Student-run art exhibit opens

Pissaro's Afternoon Sunshine at Point Neuf, depicting the bustle of metropolitan life on a Parisian afternoon, hangs next to his fertile and colorful Vegetable Garden and sets the tone for a new exhibit on campus. The contrast between the subjects of these particular paintings reflects the theme of the Impressionist exhibition "City Into Country," currently on display at the Arthur Ross Gallery. The exhibit marks the Gallery's first opportunity to host a complete collection from the Philadelphia Museum of Art. "Impressionism is so popular with the mainstream audience," said Lucia Dorsey, the Gallery's coordinator. Six Art History graduate students, including three from Penn and others from Bryn Mawr College, organized the exhibit, which features major paintings from both well-known and lesser-known Impressionist artists. Art History graduate students Rachel Arauz, Jude Dolkart and Heather Grossman represented Penn in the project. "It was a tremendously generous thing for them to do," said Dilys Winegrad, the Gallery's curator. "It is amazing to see some of the really wonderful paintings by an interesting and well-known body of artists." The six students took a seminar last semester through the University's Art History Department in collaboration with Philadelphia Museum of Art Associate Curator Christopher Riopelle. According to Winegrad, students in the course learned "museum methods" and had the opportunity to study the collection of masterpieces. "Not only did we discuss the works themselves and how to organize the show, but we talked about exhibition practices as well," Dolkart said. "And we saw how the [Philadelphia Museum of Art] made decisions about their exhibitions." As a result of their work in class, students became involved in every part of this exhibition -- from writing the individual interpretations of each painting to choosing the pastel green backdrop of the display. "The students had a big debate about the color," Winegrad said. "We wanted the opportunity for students to review the works themselves." The collection primarily focuses on the pre-industrialized 19th century and includes a spectrum of images, from city life to country scenes. It also includes realistic still-life drawings of flowers and paintings that explored the more personal side of the artists' work. "We tried to present it in a way that if you didn't know it well, you could learn it," Winegrad said of the eclectic display. The contrasts between the paintings stood out most especially, as seen in one painting which depicted a country scene. The painting reflected the past and a wisp of smoke from a train in the distance represented the country's impending industrialization. "Perhaps Impressionism is immediately accessible because it isn't so real," Winegrad said. "Part of the ambiance is being in a place where people care about the arts and the preservation of them. "Mostly I would like to see students take the time to step inside and walk around," she added.

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