If you haven't already made a note to self to hurry on over to Petaluma Arts Center post haste for this summer's fabulous visiting exhibition Edgar Degas The Private Impressionist, do so soon!
You don't have to be a fine art aficionado to appreciate a rare appearance of world famous art in your own home town — and when you consider the entrance fee for most exhibitions of this calibre, Petaluma Arts Center's suggested donation of $10 to view this extraordinary, private Degas collection, is affordable for all. Plan sufficient time to fully appreciate this inspirational and informative show.
Curator of the Royal Academy of Arts, London, Ann Dumas describes Robert Flynn Johnson, Curator Emeritus of the Achenbach Foundation for Graphic Arts, Fine Arts Museum of San Francisco (pictured above) as: "A true connoisseur. For more than 28 years, with passion, persistence, deep knowledge and an unnerving sense of when to seize an opportunity, he has been assembling a unique (Degas) collection".
Image courtesy of the private collection of Robert Flynn Johnson,
Robert enthralled attendees at a press conference preview of the show with an incredibly detailed insight into not only his remarkable collection of Degas works (mostly portraiture), but an overview of the sense of the creative spirit in Paris over a 40 to 50 year period from the 1860s through 1915.
Detailed notes accompany each of around 70 pieces of original art, a "quirky" collection, amassed one by one by a curator on a curator's salary over an actual 40 year period. "I couldn't possibly do it today," said Robert, who bought his first Degas drawing when he was assistant curator at the Baltimore Museum of Art. "It took me months to pay for," he said.
Robert Flynn Johnson deflected his role in the importance of this collection, though the crowd gathered for the press conference were clearly captivated by his story.
Standing outside of the Arts Center with Petaluma's famous skyline of a grain mill as backdrop, he remarked on the amazing good fortune of the exhibition coming to this small Sonoma County city. "Petaluma is punching way above its weight class," he said, as he outlined enormous efforts made to bring Degas to the gateway to wine country.
Christies Auction House helped, he helped and donors listed in a photo at the bottom of this post joined forces to provide initial funding. Special events and the nominal entrance fee won't cover the exhibition's considerable costs, so generous sponsorship from patrons of the arts is absolutely essential. "There are many individuals in this community who believed in this and I'm delighted that it's here," said Robert.
He described Degas as a: "Complex man, a man who had very strong opinions. This makes him endlessly interesting to read about and to try to understand".
Hilaire-Germain-Edgar Degas was born in France in July 19th, 1834 (he died in 1917). He was famous for his work in painting, sculpture, printmaking and drawing. Degas is considered one of the founders of Impressionism although he preferred to be called a realist. Over half of his works depicted dancers. His dancers, racecourse subjects and female nudes were and continue to be his most popular works, though his portraiture is respected in the art world as amongst the finest in history.
Robert Flynn Johnson collects the portraiture of Degas, whereas most collectors don't. He was an "opportunist collector" able to "go under the radar" with his purchases. In the 1970s, a Degas original drawing that wasn't a ballerina or a horse could be bought for $500. He had been a prolific artist. Drawn by its "spontaneity" and Degas' perception as a "sensitive observer", Robert has the greatest respect for Degas having done his work for himself, not for pleasing the public.
"He had a bit of J.D. Salinger in him. He was a very curious individual, a kind of misanthrope".
Degas never married or had children. He sold ballerina works in part to pay off the debts of his two bankrupted brothers. The artist was intent to save his family's aristocratic name from shame. He served in the French/Prussian War and was a staunch nationalist. After the war, he came to Louisiana where he stayed for a year in New Orleans.
He never bought property for a studio and moved around often. Degas never painted outdoors during his time in Louisiana he had poor eyesight and considered the light to be too bright.
"Is painting done to be looked at? Do you understand me? . . . Is it any business of journalists if I make pictures, boots or cloth slippers? Painting concerns one's private life". — Edgar Degas in a letter.
A single bronze sculpture is featured in the show. "One of the most important things you collect is not art but friendships," said the curator. The avant-garde 1920s bust in his collection was found in a car boot sale in the UK and came into Robert Flynn Johnson's collection via a collector friend who'd bought it from the first, fortunate finder.
A glossary of art terms is featured in the exhibition, explaining all the various mediums employed by Degas.
In the artist's words: "A picture is first of all a product of the imagination of the artist. It must never be a copy. If then two or three natural accents can be added, no harm done. The air we see in the paintings of the old masters is never the air we breathe". — Degas.
There are still tickets available for a special Preview Gala at the Arts Center in Petaluma on Friday June 19th, 2015, 7-10pm.
Cocktail attire.
Be among the first to see this marvelous exhibition!
$100 general, $75 members.
Buy tickets HERE or purchase at the door.
Cocktails, music, traveling buffet.
An Opening Reception takes place Saturday June 20th, from 5-8pm
Hors d'oeuvres, wine tastes and no-host bar.
$10 general, free for members.
Buy tickets or reserve your entry HERE.
Exhibition Runs: Sunday June 21st, 11am to Sunday July 26th, 5pm
$10 general, free for members.
Buy tickets HERE.
Bring your membership card for quicker entry.
