2013-2014 at the Blanton: A Look at What’s Next!

It’s hard to imagine a season as robust and exciting as our current one. From Naismith’s 1891 rules of basketball, to stunning masterworks from the collections of UT alumni, to contemporary objects including a whimsical 8 ½ foot milk carton, the Blanton has presented an astounding range of artwork this year. On top of that, we celebrated our 50th anniversary with the launch of a new brand and graphic identity, a successful gala, and Fifty Fest, a community party attended by over 10,000 of our friends. In short, the 2012-2013 season will be hard to top. Thanks to the ingenuity of our director, curators, and educators, however, we are prepared to do just that!

In October, we will open two exhibitions that are sure to delight and inspire visitors to discover new and unexpected things. Organized by the National Gallery of Art in Washington DC, Imperial Augsburg: Renaissance Prints and Drawings, 1475-1540 chronicles the rise of innovative printmaking techniques during the Renaissance. Prints by Albrecht Dürer, Daniel Hopfer and others will be displayed alongside some of the earliest examples of color printing. A special loan from the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, a 16th-century suit of armor will highlight the close connection between armor etchers and printmakers.

A radically different but equally compelling exhibition, The Nearest Air: A Survey of Works by Waltercio Caldas introduces audiences to the work of one of Brazil’s most important contemporary artists. A collaboration with the Fundação Iberê Camargo, Brazil, the presentation will explore the artist’s production from the 1960s through the present, and his unique position on art and its ethos. Included are sculptures, installations, and drawings that examine the physical qualities of objects and spaces, often challenging the assumptions viewers bring to the act of looking.

In February, we will open Between Mountains and Sea: Arts of the Ancient Andes, a selection of exceptional objects from some of the most complex coastal societies of the Ancient Andes. Made over the course of seventeen centuries before the rise of the Inca Empire, the exhibition features woven textiles, modeled ceramic bottles, painted vessels and ceramic effigies that trace the artistic development of the ancient Paracas, Nasca, Wari, Moche, Chancay and Chimú cultures.

On the contemporary front, this spring we will present Converging Lines: Eva Hesse and Sol LeWitt, an exhibition that celebrates the close friendship between two of the most significant American artists of the post-war era: Eva Hesse (1936–1970) and Sol LeWitt (1928–2007). With approximately 40 works, the exhibition will highlight the crucial impact that the artists’ decade-long friendship had on both their lives and work. A related and simultaneous exhibition, Perception Unfolds: Looking at Deborah Hay’s Dance is a site-specific video installation that investigates the work of renowned choreographer Deborah Hay. Walking among translucent screens on which multiple versions of a single dance are projected, viewers will be able to explore movement firsthand and trace the choreographic viewpoint.

The 2013-2014 season concludes with In the Company of Cats & Dogs. This selection of works from across centuries and genres captures our attitudes and behavior towards these animals, our trusted companions, and explores our enduring fascination with them. The presentation draws on research from several disciplines in the humanities and sciences at UT and will offer dynamic programming for Austin’s pet lovers.

Beyond these great exhibitions, the Blanton will offer an array of public programs including film screenings, music performances, lectures, our B scene art parties, and even a beer tasting! With Dürer to dogs, and everything in between, the Blanton is a “must-do” for next season. Come for a relaxing moment alone, bring the kids for a family outing, or invite a date for a special night of art and culture. Whatever your need, we’ve got you covered. See you soon!

— Kathleen Brady Stimpert, Director of PR & Marketing at the Blanton Museum of Art

Visit the Upcoming Exhibitions page on the Blanton’s website for updates on what will be on view in our galleries next.