SEPTEMBER
2001
FSU'S APPLETON BRINGS MASTERWORKS TO OCALA
Unless you've traveled to the Art Gallery
of Ontario in Toronto, there are key works of Picasso, Van Gogh,
Monet, Renoir and other important artists that you've never seen.
Now you can see them-at an exhibition called "Once in Our
Lifetime" at the Appleton Museum of Art in Ocala. The Appleton
is co-owned by Florida State University and Central Florida Community
College.
Appleton Director Jeffrey Spalding says the loan of the Ontario
Museum's 19th and 20th century paintings is a major coup for
the Ocala museum.
"These works are truly masterpieces, not simply examples of works by important artists," Spalding said. "These are acknowledged, individual outstanding paintings. Seeing these works confirms why these artists command world admiration. The show will be a moving, magnificent experience."
Spalding said the collection is not on tour. Thanks to his
professional connections in Canada, he was able to borrow the
collection after the Art Gallery of Ontario took it off display
temporarily-for perhaps the first time in its 100-year history-to
accommodate a large traveling show from Russia.
FSU President Sandy D'Alemberte said the loan to the Appleton
"demonstrates how well-regarded the museum has become."
The exhibition will be displayed in two parts: 19th century
masterworks from Sept. 8 through Dec. 6, and 20th century works
in early 2002, tentatively February through April.
The 19th century show features 22 major paintings, including
the best of the Ontario gallery's Impressionist collection, which
is considered the most important of its kind in Canada.
The Impressionist works include Claude Monet's "Charing Cross Bridge, Fog" and "Vetheuil in Summer," Camille Pissarro's "Pont Boieldieu in Rouen, Damp Weather" and Pierre-Auguste Renoir's "The Seine at Chatou" and "The Concert." Outstanding examples of Post-Impressionist paintings, such as Paul Cezanne's "Interior of a Forest" and Vincent Van Gogh's "Woman with a Spade," also will be displayed.
Also highlighted in the 19th century show will be important works such as Edgar Degas' "Woman at her Bath" and works by French painters Eugène Delacroix, Henri Fantin-Latour, Alfred Sisley, Horace Vernet, Eugène Deveria, Eugène Boudin, Narcisse-Virgile Diaz de la Pena, Jules Cavé and Jacques Tissot; British painters John Constable, John William Waterhouse and Walter Sickert; and American John Singer Sargent.
At the center of the 20th century exhibition are two paintings by Pablo Picasso. "The Soup," completed in 1902, is among the first in the artist's famous Blue Period. "Seated Woman," 1927, shows the elements of Cubism and Surrealism that dominated the latter part of Picasso's career. The exhibition surveys the principal art historical styles of the first half of the 20th century and boasts several first-rate Surrealist-inspired paintings by Yves Tanguy, Roberto Matta and René Magritte, Spalding said.
Other works in the 20th century exhibition include French
painters Henri Matisse, Odilon Redon, Pierre Bonnard, Jacques
Villon and Louis Marcoussis; British artists Augustus John, Ben
Nicholson, Frances Hodgkins and David Hockney; Germans Emil Nolde
and Otto Dix; Italians Amedeo Modigliani and Gino Severini; and
Dutch artist Karel Appel.
Spalding expects art enthusiasts to be thrilled to see the world
renowned collection from the eighth largest art museum in the
world, but he believes the exhibition will also appeal to those
who have never ventured into an art museum.
"A great collection such as this truly has something for everyone," he said. "Most everyone has seen Monet, Degas and Van Gogh posters. This is a wonderful opportunity to experience the real thing."
Spalding said he expects the event to draw many first-time museum visitors, and staff members are preparing programs to guide the way, as well as special activities and educational packages for families.
The museum has established special admission prices for the FSU community, and plans are in the works for bus trips, group tours and hotel packages. Boosters, alumni and other groups can ask the museum to arrange discounted group tickets and make arrangements for special private evening or day events with catered dining and entertainment options.
For more information, call 352-236-7100 or visit the Web site at www.appletonmuseum.org. -Jill Elish, FSU Communications Group
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