Works of Joan Miró go on exhibit at Turlock’s Carnegie

A famed Spanish surrealist’s works will color the walls of the Carnegie Arts Center in Turlock beginning Saturdayas the “Joan Miró: Fantastic Universe” exhibit opens with a gala reception.

The painter’s exploration into printmaking will be the focus of the curated collection, open to general viewing beginning Sunday, and will feature 54 of Miró’s original lithographs and etchings. It’s the latest among the high-profile exhibits the Carnegie has brought to the region.

“We felt this would be a great follow-up to the Picasso exhibition last year,” arts center interim director Lisa McDermott said in an email interview. “Miró represents the next important vein in modern art. Picasso opened a lot of doors, but Miró pushed through them in surprising and perhaps even more daring ways. As we look for shows that we can add to the schedule, we are always thinking about expanding the conversation about the arts. Miró’s important role in the development of modernism gave us a lot of exciting ideas for lectures, family programs, jazz concerts, school field trips, etc.”

Miró, born in Barcelona in 1893, joined the surrealist movement in Paris in the 1920s, embracing the idea of dreams, irrational associations and the subconscious in art.

“He was a great experimenter and he took inspiration from the smallest things,” McDermott said. “He could start with a random mark or drip of color and expand that into an incredibly exciting composition. Visitors will see an explosion of color and energy in the gallery with this show.”

From the late 1920s until his death in 1983, Miró produced a large number and wide range of graphic works. The Carnegie exhibit will include his lithographs and etchings from the 1960s forward, most from limited-edition suites the artist created, she said.

McDermott said the Carnegie was able to secure works through a Midwest traveling exhibition organizer, Blair-Murrah Exhibitions. “They have a number of important shows that they tour around the country. We are so fortunate to have a beautiful new gallery that meets the high standards that exhibits of this quality demand.”

The gala preview Saturday will have a Spanish flair with live music, a flamenco dance performance, dinner and more. The event is a fundraiser that kicks off the 2014-15 season at the Carnegie with an auction and raffle that includes an original Miró stencil print. The fundraising at the auction will benefit the center’s scholarship and education program.

The exhibit will continue through Jan. 11. A special Creativity Zone in the gallery will add an interactive component for both young and old, McDermott said.

“It includes two hands-on activities that kids can do to explore some of Miró’s ideas and inspirations. Of course, we think adult visitors will find it fun as well,” she said. “We have also begun booking school field trips to see the exhibit and participate in an art lesson. More than 11 schools have already signed up to bring classes to the Carnegie during the Miró exhibition.

“This is one of the most important aspects of what we do. I think that even if Miró is not the kind of household name that Picasso is, the Carnegie’s program now has the reputation of excellence that teachers and visitors can have confidence in.”

The Miró collection follows those by other major artists at the Carnegie, including a showing of Pablo Picasso’s ceramics in 2013; drawings, prints, sculpture and photographs by French impressionist Edgar Degas in 2012; and works by famed photographer Ansel Adams in 2011.

Patrons can expect more great things to come, McDermott said. “We are in contract negotiations now for the major exhibition for fall 2015. Because it will be the start of the Carnegie Library building’s 100th anniversary year, we are looking at an artist from the turn of the 20th century. We have found an amazing collection that we will be premiering at the start of a national tour. We’ll have more details in a few months.”

This story was originally published September 11, 2014 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Works of Joan Miró go on exhibit at Turlock’s Carnegie."