Art Exhibition: "Inspired by the Crocker" - Jeffery Granett (3/12 - 4/5)
I am a volunteer docent at the Museum and give tours and presentations to school-aged children. Though there are several themes for tours, their main goal is to have the children look at art, understand what they are seeing and try to relate to the story-line of the piece. So after discussing with the students what they see and what the art piece might mean in its historical, cultural context, I will frequently ask, how they, as part of a modern, multicultural society might rethink the picture. As with any teaching, the teacher learns more than the students. For the pre-20th century pictures I learned that they would update them to include cars, computers and cell phones with the people dressed in blue jeans and sneekers. The portraiture would be of people they know. The story lines would be adjusted to fit their own current day circumstances and happenings. The primary technique is linoleum block printing with brushed ink wash for color.
Marsayas plays to win to lose
This re-examination of the art in a modern-day context provoked thoughts in me as well, and resulted in the works I present in this exhibit. I see my own pictures as a fun conversation with the original art pieces, with the artists, and maybe with Mr. Crocker.
The Crocker Art Museum in Sacramento displays European, American and Asian art. Judge Edwin Crocker, whose money came from his position as head lawyer for the Transcontinental Railroad began buying art in the 1860s and built a gallery to exhibit it in the 1870s. The collection has expanded considerably since then and the Museum is a cultural center for the Sacramento region.
