Stark Museum of Art unveils new acquistion

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Stark Museum of Art unveils new acquistion

January 23, 2011 15:38

Hiawatha's Marriage by Edmonia Lewis, 1874

The Stark Museum of Art invites the public to a gallery spotlight and a reception on Tuesday, February 1, 2011 from 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. to celebrate the life and artistry of internationally acclaimed African American sculptor Edmonia Lewis. During this event, the Museum will unveil its newest acquisition, Hiawatha’s Marriage, a marble sculpture created by Lewis in 1874. The evening will have four spotlight times as follows: 5:20 p.m., 5:50 p.m., 6:15 p.m. and 6:40 p.m.

The subject matter is based on an epic poem, The Song of Hiawatha, by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. The sculpture depicts the wedding of Hiawatha and Minnehaha, bringing together two rival Indian tribes.

A gallery spotlight, presented by Museum Director Sarah Boehme, will explore the heritage and societal struggles of Lewis as an artist of African American and American Indian descent. Entertainment during the reception will be provided by the Andrew Guidry Jazz Band. Refreshments will be served, and admission is free.

“We invite the community to drop by the Museum and view this beautiful work of art. We are planning a festive evening to celebrate this acquisition and hope people will enjoy visiting with friends and neighbors at our reception,” commented Director Sarah Boehme.

Following the Museum spotlight and reception, an opening night performance of The Color Purple will take place at Lutcher Theater, located at 707 West Main Street in Orange, beginning at 7:30 p.m. For ticket information and pricing, call 409.886.5535 or visit www.lutcher.org.

Located at 712 Green Avenue in Orange, Texas, the Stark Museum of Art is open to the public Tuesday through Saturday from 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Admission is free. Group tours are available by appointment. For more information call 409.886.ARTS (2787) or visit www.starkmuseum.org.

About the Stark Museum of Art

The Stark Museum of Art focuses on the stunning land, the dramatic people and the diverse wildlife of the American West. Paintings, sculpture and prints interpret the West from nineteenth century frontier artists to the twentieth century artistic colonies in New Mexico. Artists include John James Audubon, Frederic Remington, and Charles Marion Russell.

The Museum also features a significant collection of American Indian objects, including baskets, pottery, clothing and weavings. Other permanent collections in the Museum include the complete porcelain American Bird Series by Dorothy Doughty and the only complete series of The United States in Crystal, a collection of crystal urns produced by Steuben Glass to depict the 50 states and the Union.

The Stark Museum of Art is a program of the Nelda C. and H.J. Lutcher Stark Foundation, a private operating foundation, whose other programs include the Frances Ann Lutcher Theater for the Performing Arts, Shangri La Botanical Gardens and Nature Center, and The W.H. Stark House.