The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art : Activities on Wed, 11/20/13

Curators' Talks - Impressionist France Crossfire Talks On Canvas and In Camera  1:30 p.m. | Meets at Gallery L13 Entrance Exhibition ticket required

The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art : Start Planning Thanksgiving at the Nelson

Thanksgiving Weekend: Family Performance Family-Friendly Cabaret Performance - Friday, November 29th 5-6 p.m. | Atkins Auditorium Repeats 7-8 p.m. Tickets required | FREE

The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art : Impressionist France!

Impressionist France: Visions of Nation from Le Gray to Monet 

Tickets Required | Members See it Free! Adults: $8 Seniors over 55: $7 Students: $5 Children 12 and under: Free Members: Free (Discount will appear in Cart) Tickets are valid all day for the date of your visit.

The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art : STORY TIME FOR PRESCHOOLERS !

Story Time for Preschoolers at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art
The Second Sunday of the month!
November 10th
December 8th

The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art : Artist's Talk with Maya Lin (11/15/13)

Maya Lin on November 15th, 2013
Don't miss out on this Artist Talk : 6-7PM at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art
BIO: Celebrated landscape artist, architect, designer and environmentalist, Maya Lin discusses a career exploring the power of environment and ecology—issues addressed in the museum’s recent acquisition of her work, Silver Missouri.

Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art: Day of the Dead Family Festival

Family Event: Sunday, November 3rd , 1-4PM
FREE!

PARKING
Free off-site parking and shuttle service will be available at MRI Global, 425 Volker Boulevard. Shuttles will run every 10-15 minutes and will drop off/pick up visitors at North Nichols Plaza. 

PERFORMANCES AND ACTIVITIES

NELSON-ATKINS BUILDING

Day of the Dead Altar Installation
Kirkwood Hall | Plaza Level  Noon-5 p.m.
Experience the installation honoring artists Frida Khalo and Diego Rivera and created by Mattie Rhodes Center, local artists and teens. Follow the flowers on the floor and place your own remembrance on the community altar.

1-1:10 p.m.
The celebration kicks off with a special welcome and thank you to our community partners.

1:10-1:30 & 2:40-3 p.m. 
Listen to Maria Vasquez Boyd and Jose Faus, members of the Latino Writers Collective, read works by and inspired by Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera. 

2-2:30 p.m.
Enjoy performances by the talented students from Mariachi Azteca Juvenil of Alta Vista Charter.

El Grupo Atotonilco Mexican Folkloric Dance
Atkins Auditorium | Lobby Level  FREE | Tickets required | Click here to request tickets
1:30-2:30 p.m.
Enjoy traditional dances from across Mexico with El Grupo Atotonilco, a Mexican folkloric dance group made up of dancers of all ages.

BLOCH LOBBY 1-4 p.m.
Pick up a print by The Print Factory, fresh off their mobile printing press. While supplies last.
2-3 p.m.
Delight in the Mariachi music of Los Musicos.
3-4 p.m.
Dance the cumbia or rumba to the acoustic stylings of Trio Aztlan.

NOGUCHI COURT | Bloch Building, Lobby Level
1-1:30 & 2:30-3 p.m.
Enjoy stories inspired by Mexican culture with storyteller Joyce Slater of the Kansas City Storytelling Celebration during this special story time for preschoolers.

FORD LEARNING CENTER | Nelson-Atkins Building, Lobby Level
1-4 p.m.
Classrooms 4 & 5Create your own calavera, or Day of the Dead skull mask.
Classroom 3Learn how to make papel picado with artist Xanath Caraza.
Classroom 2 
Decorate a tiny sugar skull to take home with you.

FOOD
Rozzelle Court Restaurant
Plaza Level, Nelson-Atkins Building
12-4 p.m.
Enjoy a la carte brunch or an afternoon snack in Rozzelle Court. Kid-friendly options available.
Mexican FoodBloch Lobby
1-4 p.m. | $2-$5
Savor tacos and other Mexican-inspired fare available for purchase.

