldessari. All artworks challenge viewers to think twice about what a familiar object or person represents and discover through conversation just how varied individual interpretations of even a common symbol can be.
"This kind of loan gives curators like me the opportunity to expand the scope of art experiences in the museum," said Aileen June Wang, Beach Museum curator. "The more thought-provoking art to see, the more food for thought and the more opportunities for museumgoers to experience something new."
The loans from Crystal Bridges Museum were made possible by a Collection Loan Partnership with Art Bridges, which seeks to increase access to and engagement with American art in rural and regional venues. The partnership allows Art Bridges to bring significant artworks out of storage in major museums and offer them as loans to small museums like the Beach Museum of Art without the financial burden usually associated with them.
This oil on board painting by Grant Wood, "The American Golfer," is on loan to K-State’s Beach Museum of Art by the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art as part of the Art Bridges Collections Loan Partnership | Download this photo.
Two events related to the exhibition are planned for this fall. The virtual talk "Seeing Freedom?" with Elisabeth Anker, associate professor of American studies and political science at George Washington University, will be at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 22. Participants should register to join the free livestream event online. A hybrid panel discussion, "Do You See What I See? Diverse Perspectives on Iconic Images and Objects," with a group of invited participants, including K-State campus leaders and students and community members, will be at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 3. Register to join the free event virtually.
The Beach Museum of Art, 701 Beach Lane, is on the southeast corner of the K-State campus. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays; 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Thursdays; and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays. Free parking is available adjacent to the building. To catch a livestream event or view exhibitions online, go to beach.k-state.edu/explore, or watch videos of the museum's special programs and events on its YouTube channel, beach.k-state.edu/videos. For an events calendar in the Art in Motion annual program series, visit beach.k-state.edu/calendar.
