News from Fort Wayne Museum of Art

Take advantage of MUSEUM DAY
Smithsonian Magazine's 4th Annual Museum Day
Saturday, Sept. 27

10am -- 5pm
WHERE: At the FWMoA & nearly 900 other participating Museums across the country!

Celebrate the Smithsonian magazine's 4th Annual Museum Day, which offers free admission to Smithsonian magazine readers and Smithsonian.com visitors on Saturday, September 27, 2008 at participating locations. The event emulates the "open-door" policy of the Smithsonian Institution's Washington, DC-based facilities and celebrates culture, learning and knowledge.

The general public is welcome to attend, but must present the Museum Day Admission Card to gain free entry to participating institutions. Each card provides museum access to two people, and one admission card is permitted per household.
The Museum Day Admission Card is now available in the September issue of Smithsonian magazine and a downloadable version is available at www.smithsonian.com/museumday.

Listings and links to participating museums' and sponsors' sites, can also be found at www.smithsonian.com/museumday.

Call for Critiques
Saturday, September 20
Noon-3:30PM
FREE
ADVANCE RSVP REQUIRED

Get out of the studio to convene with creative colleagues!

Open critiques are based on constructive feedback and each artist will be allowed time for a meaningful critique. The environment will be open, informal and friendly-please form your comments accordingly!

In order to adequately and meaningfully provide critiques, it is important to examine the actual piece. Each artist is limited to 3 artworks maximum.

Eligibility: Any local/regional artist 18 years and older.

ADVANCE RSVP is required. There will be NO WALK-INS. Space is limited so contact Amanda Martin TODAY at 422.6467, ext 322 or martin@fwmoa.org.


In the Galleries: Contemporary American Realism: 2008 Biennial

September 13 - November 2, 2008
Sponsored by: the Miriam and Ian Rolland Family Foundation and in part by Designer Craftsman Guild

America has enjoyed a long, rich history of Realist art from colonial times to the present. The FWMoA is pleased to expand the discourse on this enduring tradition by presenting Contemporary American Realism: 2008 Biennial, an exhibition which represents the current trends in Realist painting, sculpture, and drawing from across the country. Over 100 artists from 28 different states will explore this seemingly narrow focus through a stunning vast range of ideas, approaches, styles, and subject matter.

Contemporary American Realism: 2008 Biennial will be accompanied by an exhibition catalogue with essays from distinguished scholars Dr. Annette Blaugrund and Dr. Donald Kuspit.

Opening Reception & Lecture
Friday, September 12, 2008
FREE

6:30pm Announcement of Awards and Lecture by 2008 Biennial Juror Carl Little
7:30pm Reception (Galleries will open at 6:30pm)

Catering by Tony Ficaro of Splendid Fare
RSVP to Brian Wagner at 422.6467, ext 341 or wagner@fwmoa.org prior to September 10th.

Silver members and above are invited to join Executive Director Charles Shepard for a Preview Cocktail Party at 5:30pm in the main gallery. RSVP to Brian Wagner at 422.6467, ext 341 or wagner@fwmoa.org prior to September 10th.

Realism Symposium
American Realism Explored:A Symposium

Join us at the FWMoA's first symposium devoted to highlighting current academic trends and furthering analytical examination of American art.

Saturday, October 11, 2008
10am -- 4pm
Doors open at 9:15am

$5 FWMoA members / $10 non-members
Lunch included & catered by Lindi Miller of Deli 620.

REGISTRATION REQUIRED prior to October 8.
Please contact Sarah at 422.6467, ext 323 or Aubrey@fwmoa.org to register and for additional information or questions.

Schedule of Events:
10am: Welcome and Introduction
Charles A. Shepard III, FWMoA Executive Director

10:30am: American Realism: An Art History of an Obsession and a Practice
Dr. Erika Doss, Chairperson, Department of American Studies at the University of Notre Dame

Lunch and Networking

1pm: Lincoln Kirstein, Modernist Realism and the Edwin Hewitt Gallery Dr. Robert Cozzolino, Curator of Modern Art at the
Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts

2:30pm: American Realism Explored: A Panel of 2008 Biennial Artists
Moderated by Amanda Martin, 2008 Biennial Artist and
FWMoA Assistant Curator of Adult Education

Conclusion