Saginaw Art Museum Exhibits Schedule
 
2005
 
~ March – July 2005 (Reception gallery 1st Floor)
RECENT ACQUISITIONS
A selection of drawings, paintings and sculpture donated to this museum in the past year.
 
 ~ 4.7.05 – 7.3.05
   Reception – Thursday, April 7, 2005
BEADWORK OF WOODLAND INDIAN TRIBES
This will be an extensive exploration of the design and making of beadwork on all manner of objects, exclusively by so-called “Woodland” American Indian tribes of which there are an estimated 38 distinct ones, researched and in collaboration with Mike Slasinski (#781-1152) a local collector of Native American artifacts with extensive contacts in the field, and with Ziibiwing Chippewa Cultural Center. The heyday of Woodland tribes is generally thought to span the years 200 BCE – 1700 CE. Up to five private Michigan collections will be included. In the opinion of many scholars, Woodland art of this kind surpasses any other in complexity and brilliance of color. About 250-300 artifacts will be presented, from 21 Woodland tribes, covering the period 1750-2000 CE.
 
~ 7.15.05 - 9.12.05
SAGINAW ART MUSEUM 2ND MICHIGAN INVITATIONAL - ARCHITECTURE
The second annual invitational will be thematically focused upon architecture as a fine art; to include drawings, plans, elevations, sketches, conceptual renderings, photography, and models etc. by and about Michigan architects and architecture including the influence upon commercial and residential design by A.B. Dow, Wright, Saarinen, Kahn, Richardson and Platt. It is also hoped to draw some understanding about Michigan architecture from the dwellings of native tribes who pre-dated anglo settlement. Collaboration with Ziibwing Cultural Center, Alden B. Dow Home & Studio, Cranbrook Art Museum and Wayne State University Press.
 
~ July – Sept. 2005 (Reception Gallery 1st Floor))
ARCHITECTURE ON PAPER
From our permanent collection (e.g. Piranesi, Platt, Frantz), and maybe a couple of nice things borrowed from other places or individuals. OR, possibly an exhibition of architectural plans/blueprints and family photos of Ring family and their home and garden, coordinating with centennial of the mansion.
 
~ September 22, 2005 – January 8, 2006
MEXICO: ART AND CIVILIZATION
The folk and fine art specifically of Mexico celebrating the color and visually astonishing array of their cultural history and people. Special events/music/food associated with the reception and during Dia de los Muertos, National Hispanic Month, Anniversary of Virgin of Guadalupe and throughout the Feliz Navidad seasons, in extensive collaboration with several hispanic Michigan governmental, educational and private cultural organizations and individuals. This show will be one component of Saginaw’s host city role in statewide festivities under the auspices of the Michigan Commission on Spanish Speaking Affairs, and the Mexican Consul in Detroit.
 
2006
~ January 19 – March 5, 2006
VACLAV VACA: VISIONARY SURREALIST
(A Retrospective 1975 – 2005)
50 oil paintings in traditional technique, representing 30 years of art by Toronto based Czech ex-patriot/devout Roman Catholic artist Vaclav Vaca (pronounced “Vatslaf Vasa”), a former danseuse with the Czech ballet who fled Soviet Communism seeking asylum in Canada. The paintings are essentially spiritual (though not literally religious) or even mystical surrealism, a veristic form of representational art. Medium in scale, and painted in accordance with the most traditional technical manner.
 
~ March 15 – June 15, 2006
THE INVENTIONS OF LEONARDO DA VINCI
An exhibition lent by The Exhibition Alliance (New York State) from the IBM collections they were given, some of which were shown here in 1988. 16 working Da Vinci models plus graphics, supplemented with other models built by Michigan art, science, technical and engineering students, plus an attempt to engage retired tool and die Union workers.
 
~ May – July 2006 (Reception Gallery)
SAGINAW JAPANESE TEA HOUSE ANNIVERSARY COMMEMORATION
This will be an exhibition of several unique Japanese treasures owned by local collectors, coordinated under the auspices Mrs. Yoko Mossner to recognize the 25th anniversary of our Tea House.
 
~ July - September
SAGINAW ART MUSEUM 3RD MICHIGAN INVITATIONAL – PHOTOGRAPHY
3rd annual invitational exhibition continuing All-Area tradition, focus on Michigan photography in all its forms.
 
