Baylor's Martin Museum of Art to Feature 'TEXAS MODERN: The Rediscovery of Early Texas Abstraction (1935-1965)'

Contact: Karin Gilliam, director of Baylor's Martin Museum of Art, (254) 710-6390
Beginning Jan. 18, 2007, Baylor University's Martin Museum of Art will feature "TEXAS MODERN: The Rediscovery of Early Texas Abstraction," an exhibition of more than 50 paintings and sculptures from public and private collections in this first in-depth, critical analysis of Texas indigenous modernist art at mid-century. TEXAS MODERN will open in Baylor's Hooper-Schaefer Fine Arts Center.

TEXAS MODERN is an eye-opening presentation of mid-century abstract art in Texas. The ground-breaking exhibition surveys three critical decades of abstract art created both alongside and following the more familiar, agrarian, regionalist art that dominated Texas and the American heartland in the early 20th century.

Featured are seminal works by well-known American artists who worked in Texas, including members of the "Dallas Nine," the "Fort Worth Circle" and others who were responding to contemporary advances in industrialization, technology and art-making. Many of these works have been hibernating silently for nearly a half-century. TEXAS MODERN offers a unique and timely assessment of Texas' contribution to 20th century American art history.

TEXAS MODERN will be accompanied by a catalog featuring full-page color plates of all artworks, an introduction by art historian Katie Robinson Edwards, and essays by Mark L. Smith and Jim Edwards that provide both contextual and formal analysis of the artworks. TEXAS MODERN attempts to define the evolution of abstract art in Texas, and in doing so brings a perspective as fresh as these artworks to the entire American art scene at mid-century.

The opening of the exhibition and University reception will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 18, at the Martin Museum, with a gallery talk at 7:30 p.m. by Mark L. Smith on "Minimal Remnant: Early Abstract and Non-Objective Painting in Texas." Future programs examining the exhibition will include Jim Edwards' presentation "TEXAS MODERN: The Rediscovery" at 4 p.m. Monday, Jan. 29.

The Martin Museum of Art is located in the Hooper-Schaefer Fine Arts Center on the Baylor University campus in Waco, Texas. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, and noon to 5 p.m. on Saturday. The museum is closed during university holidays. Admission is free and all events are open to the public, unless specified. For more information, call (254) 710-1867 or visit the museum website at www.baylor.edu/martinmuseum.