Real life and attention to detail anchor the newest exhibit at the Palmer Museum of Art, American Drawings from the Permanent Collection, premiering today on the first floor of the museum.
Patrick McGrady, the Charles V. Hallman curator, said the collection is a representation of New Realism, an artistic movement prominent from the 1960s to '70s.
New Realism emerged as a counter to Abstract expressionism, also prominent during that time, and features imagery and more literal representations of the world.
He said the collection features works on paper drawn with charcoal, chalk, graphite and ink, and the drawing subjects range from still-lifes, landscapes and studies, which are drawings or sketches done by the artist in preparation for a later piece.
The collection also includes a piece by former Penn State instructor Bruce Shobaken. A former faculty member of the School of Visual Arts, Shobaken's drawings often depict Pennsylvania countryside, McGrady said.
Works on paper stay in storage for long periods of time and don't stay on display very long in order to protect the paper, McGrady said. Special lighting standards are used to prevent deterioration, he said.
"There is a delicate balance of how long you display and store works on paper," he said. "Paper has always been a problem, but [is] such a nice medium to work with."
Because pieces in the collection have not been on display in a long time, McGrady said artwork of this type isn't given the opportunity to be appreciated as much as it should.
McGrady also said that although the pieces lack color, they are still very unique and appreciated pieces of art.
"Color can get in the way," he said. "Drawings are a very personal form of art."
Joyce Robinson, museum curator, agreed. She said drawings contain a lot of fine details, and that many people are drawn to that.
"Exhibitions like these reward attentive viewing," she said.
Ali Bradley, coordinator of membership and public relations, said the exhibition has generated a lot of requests for information.
"For a smaller exhibit, that's saying something," she said.
McGrady said that overall, drawings are an aesthetic that needs culturing.
"Give your eyes some exercise," he said. "Allow yourself to see. Drawings are a good way to do that."
