 | This 1935 painting by Walt Kuhn, titled "Chorus Captain," is one of the new works acquired by the Yale Art Gallery that inspired "Stagestruck in America." |
American artists' fascination with popular entertainment in the first half of the 20th century is the subject of an exhibition opening on Feb. 10 in the Matrix Gallery of the Yale University Art Gallery.
"Stagestruck in America: Artists, Entertainers and Audiences, 1906-1956" features 18 paintings, drawings, prints and photographs from the gallery's permanent collection that capture the allure of vaudeville, burlesque, early movies and jazz clubs. The exhibition is on view through Aug. 15.
The impetus for "Stagestruck in America" was the Yale Art Gallery's acquisition of two American paintings depicting aspects of New York City's theatrical life in the first half of the 20th century: "The Orchestra Pit, Old Proctor's Fifth Avenue Theatre, 1906" by Everett Shinn (1876-1953) and "Chorus Captain of 1935" by Walt Kuhn (1877-1949). Shinn and Kuhn were both observers of and participants in the theater. In fact, Shinn built a small theater in his house on Waverly Place in New York City and wrote, produced and directed plays. One of his works will be performed by students from the Yale School of Drama in conjunction with the exhibition (see list of related activities below).
Shinn's and Kuhn's infatuation with popular entertainment was widely shared by their contemporaries, as can be seen in the exhibition's paintings by Francis Luis Mora; photographs by Walker Evans, Robert Frank, Lee Friedlander, William P. Gottlieb, Wendell MacRae and James Van Der Zee; and drawings and lithographs by Mabel Dwight, Mervin M. Jules, Reginald Marsh (Yale Class of 1920), Carl E. Pickhardt Jr. and George von Physter. Many of these artists pursued careers in theater, film or music, and explored the relationship between entertainer and audience in their art.
"Perhaps their immersion in the theatrical world accounts for the power of their art to project us into a scene," suggests Robin Jaffee Frank, associate curator of American paintings and sculpture and organizer of the exhibition. "It is certainly a delight for us to have these glimpses of public entertainment before the era of television."
"Stagestruck in America" and the accompanying brochure are supported by the Friends of American Arts at Yale, the Jan and Warren Adelson Fund in honor of Eugénie Prendergast, and an endowment made possible by a challenge grant from the National Endowment for the Arts.
A list of special programs being presented in conjunction with the exhibition follows. Unless otherwise indicated, they are free and open to the public.
* Play reading. School of Drama students will present "The Painter and the Playwright," a short comedy by playwright and artist Everett Shinn, Thursday, Feb. 12, 5:30 p.m. Yale Art Gallery, third floor, 1111 Chapel St.
* Yale Cabaret Show. Students from the School of Drama will present a show written in celebration of "Stagestruck." Friday and Saturday, Feb. 13 and 14,
* Saturday film series. The works to be screened are: "Singin' in the Rain," Feb. 21; "They Shoot Horses, Don't They?" March 27; and "Hairspray," April 8. All at 7 p.m. Whitney Humanities Center, 53 Wall St. Co-sponsored by the Yale Film Society. For information, call (203) 432-0620.
* Exhibition talks. The topics and speakers will be: "Stagestruck in America: Artists, Entertainers, and Audiences, 1906-1956," Robin Jaffee Frank, Wednesday, March 3; "Behind the Scenes of Stagestruck: The Artists' Performance in Graphic Media," Theresa Fairbanks Harris, chief conservator at the Yale Center for British Art, and Robin Jaffee Frank, Wednesday, March 31; and "Stage and Screen," Toni Dorfman, associate professor of theater studies, and Charles Musser, professor of American studies and co-chair of film studies, Friday, April 16. All at 12:20 p.m. Yale Art Gallery, third floor.
* Concert. Proof of the Pudding, Yale's undergraduate, all-female, jazz-and-swing a cappella group, will perform songs from the "Stagestruck" era. 5:30 p.m. Thursday, April 8. Yale Art Gallery, third floor.
* Related Exhibition. "Ruckus: American Entertainments at the Turn of the 20th Century" will be on view June 1-Aug. 1 at the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, 121 Wall St. This show includes a broad range of materials from the library's permanent collection relating to popular forms of entertainment during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, including vaudeville, minstrel shows, "Tom" shows, burlesque and Wild West shows.
The entrance to the Yale University Art Gallery is now at Chapel and High streets. During the renovation of the landmark Louis I. Kahn building, selections from the permanent collection of ancient American, African, Asian, early European, and modern and contemporary art are on view. The galleries displaying Yale's world-class collections of American paintings, sculpture and decorative arts also remain open. Admission is free for individuals; groups should call (203) 432-8459 for information about fees and to make a reservation.
Gallery hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday (until 8 p.m. Thursday) and 1-6 p.m. Sunday. For general and program information, call (203) 432-0600 or visit the website at www.yale.edu/artgallery.
T H I S
Exhibit explores artists' infatuation
with popular entertainment
8:30 p.m. and 11 p.m. The Yale Cabaret, 217 Park St. Doors open for food and drinks at 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. Tickets: $12 for general admission; $10 for students. For reservations, call (203) 432-1566 or e-mail ysd.cabaret@yale.edu.
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