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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
REVISED May 1, 2006

PRESS CONTACT:   
Andrea Potochniak
607 254-4563
arp37@cornell.edu

Celebrate Rembrandt's Birthday at the Johnson Museum

Ithaca — The Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art at Cornell University will celebrate Rembrandt’s 400th Birthday on Sunday, May 7 from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. The event is free and open to the public, and is being held in conjunction with the exhibition Rembrandt at 400, on view at the Johnson through June 25. A shuttle from Cornell’s “A” lot will run from 1:30–4:15 p.m.

Rembrandt created close to 300 etchings in his lifetime, and those printed during his life are rare. Several in the exhibit are on museum display for the first time.

“We’re showcasing a facet of Rembrandt’s work that you rarely see, and doing it in a way that’s definitely not stuffy,” said Frank Robinson, Johnson Museum director and exhibit curator. “We’ve created an exhibit that’s as entertaining as it is informative.”

On May 7, visitors can sample Dutch treats as well as birthday cake and “Rembrandt Ripple” ice cream, created for the event by the award-winning Cornell Dairy, a blend of French vanilla ice cream, sweet cherry swirl, and rich dark-chocolate chunks.

Other highlights will include a costumed appearance by Rembrandt; an art activity for families; 17th-century Dutch music and poetry; a tour of the exhibition by Robinson, a noted Rembrandt scholar; and a presentation on Dutch tulips by Chad Miller, a Cornell graduate student in horticulture. Visitors are encouraged to BYOB (Bring Your Own Beret!) to wear when a commemorative photo is taken at the celebration.

May is Discovery Month on the Discovery Trail! Explore “The Science of Art” on Sunday, May 7 from 12:00–5:00 p.m. at the Sciencenter with fun, hands-on activities. A free shuttle will run between the Johnson and the Sciencenter from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m.

Rembrandt at 400 is one of five exhibitions on view this spring at the Johnson Museum:

• The Architect’s Brother (through June 11) presents photographs by Robert and Shana ParkeHarrison, which address environmental concerns in fantastic landscapes.
• The Novel Picture: Interactions Between Text and Image (through June 11) is curated by Cornell’s History of Art Majors’ Society, and showcases illustrations and other pairings of text and image.
• Afterburn—Willie Cole: Selected Works 1997–2004 (through May 28) features work by Cole, an African-American artist who transforms discarded domestic items into sculptures and prints that refer to African art and mythology.
• Modern Indian Art from the Zimmerman Collection (through June 11) displays paintings and drawings by founders and current practitioners of modern art in India, from the collection of a Cornell alumna who served in the Peace Corps in India in the 1960s.

The Johnson Museum has a permanent collection of over 30,000 works of art from Africa, Asia, Europe, and North and South America. The museum building was designed by I. M. Pei. Funds for the building were donated by Cornell alumnus Herbert F. Johnson, late president and chairman of S C Johnson. The building opened in 1973.

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The Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art, located on the campus of Cornell University, is open Tuesdays to Sundays from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Admission is free. The Museum is completely accessible for mobility-impaired visitors, and a wheelchair is available in the lobby. Metered parking is available in the lot next to the Museum. For more information, please call 607 255-6464. Visit the Museum’s website at  www.museum.cornell.edu. The Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art is a proud member of Ithaca’s Discovery Trail: www.DiscoveryTrail.com.

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