SPECIAL THANKS
The museum is grateful to the following participants for contributing their talent and expertise to this celebration:Alta Vista CharterEl Grupo Atotonilco Guadalupe Centers, Inc.Joyce Slater of the Kansas City Storytelling CelebrationMaria Vasquez Boyd and Josי Faus of the Latino Writers Collective Mattie Rhodes CenterMexican ConsulateLos Musicos MariachisThe Print FactoryTrio Aztlan

The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art : Discover European & American Decorative Arts

F88-34 | European and American Decorative Arts

Stained Glass - American

John La Farge , American , 1835-1910
Peonies Blowing in the Wind, 1889

Stained glass
Unframed: 56 1/2 x 26 1/2 inches (143.51 x 67.31 cm) Framed: 70 x 39 1/2 inches (177.8 x 100.33 cm)

Gift of the Enid and Crosby Kemper Foundation

Gallery Location: 216

Plan Your Visit

Admission is FREE
Open Wednesday-Sunday
4525 Oak St, Kansas City, MO 64111
Program Tickets: 816.751.1278

Hours

Wed, 10 a.m.–4 p.m.
Thurs/Fri, 10 a.m.–9 p.m.
Sat, 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
Sun, Noon–5 p.m.

The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art : ISLAMIC ART & Contemporary Artists

August 31, 2013–April 27, 2014

Location: Bloch Building, Gallery L8
Admission is FREE

What is Islamic Art? How do contemporary artists respond to Islamic art and culture in their own work? This exhibition will explore these questions through a series visual conversations that make connections across cultures, geography and time.

The installation will juxtapose historical objects and architecture with works by contemporary artists that employ traditional Islamic styles, materials and subject matter as their source. Framed beneath the Museum's stunning 17th century Persian mosaic arch, visitors will see how contemporary artists are drawing upon their cultural and visual past to explore personal, political, and aesthetic concerns.

The artistic achievements of traditional Islamic art will be represented by works in the Nelson-Atkins permanent collection, including examples of calligraphy, ceramics, paintings, carpets and architectural forms. Contemporary art works include sculpture, video, photography, paintings, ceramics and digital collage, by internationally recognized artists such as: Shahzia Sikander and Rashid Rana.

Echoes is part of a city–wide collaborative project focusing on Islamic art and culture, featuring exhibitions, artists' residencies and public programming at The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, the Kansas City Artists Coalition, and the Kansas City Public Library.

Plan Your Visit

Admission is FREE
Open Wednesday-Sunday
4525 Oak St, Kansas City, MO 64111
Program Tickets: 816.751.1278

Hours

Wed, 10 a.m.–4 p.m.
Thurs/Fri, 10 a.m.–9 p.m.
Sat, 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
Sun, Noon–5 p.m

The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art - Edgar Degas Pastels

EDGAR DEGAS PASTELS
September 25, 2013–July 20, 2014
Location: Gallery P31 Admission is FREE.

Two exceptional pastels by the Impressionist master Edgar Degas will be on view in the Impressionist gallery (P31) for a limited time only! Edgar Degas (1834-1917) was one of the founding members of the Impressionists, a group of avant-garde artists including Claude Monet, Camille Pissarro, and Auguste Renoir who were interested in depicting subjects from modern life. Degas was especially drawn to the human figure and dedicated a large part of his artistic production to images of Parisian women. In the 1880s he began representing women at work, whether dancers, laundresses, cabaret performers, or hat makers, as with Little Milliners. During this time he also created an intimate series of pastels that feature women washing and drying themselves, such as After the Bath. These exquisite pastels reveal Degas' keen observation of everyday moments. His figures are caught off guard, often in awkward poses, their movements broken down to convey the underlying rhythms of their actions and gestures. Come see these masterpieces of 19th-century art during this rare display, which for reasons of preservation will not be repeated again for several years.
Admission is FREE
Open Wednesday-Sunday
4525 Oak St, Kansas City, MO 64111
Program Tickets: 816.751.1278

Hours

Wed, 10 a.m.–4 p.m.

