The Blog

Double Take

December 8, 2011

As many Penn students and staffers know, the campus is brimming with sculpture and fine art for the community to enjoy.   But these works are not just limited to our fine cultural intuitions such as ICA, the Penn Museum and the Arthur Ross Gallery.  Next time you are out and about, keep your eyes peeled because the University art collection is all around—from the famous Claes Oldenburg Split Button and the LOVE sculpture, to the lesser known gems you might stroll past everyday.  Right now you just might be reading this blog while sitting on a stone bench by famed artist Jenny Holzer!  Who knew? ARG director and University Curator Lynn Marsden-Atlass has expertly mined university collection for the latest Arthur Ross Gallery exhibition, Double Take, Series Multiples and Prints.  This exhibition is a must-see series of prints by 20th-century masters, including Salvador Dali, Audrey Flack, Donald Judd, Henry Moore, Robert Motherwell, Louise Nevelson, Robert Rauschenberg, and James Rosenquist are featured in the show—all straight from Penn’s collection!  This is the second University collection show at ARG, and there is still so much to discover.  Several works on view, such as the Dürer prints, have been recently conserved or brought out from storage, so it is a rare opportunity to see these works in the Gallery setting. And remember that after you visit the Gallery, the University collection is all around.  Here are a few of our faves that are well worth a visit: Jenny Holzer “125 Years” (2003), Between 33rd & 34th Streets south of Chestnut. Harry Bertoia “Homage to Performing Arts” (1975), Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts, Lobby. Wharton Esherick “Theodore Dreiser Table” (1928), Currently in the Architectural Archives (appointment may be necessary). Alexander Calder “Jerusalem Stabile” (designed 1976, installed 1979), outside the School of Design. Robert Engman “After Iyengar” (1976), Chemistry Building Lobby. Nick Vidnovic “Untitled” (1986), Steinberg / Dietrich Atrium. Pierre August-Renoir “Venus” (c. 1915), College Hall 1st Floor Lobby. Messinger, “Shocking Sunlight”, Nursing Education Building Upper Lobby. Seward Johnson, “Consultation” (5 Figures), Outdoor sculpture, Presbyterian Hospital. Christopher Ray, “Phoenixture” (1975), Outdoor sculpture, Presbyterian Hospital. Daniel Dalseth, The Archaeology of Attainment (2004), Left Bank Building, Hallway by Elevator. Coming up Next Blog: In Material: Fiber 2012, featuring artists Mi-Kyoung Lee, Cynthia Schira, Lucy Arai, and Sonya Clark, opens on January 27, 2012. Also, be on the lookout for  “Game Night!” coming to the Arthur Ross Gallery on February 15, 2012.  Student game clubs are invited to bring their games of choice, from scrabble, to chess, to Twister, and ARG will supply the snacks.  Fun for all!