Past Press Releases

CHIHULY UNVEILED - A CELEBRATION AT THE FLINT INSTITUTE OF ARTS

Chihuly Persian Chandelier

FLINT INSTITUTE OF ARTS OPENS TWO GLASS EXHIBITIONS

(Flint, MI; May 18, 2009)
The exhibition: Dale Chihuly: Seaforms will be on view from June 7 – September 8 at the Flint Institute of Arts. The Seaform series spans three decades of the influential artist’s work and explores the beauty and fragility of the marine environment. The 40 works in the show demonstrate Chihuly’s technical mastery of the medium and his ability to transform hot viscous liquid into brilliantly colored sculptures inspired by the sea. The exhibit is sponsored by Citizens Bank.

As a prelude to the exhibition opening, the FIA has unveiled a Chihuly sculpture commissioned specifically for the lobby of the museum. The 10’ by 13’ “chandelier” is comprised of 120 individually blown glass elements and will become a part of the Museum’s permanent collection.

Blown Away: International Glass of the 21st Century is an exhibition of 55 works representing 40 of the most influential glass artists from around the world. Among the artists included are: Howard Ben Tre, Dale Chihuly, Harvey Littleton, William Morris, Dan Dailey and many others from North America, Europe, Asia and Australia. Organized by the Flint Institute of Arts and Habatat Gallery, the exhibit will run from June 7 – September 8.

“These exhibits are truly exceptional and we are very proud to bring them to Flint,” said John B. Henry, Director of the Flint Institute of Arts. “We think they will appeal to people of all ages, including those who have a passion for arts as well as those who may just have a passing interest.”

The award winning Flint Institute of Arts is located just two blocks off the convergence of I-69 and I-475 in the Cultural Center Park between the University of Michigan-Flint and Mott Community College. Tickets to the exhibition for non-members are $7.00 and $5.00 for students and seniors. No admission charge on Target Free Saturdays. Museum hours are Tuesday-Saturday; 10a to 5p and Sunday 1p-5p. For information call 810.234.1695.

FLINT INSTITUTE OF ARTS CELEBRATES HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH

(Flint, MI: September 15, 2008) The Flint Institute of Arts is pleased to present Las Artes De Mexico, from the collection of the Gilcrease Museum of Art, Tulsa, Oklahoma. This extraordinary collection represents over 3,500 years of Mexican art and culture, ranging from artifacts of Mexico’s ancient Olmec, Maya, and Aztec cultures to 20th century paintings and prints by some of Mexico’s most notable modern artists, including Diego Rivera, José Clemente Orozco and Rufino Tamayo. The exhibition opens to the public on October 25, 2008 and continues through January 4, 2009.

In celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, the Flint Institute of Arts will present many programs and activities to the community, including:

Special Event

Flint Institute of Arts and the Genesee County Hispanic/Latino Collaborative Gala
Friday, October 24, 2008
6:00 pm
$50 non-members
Celebrate the culmination of Hispanic Heritage Month with a lecture and tour of the new exhibition Las Artes de Mexico, while enjoying live entertainment and light refreshments.

Free Activity

Deconstructing Las Artes de Mexico
Saturday, October 25, 2008
1:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Deconstructing Las Artes de Mexico is an interactive dialogue for visitors to the exhibition Las Artes de Mexico. Participants will discuss impressions and reactions to the exhibition while exploring the many ways that art and society interact.

Lectures

The Chiapas Project: A Brief History
Friday, September 26, 2008 @ 6:00 pm

Buried Art: Ancient Mexican Sculpture and the Regeneration of Life
Friday, October 24, 2008 @ 6:00 pm

Exhibitions

A Celebration of Everyday Life: Work by Maya Photographers from Chiapas, Mexico
Sept 6 – Oct 12, 2008

Las Artes de Mexico: From the Collection of the Gilcrease Museum
Oct 25 – Jan 4, 2009

FIA Theater Films

Intimidad
Friday, October 10, 2008 @ 7:30 pm

Al Otro Lado
Saturday, October 11, 2008 @ 7:30 pm

Bajo California: El limite del tiempo
Sunday, October 12, 2008 @ 12:15 pm

Fleckenstein Video Gallery

Cinepolis, La Capital del Cine
Sept 30 – Nov 2, 2008

Art School Workshops

Improvisational Sculpture
Thursday, October 23, 2008
10:00 am – 4:00 pm
$88 member, $105 non-member

Mural Painting Workshop – Codex Glyph Symbols
Thursday, November 6, 2008
10:00 am – 4:00 pm
$88 member, $114 non-member

Educator Workshop

Photography as a Tool to Share Culture
Saturday, September 27, 2008
10:00 am – 4:15 pm
$75, must pre-register at (810) 237-7314

Objects of Spirit: Cultural Traditions
Saturday, October 18, 2008
10:00 am – 4:15 pm
$75, must pre-register at (810) 237-7314

For more information on these programs and activities, please review the Celebrando la Herencia Hispana brochure (pdf enclosed).

--Additional Information on the exhibition Las Artes de Mexico--

Las Artes de Mexico: From the Collection of the Gilcrease Museum

Oct 25 – Jan 4, 2009

Mexico’s rich and complex artistic heritage begins with its ancient past. Las Artes De Mexico delves deeply into the expansive range of artifacts that embody the fascinating religious beliefs, rituals, and daily life of Mexico’s ancient cultures prior to the Spanish conquest. Crafted in a wide range of materials including gold, jade, alabaster, and earthenware, these artifacts embody the distinct artistic traditions, mysteries, and mythologies of ancient Mesoamerica.

With the arrival of the Spanish in the early 16th century, a new era of artistic development emerged that reflected a blending of indigenous traditions with the religious and cultural influence of the Spanish conquerors. Las Artes De Mexico includes a broad selection of colorful 19th and early 20th century Mexican folk art, featuring textiles, costumes, masks, and retablos, the small devotional paintings on wood or tin that are used as objects of Christian worship in homes and churches throughout Mexico.

The 20th century ushered in a period of radical political and social transformation in Mexico, culminating in the Mexican Revolution of 1910, which witnessed the overthrow of Mexico’s oppressive colonial government. Painters and printmakers of this era, such as Diego Rivera, José Clemente Orozco, Leopoldo Mendez, and many other presented in Las Artes De Mexico, reshaped Mexico’s national identity with images that addressed the social and economic plight of Mexico’s urban and rural populations.

Encompassing the vast spectrum of ancient to modern day art in Mexico, Las Artes De Mexico will provide audiences with a memorable encounter of Mexico’s remarkable artistic legacy.

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The award winning Flint Institute of Arts is located just two blocks off the convergence of I-69 and I-475 in the Cultural Center Park between the University of Michigan-Flint and Mott Community College. The museum hours are Tuesday through Saturday 10am to 5pm and Sundays 1pm to 5pm. Target Free Saturdays. For more information call (810) 234-1695 or visit flintarts.org.

Flint Institute of Arts1120 E. Kearsley StreetFlint MI 48503810.234.1695
24-hour FIA information line: 810.234.1695