Thurs/Fri, 10 a.m.–9 p.m.
Sat, 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
Sun, Noon–5 p.m.

The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art: IMPRESSIONIST FRANCE

Impressionist France (October 19, 2013 - February 9, 2014)
Featured Exhibition Tickets Required | Members See it Free! Adults: $8 Seniors over 55: $7 Students: $5 Children 12 and under: Free Members: Free (Discount will appear in Cart) Tickets are valid all day for the date of your visit.

Experience the pleasure and excitement of traveling through mid-19th century France. From Paris to the countryside; the top of Mont Blanc to the Mediterranean, this exhibition features 125 important paintings and photographs, from 36 major museums.

This exhibition has been co-organized by The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art and Saint Louis Art Museum. Support is provided by the Hall Family Foundation, Marion and Henry Bloch, Barton P. and Mary D. Cohen Charitable Trust, James Sight and Dr. Heidi Harman, Donald J. Hall, Tom and Jean McDonnell, The Manuel Rivera-Ortiz Foundation for Documentary Photography & Film, and the Campbell-Calvin Fund and Elizabeth C. Bonner Charitable Trust for exhibitions. Additional support has been provided by the Honorary Committee.

This exhibition is supported by the National Endowment for the Arts and an indemnity from the Federal Council on the Arts and the Humanities.  

FAMILY NIGHT at The Nelson-Atkins Museum Under Arabian Skies

Celebration of Art, Science and Astronomy
Saturday, September 21 | 5-9PM

SAVE THE DATE: Sept. 21 The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art FAMILY NIGHT

Under Arabian Skies
Sat 09/21/13

A Celebration of Art, Science and Astronomy from the Islamic World

5-9 p.m. | Donald J. Hall Sculpture Park and Gallery L8

Join us for a special after-hours celebration of Islamic art, the fall equinox and more!  Explore the Donald J. Hall Sculpture Park and the exhibition Echoes: Islamic Art and Contemporary Artists, on view in the Project Space through April 27, 2014.

EVENING EVENTS
All programs are FREE. Please reserve a ticket where noted T.

The Light of the Dark Ages: Art and Science in the Islamic World
5-5:30 p.m. |Atkins Auditorium | Nelson-Atkins Building | T
Curator Kimberly Masteller explores the manuscripts, objects and instruments created by artists and scientists in the Islamic lands that preserved and expanded our knowledge of the earth and the heavens in the Middle Ages.

The Print Factory
5:30-7:30 p.m. | North Nichols Plaza | Donald J. Hall Sculpture Park
Pick up a special print by The Print Factory, fresh of their mobile press, as you experience the Pakistani cargo truck created by artist Asheer Akram.

Glowing Night Parade presented by StoneLion Puppet Theatre
7:30-8:30 p.m. | North Nichols Plaza | Donald J. Hall Sculpture Park
StoneLion Puppet Theatre returns for another puppet show of giant proportions! Discover Assad, the Lion constellation, and other figures during this glow-in-the dark night parade. Join the dance party after the parade!

Stargazing in the Sculpture Park
7:30-9 p.m. | North Nichols Plaza | Donald J. Hall Sculpture Park
Explore the night sky with the Kansas City Astronomical Society.

Discover more inside!
BLOCH BUILDING | Lobby Level | 5-9 p.m.
- Create a star-studded noisemaker and watch it glow as you follow the parade.
- Experiment with planispheres, or paper star charts.
- View an elaborate replica of a Mughal folio, a decorated album of calligraphy and miniature painting from northern India.

FOOD
Bloch Lobby
4:30-8 p.m.
$2-$5
Savor chicken kebabs, baba ghannouj, baklava and more while you enjoy the festivities outside. Halal option available.

