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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 28, 2008

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

Including Films on the Façade, six new exhibitions,
and workshops for children and adults

Ithaca, NY—The Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art at Cornell University announces its exhibition and program schedule for Summer 2008.

Films on the Façade returns for two summer nights of al fresco movies and free popcorn. On Saturday, June 14 at 9:00 p.m., see the family favorite Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit. On Saturday, August 9 at 9:00 p.m., spend a night at our museum and see Night at the Museum, starring Ben Stiller and an all-star cast.

All are welcome at the Museum’s annual summer party on Friday, July 11 from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. The party will include refreshments, live music, and lots of art. Stay for the free concert by HotFoot Club on the Arts Quad at 7:30 p.m.

EXHIBITION AND PROGRAM SCHEDULE
Programs/participants are subject to change. All events are free of charge unless noted.

Something Old/Something New: Gifts from Alumni   Through July 27
In celebration of this year’s Cornell Reunion classes, this exhibition highlights a wide variety of gifts to the Museum’s collection in the areas of contemporary art and works on paper.

Shared Experience: The Steven Barbash Collection   June 28–September 14
Well-known artist and local resident Steven Barbash has collected American works on paper and paintings from the 1950s to the present, many of which came to the collector as exchanges with fellow artists such as Michael Mazur and Robert Birmelin. 

Ithaca Collects   June 28–August 17
Celebrating a passion for living with art, this exhibition presents a remarkable range of works from around the world, gathered by local private collectors.

Remembering Steam Locomotives: Photographs by Frank Barry   June 28–August 17
For over forty years, Frank Barry has traveled all over the world photographing the demise of the steam locomotive, a conveyance that Barry clearly appreciates. This exhibition will highlight works from his personal archive.

• Photographer Frank Barry will give a free tour of this exhibition on Thursday, July 10 at 12:00 noon as part of our Art for Lunch series.

Aesthetics of Mended Japanese Ceramics   June 28–August 17
In Japan, when prized ceramics, especially those associated with the tea ceremony, were broken or damaged, the objects would be mended using gold and lacquer. This exhibition, featuring tea bowls and utensils of the Momoyama and Edo periods, provides insight into a uniquely Japanese approach to connoisseurship and appreciation for imperfect beauty. Organized by the Museum of Lacquer Art, Muenster, Germany.

• Ellen Avril, curator of Asian art, will give a free tour of this exhibition on Thursday, July 24 at 12:00 noon as part of our Art for Lunch series.

Ithaca Ceramics   July 5–August 10
The latest in the Johnson Museum’s ongoing series of exhibitions that underscore the vitality of Ithaca’s art scene, this exhibition highlights the creativity and innovation of area artists working with clay.

• Learn more about the art of ceramics at our family-friendly Articipation event on Saturday, July 19 from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m.

• Local artist and guest curator Eric Serritella will give a free tour of this exhibition on Thursday, August 7 at 12:00 noon as part of our Art for Lunch series.

Mary Ellen Mark: The Prom Series   August 9–October 26
Over the past few years, Mary Ellen Mark has been photographing that quintessential high school rite of passage, the prom, or what Francine Prose has called “a rehearsal for a wedding.” In June 2008, Mark will record couples at the Ithaca High School prom, as she has been photographing proms all around the country, at high schools that vary as much as our public school systems and show a cross culture of teenagers on the cusp of adulthood.

SUMMER WORKSHOPS at the Johnson Museum

To register for any workshop, please call 255-6464.

Chinese Brush Painting
Fridays for 5 weeks: June 20, 27, July 11, 18, 25
3:00–4:30 p.m.
Join master painter Jim Hardesty for this Museum favorite. All skill levels and ages are welcome.
FEES: $63 Museum Members / $71 nonmembers; plus materials fee: $7 for returning students / $17 for new students. Registration and payment are required by 5:00 p.m. on June 16 to reserve a space.

Raku Pottery
Saturday, July 26 at the Museum and
Saturday, August 2 at the artist’s studio
1:00–5:00 p.m. each session
Raku pottery is created with a daring firing process that uses fire and smoke to create unique patterns and designs. Participants in this two-session workshop will create their own vessel inspired by works featured in Ithaca Ceramics and the Museum’s collection, and will travel to the artist’s studio for the raku firing. Ceramic artist Jeremiah Donovan, associate professor of art at SUNY Cortland, will conduct the workshop.
FEES: $45 Members/$55 nonmembers; plus $20 materials fee. Space is limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis. Registration and payment are required by 5:00 p.m. on July 18 to reserve a space.

Summer Art Camp: Explore Media
Monday, August 25–Friday, August 29
9:00 a.m.–12:00 noon (ages 6-8) with Debbie Roth
1:00–4:00 p.m. (for ages 9-11) with Annemarie Zwack
Inspired by the Museum’s collections and special exhibitions, explore a variety of media and techniques in these engaging workshops led by teaching artists.
FEES: $95 for Members/$105 for nonmembers. Registration and payment are required by 5:00 p.m. on August 18 to reserve a place. Children should bring their own snack. Space is limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis.

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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