Updated October 29, 2004 |
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| The Somers Historical Society & Museum of the Early American Circus |
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| The Elephant Hotel, Somers Town House, 335 Route 202, Somers, New York (914)277-4977 |
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| From the Somers Historical Society & the Town of Somers Wright Reis Collection With Contemporary Works by Regional Artisans & Local Folk Art Elements Discovered in situ |
The Somers Historical Society and the Town of Somers' Wright Reis Collection contain many fine examples of traditional folk art. They include useful objects created with a unique design sense which goes beyond the utilitarian, as well as portraits, textiles and early circus memorabilia. