Major Exhibition Exploring Expressionism Opens

Living Building Thinking: Art and Expressionism

McMaster Museum of Art
September 1 – * November 30 (2nd floor) and until December 17 (in 4th floor Tomlinson Gallery), 2016

Living Building Thinking: Art and Expressionism explores the development and trajectories of Expressionism in art from the early 19th century to present day. The term Expressionism is invariably identified with the period of art and social activism in Germany between 1905 and 1937, encompassing visual art, literature, philosophy, theatre, film and photography and architecture. The exhibition offers a rich and thought-provoking perspective on the relationship of the artist and society, and the ever-changing responses and visual expressions that circulate through shared hopes and aspirations for social awareness and change.

Barbara Astman (Canadian, b. USA, 1950) Scenes from a Movie for One, #1, 1997 Digital print with archival inks on Epson UltraSmooth archival paper; unique edition at this scale and substrate 91.5 x 77.5 cm Gift of the artist, 2011 — **Barbara Astman** (Canadian, b. USA, 1950)
Scenes from a Movie for One, #1, 1997
Digital print with archival inks on Epson UltraSmooth archival paper; unique edition at this scale and substrate 91.5 x 77.5 cm
Gift of the artist, 2011. Collection of McMaster Museum of Art, McMaster University

Drawn from the extensive collection of the McMaster Museum of Art, the exhibition comprises almost 100 paintings, drawings, prints, books, camera work and video—from formative historical works of the 19th century, hallmarks of the modern age, to contemporary works that include Canadian artists who underscore the continuing relevance and challenges in today’s society.

Cover of Living Building Thinking Art and Expressionism Brochure. Featuring 1903 Käthe Kollwitz lithograph — Cover of Living Building Thinking Brochure. Featuring 1903 **Käthe Kollwitz** lithograph, *Bust of a Working Class Woman with Blue Shawl*

Living Building Thinking: Art and Expressionism is McMaster Museum of Art’s largest touring exhibition to date. It was presented first at Art Gallery of Alberta in Edmonton October 24, 2015 – February 15, 2016. Additional Canadian venues will be announced in 2017.

EVENTS

Curator’s Talk by Ihor Holubizky
Thursday, September 22 at 6 pm
Dr. Holubizky, McMaster Museum of Art’s Senior Curator, will speak about the exhibition Living Building Thinking: Art and Expressionism.

Performance & Talk by Düsseldorf Artist Mischa Kuball
Wednesday, September 28 from 12 – 4 pm

12 noon: Mischa Kuball will present a performative sculpture with his recent Public Preposition book in front of the Museum
2 pm: Mischa Kuball’s Artist Talk in the Museum

Tour & Linocut Printmaking Workshop
Saturday, October 1 at 1 pm
Free Culture Days event. Registration required. Contact Nicole to register: knibbn@mcmaster.ca

Art Historian’s Talk by Robert Belton
Thursday, November 10th, 6 – 8 pm
Dr. Belton, Professor at UBC, will speak about Expressionism. His essay “Expressionism’s Paralanguage” is published in the Living Building Thinking: Art and Expressionism publication.

All events are free and open to the Public.

Living Building Thinking: Art and Expressionism is organized and circulated by the McMaster Museum of Art with the generous support of the Museums Assistance Program, Canadian Heritage and the Ontario Arts Council.

*The Museum is installing new energy efficient lighting systems in December. In order to do so, we will be closing the main floor portion of Living Building Thinking on Nov 30, and extending the exhibition upstairs until Dec 17. We apologize for any inconvenience.