For this after-hours event, please enter the museum through the Bloch Building. In case of inclement weather, all activities will move indoors.
Programming is supported by the Hall Family Foundation and the Doris Duke Foundation for Islamic Art.

The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art : ECHOES of Islamic Art Exhibition

August 31, 2013–March 30, 2014

Location: Bloch Building, Gallery L8
Admission is FREE

What is Islamic Art? How do contemporary artists respond to Islamic art and culture in their own work? This exhibition will explore these questions through a series visual conversations that make connections across cultures, geography and time.

The installation will juxtapose historical objects and architecture with works by contemporary artists that employ traditional Islamic styles, materials and subject matter as their source. Framed beneath the Museum's stunning 17th century Persian mosaic arch, visitors will see how contemporary artists are drawing upon their cultural and visual past to explore personal, political, and aesthetic concerns.

The artistic achievements of traditional Islamic art will be represented by works in the Nelson-Atkins permanent collection, including examples of calligraphy, ceramics, paintings, carpets and architectural forms. Contemporary art works include sculpture, video, photography, paintings, ceramics and digital collage, by internationally recognized artists such as: Shahzia Sikander and Rashid Rana.

Echoes is part of a city–wide collaborative project focusing on Islamic art and culture, featuring exhibitions, artists' residencies and public programming at The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, the Kansas City Artists Coalition, and the Kansas City Public Library

The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art - AFRICAN ART COLLECTION

AFRICAN ART COLLECTION

The African collection comprises approximately 300 objects that are diverse in form and in media. Masks, sculptures, hair combs, headrests, textiles and vessels are among the many types of works represented; media include fiber, metal, wood, beads and clay.

While the African collection exemplifies formal beauty, it also represents the historical range of objects created by cultures south of the Sahara Desert. Most of the artworks were created by artists living in West and Central Africa, primarily the countries of Mali, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Nigeria, Cameroon, Gabon and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

The Nelson-Atkins’ collection of African art began in earnest in 1958 with the purchase of two 17th-century cast brass artworks from the Benin kingdom in Nigeria; a representation of a ruler’s head made to be placed on a shrine and a figurative plaque that originally adorned palace walls.

About 50 works in the collection are among the best examples of African art in the world. These include a royal Stool with embossed silver decorations from the Asante peoples of Ghana; a superb Standing Male Figure calm in stature and arresting in presence made by a Hemba artist from the Democratic Republic of the Congo; an impressive Royal Beaded Throne created by a Bansoa artist in the Bamileke kingdom of Cameroon; a Female Mask (Kifwebe), rare for its attached fiber costume made by Songye artists in the Democratic Republic of the Congo; a stunning shrine figure carved by a Baga artist in Guinea; and a reliquary figure exceptional for its double face, relatively large size and three types of metal made by a Kota artist in Gabon.

The oldest work in the collection is a rare and stunning terra-cotta Horse and Rider made by an artist of the Djenne culture in Mali that dates from the 16th century. Conversely, the most recent work is a beautiful vessel with smooth contours and elegant lines created by the renowned Kenyan-born ceramicist Magdalene Odundo that dates from 1994.

The Museum boasts a small collection of art from East and South Africa, including an exquisite, life-like mask carved by a Yao artist from Tanzania and two sumptuously beaded capes created by Zulu artists in the country of South Africa.

The collection also includes a fine, diverse group of Kuba textiles produced by men and women in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
*Admission is FREE
Open Wednesday-Sunday
4525 Oak St, Kansas City, MO 64111

The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art: FREE {August 19, 2013}

FAUNO ROSSO

June 22–September 29, 2013

Location: Nelson-Atkins Building, Kirkwood Hall
On loan from the city of Rome
Admission is FREE.

