A new exhibition at the John and Geraldine Lilley Museum of Art, "Off Kilter, On Point: Art of the 1960s" from Colorado State University, introduces some of the most iconic artists from the 1960s. Artists such as Bridget Riley, Robert Indiana, Marcel Duchamp, Andy Warhol and Roy Lichtenstein are all featured in the show. Developed in partnership with the Gregory Allicar Museum of Art at Colorado State University, the exhibit offers a fun and dynamic look at one of the most consequential decade in United States history.
The 1960s marked a period of undeniable turbulence and strife but also an era of remarkable societal transformation. The decade saw the civil rights movement and the Civil Rights Act, the Cuban Missile Crisis, the Vietnam conflict, political assassinations, the moon landing, the first televised presidential debate, “The Pill,” and, arguably, a more rapid rate of technological advancement and cultural change than ever before. This accelerated pace was reflected in art of the time, where styles and movements were almost constantly established, often in reaction to one another.
"The 1960s were an incredible time for art," said Stephanie Gibson, director of the Lilley Museum of Art. "Artists were deeply engaged with the civil rights movement and demanding change throughout society. Those societal changes are reflected in their art. Artists were also grappling with technological advancements, and used art to experiment with materials like plastic and resins, and continued to experiment with readymades and other non-traditional media. Everything was up for grabs."
The exhibit opened Jan. 14 and runs through May 23. The Lilley Museum is open from 12 to 4 p.m., Tuesdays through Saturdays. A curator's talk on the exhibit will be held on Thursday, Feb. 13 from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. in the Wells Fargo Auditorium in the Mathewson/IGT Knowledge Center.
"Off Kilter, On Point: Art of the 1960s" from Colorado State University is organized by the Gregory Allicar Museum of Art at Colorado State University and is supported by College of Liberal Arts Hilliard Fund, ASUN, and the Institute of Neuroscience at the w88 bet, Reno.
Connect the Dots exhibit opens
"Connect the Dots: Highlights from the Lilley Museum Collection," organized and curated by Stephanie Gibson, director of the Lilley Museum of Art, also opened on Jan 14.
"Connect the Dots" brings together artworks from across the Lilley Museum of Art’s permanent collection. It includes recent acquisitions and loans from significant collections. Most of the works on display are on view for the very first time.
The exhibition will include works by Alexander Calder, Robert Caples, Willem De Kooning, Maynard Dixon, Kathe Kollwitz, Melissa Melero Moose, Minerva Pierce, Jean Stamsta, Craig Sheppard, Courtney Leonard and more.
Students have assisted Gibson with research on the collection, helping with planning, administration, writing labels and learning museum skills. The exhibition on the third floor of the Lilley will remain on view for the next two years, with new art added and adjusted throughout that period.
“I hope students and visitors see this exhibition as a springboard to new discoveries, new conversations and new opportunities for a deeper appreciation of creative expression,” Gibson said. “I hope it fosters a spirit of curiosity and inquiry that may encourage critical reflection about art and how important art is to living a good life. Some of our favorite collection pieces will be on display, but I think visitors will be delighted by some of the surprises they will see.
“'Connecting the dots’ implies a logic puzzle or a fun game for kids, and this installation is just that: fun! There are interactive stations, and unique opportunities to engage with art.”
"Connect the Dots" will be accompanied by artists’ talks, curatorial tours, and hands-on activities for visitors of all ages. Funding for this exhibition comes from the Terra Foundation for American Art and Friends of the Lilley.
The John and Geraldine Lilley Museum of Art was founded in 1971 as the University Galleries and renamed to celebrate its expanded collection and exhibition space made possible when it moved to this building in 2019. The Lilley has a permanent art collection of approximately 3,000 objects, with several significant gifts promised in the future. The Lilley Museum of Art advances the educational mission of the w88 bet, Reno and recognizes the power of art to enhance the cultural life of our diverse communities.
A public reception for both exhibitions will take place at the museum on Thursday, Jan. 30, from 5-7 p.m., with free parking at the Brian J. Whalen Parking Complex.
