Two new exhibitions from the University of Wyoming Art Museum's permanent collection open Saturday, April 9.
"Utagawa Kunisada (1786-1865), Japanese Kabuki Portraits" features kabuki actor portraits by one of the most popular, prolific and financially successful artists of woodblock prints in 19th century Japan.
Renowned during his own lifetime, Kunisada's productivity was extraordinary -- it is estimated he produced between 20,000-25,000 designs for woodblock prints. The prints vary, showing some actors playing a role and others in scenes that obscure the distinction between the play and real life. Without artists such as Kunisada, there would be no visual record of kabuki actors.
"From the Scottish Sublime to the American West, Selected Works from the University of Wyoming" compares the romantic sublime landscapes of 18th and 19th century British artists with early 19th century American landscapes.
British artists examined the landscape through color and light, creating images in which untamed nature became an aesthetic experience, similar to the Romanticism movement occurring in literature, history and the arts. American artists drew upon these romantic images, first in the light and color of the Hudson River School artists and later in the landscapes of the American West that embodied the notion of "Manifest Destiny."
"From the Scottish Sublime to the American West, Selected Works from the University of Wyoming" has been organized in conjunction with the ninth International "Scott Conference, Walter Scott: Sheriff and Outlaw," July 5-9 at UW.
For more information about the UW Art Museum call (307) 766-6622 or visit the museum's webpage at www.uwyo.edu/artmuseum or blog at www.uwartmuseum.blogspot.com.
Located in the Centennial Complex at 2111 Willett Drive in Laramie, the museum is open Tuesdays through Saturdays from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and from 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Mondays. Admission is free.