He is an unkempt creature of the wild, with shaggy hair and goat-like characteristics–pointed ears, a short tail and dewlaps–and he is delighted to raise high a cluster of freshly picked grapes. The red–marble Fauno rosso, a spectacular example of ancient Roman sculpture, will be on view for the first time ever in America, thanks to a new relationship between the city of Rome and the Nelson-Atkins. Through September 30, visitors to The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art can view the sculpture in Kirkwood Hall, which has been transformed into a classic Roman palazzo.

The loan is part of a program of exchanges and cultural events that was launched with the support of the Embassy of Italy in 2011, called The Dream of Rome, a collaboration between the Capitoline Museums in Rome, Enel Green Power and the Knights of Columbus. Through The Dream of Rome, some of Rome's masterpieces will be on display in Washington, D.C., San Francisco, New York, Los Angeles, Boston and Kansas City.

The great Emperor of Rome Hadrian commissioned theFauno rosso, and it was most likely sculpted by Aristeas and Papias of Aphrodisias in modern-day Turkey. Pope Benedict XIV Lambertini gave the sculpture to the Capitoline Museum in 1746, and the Capitoline is now lending the sculpture to the Nelson-Atkins.

The Fauno rosso depicts a satyr, follower of Dionysus, the god of wine. The entire sculpture is of red marble, rather than the commonly used white marble, and seems to suggest that the subject is so drunk that his skin has turned into the color of the grapes. To his left is a goat that looks up at him and rests one leg on a wicker basket. The Fauno rosso's eyes would have been of glass or brilliant stone (the sockets have been hollowed out to receive them) and would have been sparkling with life and energy. This exhibit is also one of the highlights of 2013 – Year of Italian Culture in the U.S., an initiative launched by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and held under the auspices of the President of the Italian Republic, showcasing the best of Italy through over 200 events, in more than 50 American cities.

DON'T MISS ! Last week of Modern Mexico Exhibit at the Nelson Atkins Museum of Art !

More than 100 paintings, sculptures, photographs and drawings by artists such as Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera showcase the rich artistic traditions of the Mexico of yesterday and celebrate the vitality of Mexican art today. Never before seen in this region, art from the Gelman collection includes a variety of subject matter and styles that range from the figurative to the surreal, the abstract and the conceptual. Share in the passion that inspired this exceptional private collection of Mexican art.

The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art! {August 5, 2013}

Self-Guide Tours: The Art of Fashion
"The visual arts are often the best window in times past," Self-Guide Tour Brochure

The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art provides informative and fun brochures to self guide through the museum.

The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art! {July 29, 2013)

As I just finished this delightful romance, I pulled out my brochure for the Nelson-Atkins Self-Guided Tour and wandered the romantic halls of the museum: "Art Affair FEELING ROMANTIC."

The Nelson-Atkins is located at 45th and Oak Streets, Kansas City, MO. Hours are Wednesday, 10 a.m.–4 p.m.; Thursday/Friday, 10 a.m.–9 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m.–5 p.m.; Sunday, Noon–5 p.m. Admission to the museum is free to everyone. For museum information, phone 816.751.1ART (1278) or visit nelson-atkins.org.

The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art ! {July 22, 2013}

Luke, our doxie, awaits his tour of the Nelson-Atkins. We discovered a brochure from the Nelson-Atkins Museum featuring Otto and Farkus guiding you to all the dogs and cats represented in the art collection.

You can pick up the brochure of a self-guided tour at the information booths at the Nelson: "Paws FOR ART"

The Nelson-Atkins is located at 45th and Oak Streets, Kansas City, MO. Hours are Wednesday, 10 a.m.–4 p.m.; Thursday/Friday, 10 a.m.–9 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m.–5 p.m.; Sunday, Noon–5 p.m. Admission to the museum is free to everyone. For museum information, phone 816.751.1ART (1278) or visit nelson-atkins.org.

The Nelson Atkins Museum of Art - FAMILY NIGHT JULY 19th !

FIESTA IN THE PARK - July 19th 5-9PM *FREE*