~ September – December
PROTEST POSTERS OF THE COUNTER CULTURE
150 posters from the sole existing most comprehensive collection of American works, maintained by Michael Rossman, founding member (with Mario Savio) of the Free Speech Movement at UC Berkeley, lifelong K-12 Natural Science teacher, and author. To include a day-long colloquium/panel discussion with (possibly) 3-5 experts in the field: e.g. Bobby Seale of the “Chicago Seven”, a representative of US armed forces veterans, contemporary poster artists from Lansing/Ann Arbor, and Michigan’s own John Sinclair.
 
 2007
~ January – March
ROECKER AND MICHIGAN MODERNISM 1920-1950
(working title)
An examination of Michigan modernist painting, sculpture and work on paper by Julia and Henry Roecker, and approximately 50 other artists from the SAM permanent collection, local private collections and other regional museums. To be co-curated with Jean Beach, and having a modest academic publication.
 
~ March – May
OSPREY: CELEBRATION OF LIFE
(A Survey 1985 – 2006)
An exhibition of 20 pedestal-scale bronze cast sculpture in contemporary mythological themes as interpreted by this California artist. It will be her first museum exhibition. It will include a photographic display, a film, plaster castings and works in progress, and two large banners showing her completed monuments.
 
~ June – August
SAGINAW ART MUSEUM 4TH MICHIGAN INVITATIONAL – DECORATIVE ARTS
Focus on furniture and the entire gamut of Michigan regional decorative arts.
 
~ September – December
THE MYSTICAL ARTS OF TIBET
Borrowed from the Richard Gere & Drepung Loseling Foundation, the exhibitions will include their sand painting mandala (with opening and closing ceremonies), a lecture by a Tibetan monk, and a photography exhibit of 20 pieces.
 
2008
~ January – March, 2008
AMERICAN SURREALIST INITIATIVE
Works of art by 100 –150 American and neighboring artists, on the theme of veristic (aka true to life, surrealist) Surrealism, one work of art by each artist.
 
~ March – June, 2008
CRYSTAL FOREST: LOIS TEICHER (A RETROSPECTIVE 1979-2008)
About 30 geometric works (one per year), very large and pedestal-scale, in painted fabricated steel and/or aluminum by this established but little-recognized DetroIt artist. One of her public commissions is featured prominently at Flint’s Bishop Airport.
 
~ June – September, 2008
SAGINAW ART MUSEUM 5th ANNUAL MICHIGAN INVITATIONAL - PAINTING
The 2008 invitational will be devoted to the art of painting in Michigan, in all its forms.
 
~ September 13 – November 9, 2008
LIFE AS LEGEND: MARILYN MONROE
268 works by 80 international artists (including Andy Warhol, Richard Avedon, Henri Cartier-Bresson) in various media on the topic of Marilyn Monroe, exclusive showing throughout Michigan and Toledo region, published catalogue, toured by International Art & Artists, and curated by Artoma, Hamburg Germany.
 
~ November 2008 – February 2009
THE SCULPTURE OF JOHN CAVANAUGH
4O years of bronze sculpture (40-50 objects) by John Cavanaugh, cost-free ($15,000 value!) exhibition sponsored by The John Cavanaugh Foundation, Washington, DC. It may be shown elsewhere in Michigan at Dennos and/or Kalamazoo. The artist’s work is figurative, in the expressionst tradition, and internationally extremely well-respected among art museums. This tip-offer came to us as a result of Accreditation and accelerated professional standards at this museum.
 
2009
~ March – April 2009
LUMINOUS LIFE: JESSICA DUNNE (A RETROSPECTIVE 1975 – 2008)
This will be a 33-year examination of American still-life, urban and rural landscape paintings and prints by a San Francisco artist whose career has quietly advanced tremendously in the past ten years. She is a daughter of the late Phillip Dunne, at one time a Black-listed Oscar winning screenwriter . Her husband is a world-famous surfer, and Oncologist.
 
~ September – December, 2009
COSTUMES AND REGALIA
This would be our season-opener “blockbuster” focusing on costumes and regalia of all kinds and cultures, to include a Fashion Show, borrowing from local and national collections, and engaging the fashion industry and communities at the highest level.