New Exhibits at the Mississippi Museum of Art

Tomorrow marks the opening day of two extraordinary exhibits at the Mississippi Museum of Art in Jackson.  Spanish Sojourns: Robert Henri and the Spirit of Spain and Robert Henri and Spain, Face to Face, will be presented in separate galleries.

Robert Henri, an influential early 20th century American painter, had a great passion for traveling, especially to his beloved Spain.  Throughout his exceptional career, Henri enjoyed portraying the realities of contemporary life.  Julian Rankin, Director of Media and Public Relations at the Mississippi Museum of Art, tells us, “Spain transformed the way Henri saw art, painted, and later taught.  Spain is such a powerful place with unique characters.”  Henri was truly inspired by the dancers, musicians, singers, peasants, bullfighters, and gypsies he studied in Spain.  As Henri once observed, “It is harder to see than it is to express.  The whole value of art rests in the artist’s ability to see well into what is before him.”

Organized by the Telfair Museums in Savannah, Georgia, Spanish Sojourns: Robert Henri and the Spirit of Spain is a nationally touring exhibition.  Roger Ward, Deputy Director and Chief Curator at the Museum notes, “Numerous of Henri’s paintings from his extended sojourns in Spain, as well as those which were profoundly influenced by his experience of Spain – but painted in his New York studio – are true masterpieces…But they are less well-known…because the greatest works remain in private hands or were acquired relatively early by museums all over the United States.”

Roger Ward and his staff at the Mississippi Museum of Art have organized the accompanying exhibition, Robert Henri and Spain, Face to Face.  Betsy Bradley, Director of the Museum, says, “The Face to Face exhibition which we have organized will provide the Jackson visitor with a perfect introduction to a larger exhibition, Spanish Sojourns.  How exciting it is to be able to display exquisite works by great artists such as El Greco, Ribera, Manet, and Cassatt alongside the beautiful works of John Singer Sargent and Henri himself.”

Julian Rankin also reveals that many of Henri’s paintings on display are 90 inches tall and tremendously life-like.  Along with these beautiful paintings, the museum will be hosting a series of events celebrating Spanish life and culture:
  
Saturday, September 27th – Opening Day of Spanish Sojourns: Robert Henri and the Spirit of Spain and Robert Henri and Spain, Face to Face
   
Thursday, October 16th – A Celebration with Spanish Music and the Mississippi Symphony Orchestra, beginning at 6PM in The Art Garden

Thursday, November 6th – A Night of Passion with A’lante Flamenco, at 6PM in the Trustmark Grand Hall

Tuesday, November 18th – Unburied Treasures: Cover to Cover, starting at 5:30PM in the Trustmark Grand Hall

For more information on these wonderful opportunities, please visit www.msmuseumart.org

{Blog by Mitchell Walters}