The College of Wooster Art Museum is currently showcasing two distinct collections.† One, Andy Warhol Photographs, 1975-1986, will be on display for the remainder of the semester.† The David and Karina Rilling Collection of African and Oceanic Art will be featured until April 19.
The Burton D. Morgan Gallery is featuring “Andy Warhol Photographs, 1975-1986.”† Wooster was one of 183 colleges and universities nationwide to receive Warhol photographs from the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, Inc.† Wooster’s collection features over 150 Polaroids and black and white prints, and approximately 60 are currently on display.† Warhol’s Polaroid images capture the personalities of period celebrities and society figures.† According to Director and Curator Kitty McManus Zurko, Warhol’s Polaroids served as “sketches” preceding his infamous silkscreen portraits.† Images range from household names ó like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar ó to less iconic personas.† The black-and-white images, on the other hand, capture candid moments of celebrity figures.† According to Associate Professor of Art History John Siewart, “These society pictures are autonomous works usually taken quickly and spontaneously … [they served as] a way of both seeing and maintaining a distance.”
Zurko’s excitement about the Warhol photographs was palpable.† “This exhibition came together so well,” she explained, “and I think it was a great addition to the permanent collection.”† Zurko† used the unique collection of photographs as a platform for curricular integration.† Students in Siewart’s Contemporary Art class, for example, each chose one of the subjects of the Warhol pieces to research and extracted information from their course assignments to provide context for the exhibit’s object labels.† In this sense, Wooster’s gallery spaces “function as labs,” says Zurko, for hands-on experience.† In addition, Professor of Theatre and Dance Kim Tritt’s Choreography class designed a dance piece inspired by the life and art of Andy Warhol.
The Andy Warhol exhibit will be the focal point of two upcoming events at The College of Wooster Art Museum.† Students enrolled in Siewart’s Contemporary Art class will present their research during a Gallery Walk on Wednesday, April 14, from 12-1 p.m. in the Morgan Gallery.† Tritt’s Choreography class will also perform a dance in the Gallery event on Wednesday, April 28 and Thursday, April 29 from 7-8 p.m.† Both events are free and open to the public.
Running in conjunction with the Warhol exhibit is a vast and diverse selection of African and Oceanic functional art from the David and Karina Rilling Collection.† The Rilling exhibition features contemporary pieces with traditional designs.† The Sussel Gallery showing juxtaposes pieces from Papua New Guinea, Nigeria, Mali, the CÙte d’Ivoire and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.† The exhibition showcases 21 pieces, which, according to Zurko’s curatorial statement displayed in the exhibition, were selected by Zurko and Professor of Studio Art Walter Zurko, “with consideration of how they would be utilized within Wooster’s curriculum.”
The Rilling collection features a diverse array of colors and materials that highlight the beautiful functionality characteristic of African and Oceanic Art.† The focal point of the collection, an elaborate and wildly colorful egungun masquerade fabric piece from Nigeria, provides an excellent counterpoint to the mellow earthtones of the remaining pieces.
The two gallery spaces present a visual disconnect that showcases the versatility and diversity of The College of Wooster Art Museum’s collection holdings.† The stark contrast between the iconic sparsity of Andy Warhol and the intricate and timeless motifs of African and Oceanic art run the gamut of what contemporary society considers “art.”† Though not an obvious pairing of exhibitions, Zurko’s curatorial eye showcases both collections effectively.† Moving from Warhol’s high-contrast black and white action prints to the muted tones of the Polaroid headshots allows the viewer to appreciate the essence of Warhol’s photographic style.† The minimalism of the Warhol images in conjunction with the decorative shapes of African and Oceanic art provides a visual feast for museum patrons.