Monday, 25 January, 2010 8:18
by Pat Gill
Prints of Maxfield Parrish open first of four exhibitions at R.W. Norton Art Gallery
Four major exhibits; four new works on permanent display, including one by a Louisiana artist; special speakers and tours; a new arts classroom; a water-wise garden entering its first spring; and the sweet buzz of honey bees all highlight 2010 at R.W. Norton Art Gallery.
The Norton, set on forty acres of botanical gardens and grounds, displays seven centuries of art in twenty-four galleries, all from the museum’s 3,723-piece permanent collection. The museum, gardens, and grounds are free of charge to the public.
Those four special exhibits begin with “Fantasies and Fairy Tales: Maxfield Parrish and the Art of the Print,” January 26-April 11. The exhibit concentrates on Parrish’s explorations in the printed media, with 147 examples of his work in lithographs, advertisements, illustrations, books, and magazine covers.
April 27-August 1 brings “Alex Dzigurski (1911-1995): Poet of the Land and Sea,” showcasing eighteen paintings of his depiction of America’s coastline. Fifty tiny, finely executed paintings are revealed in “Under the Magnifying Glass: Exquisite Miniatures by Wes and Rachelle Siegrist,” May 4-July 25. The Siegrists, who live in Townsend, Tennessee, are exemplary in their work in the Revival Period of miniatures.
“Ansel Adams: The Masterworks,” comes August 17-December 32. Forty-seven photographs celebrate the drama and splendor of America’s natural environments. Adams (1902-1984) considered these images as a succinct representation of his life’s work.
The R.W. Norton Art Gallery and Gardens is located at 4747 Creswell Avenue, Shreveport. The gallery hours are Tuesday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and weekends, 1 to 5 p.m. There is no charge for admission. Group tours of 10 or more may be scheduled by appointment. Each month features a First Saturday Tour and a Saturday Speakers Series. Both are held at 2 p.m. and free to the public. No reservations are needed. For more information and a calendar of events, see www.rwnaf.org or call (318) 865-4201.