Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University is proud to present Circa 1960. Circa 1960 is based on one of the greatest artistic evolutions in the United States. Learn more about this seismic shift during this exhibit on Saturday, August 31st.
Around 1960, the long-standing influence exerted by Abstract Expressionism, a gestural type of painting and sculpture that emerged after World War II, was dwindling. Artists coming of age at this time perceived the style as mannered and academic and sought to distance themselves from its pervasive legacy. This resulted in a gradual shift in artistic approaches and philosophical attitudes.
The works in this installation demonstrate both the lingering hallmarks of Abstract Expressionism and the precursors to these new artistic directions. Frank Stella’s monumental Great Jones Street provides an example of the changing attitudes of younger artists. Though Stella retained some of the formal characteristics of Abstract Expressionism, he dispensed with the older generation’s desire to transmit an existential condition to the canvas. Instead, he wanted simply to “get the paint out of the can and onto the canvas” with little inventiveness.
Philip Guston, central to Abstract Expressionism’s development, made a significant stylistic shift in Portrait I. At the center of the painting floats a large dark form that points to his forthcoming adoption of a cartoonish, figurative style. Al Held, Bruce Conner, Dorothy Dehner, and many others participated in this rich transitional period, ultimately helping to move art in the U.S. in numerous directions.
See these works and more at Circa 1960 at Nasher Museum of Art! The exhibit is organized by Marshall N. Price, Ph.D., Nancy A. Nasher and David J. Haemisegger, Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art, and will be on display through January 2020. Admission ranges from $4 to $7.
At The Heights at La Salle Apartments in Durham, North Carolina, we promote resident satisfaction with an array of incredible amenities—both inside and outside of your apartment. However, we understand your need for more social engagement with your greater community and encourage you to attend this event when it passes through our city!
Event Time/Date:
Saturday, August 31, 2019—11:00 AM
Event Venue Location:
Nasher Museum of Art
2001 Campus Drive
Durham, North Carolina 27705
