Transparency in the Museum: The Restoration of Saint Catherine

February 27, 2013 by umfablog

Saint Catherine has been missing from our museum galleries for one week. She has been down in the basement getting a bit of a makeover: a thorough cleaning, and a little touch up. And I was lucky enough to go down to the basement and see a bit of this process. While being led through the labyrinth that is the basement of the UMFA, I was grateful to be guided by Robyn Haynie, our conservator. Without her I would likely […]

Categories: Uncategorized • Tags: art, benefits of museums, Christian art, conservation, Medieval, museum job, restoration, saint, Saint Catherine of Alexandria, scuplture, transparency, umfa, University of Utah, Viewing art

Introducing salt 7: Lynette Yiadom-Boakye

February 21, 2013 by umfablog

The work of Lynette Yiadom-Boakye will be the seventh installment in the Museum’s salt series of exhibitions featuring new and innovative art from around the world. For this, her first solo exhibition in the western United States, British artist Lynette Yiadom-Boakye will show never-before exhibited oil paintings. Employing a palette and brushwork not unlike that of traditional western portraiture, Yiadom-Boakye’s luscious, gestural paintings consider the role of the black figure, as both subject and author, in the art historical canon. […]

Categories: Uncategorized • Tags: art, benefits of museums, community, contemporary art exhibition, events, exhibitions, free, Free admission, lecture, museum, museum events, salt, salt series, tour, University of Utah, uofu, utenation

Michelangelo and George Washington: Two Men, One Weekend

February 18, 2013 by umfablog

On February 18, 1564, Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni died. On  February 22, 1732, George Washington was born. I’m thinking of both today, in part because our American calendar is making me: originally designed to honor the birthday of George Washington, we split the difference and celebrate Presidents’ Day on the third Monday of every February. Sometimes this is George Washington’s birthday. Sometimes it is not. This year it is not. But it is the day Michelangelo died. Michelangleo was considered […]

Categories: Uncategorized

Tonight: Bierstadt to Warhol Opening Celebration

February 15, 2013 by umfablog

Tonight, join us for the opening of Bierstadt to Warhol: American Indians in the West 5 pm | University and UMFA Members Exhibition Preview 6 pm | Public Artist Talk | Shonto Begay 7 pm | Community Celebration Bierstadt to Warhol: American Indians in the West is an ambitious exhibition comprising more than 100 oil paintings, sculpture, and works on paper drawn primarily from the Diane and Sam Stewart Collection. It examines depictions of American Indian identity (by both natives and […]

Categories: Uncategorized

<3 Happy Valentine’s Day from the Museum Store at the UMFA <3

February 13, 2013 by umfablog

Saint Valentine’s Day, like many other holidays beginning with the word saint, originated as a liturgical celebration observing the sacrifices of (turns out, several people by the name of) Saint Valentine. Sacrifices as in giving of oneself and also sacrifices as in giving of one’s head. This holiday was spent with the usual piety and quiet reflection befitting most Saint Days until around the High Middle Ages, when it began to be associated with courtly and romantic love. It may seem like […]

Categories: Uncategorized

Goodbye, salt 6: Emre Hüner leaves the UMFA.

February 8, 2013 by umfablog

salt (sôlt) n. 1. A colorless or white crystalline solid used extensively in ground or granulated form as a food seasoning and preservative. 2. An element that gives flavor or zest. 3. Sharp, lively wit. 4. A mineral sharing definitive characteristics with Utah’s capital city. It is time to say farewell to Emre Hüner. His incredible works of art leave the museum on February 10th, so if you haven’t yet explored our salt 6 artist, the time is now.  

Categories: Uncategorized • Tags: deinstallation, emre huner, exhibitions, Istanbul, museum, salt, salt series, transition, Turkey

Anthropology Film Series at the UMFA: Footnote (2011, Israel)

February 5, 2013 by umfablog

This Wednesday, February 6th,  the UMFA is pleased to present, in collaboration with the Department of Anthropology, the launch of our film series for 2013: The series opens with “Footnote” (2011, Israel). Eliezer and Uriel Shkolnik are father and son as well as rival professors in Talmudic Studies. When both men learn that Eliezer will be lauded for his work, their complicated relationship reaches a new peak. Prior to each film, a visit to related museum artworks will set the […]

Categories: Uncategorized • Tags: anthropology, Anthropology Film Series, film, film screening, film series, Footnote, France, French film, Iran, Iranian film, Israel, Israeli film, lecture, museum events, museum tour, Talmud, tour, U of U, utenation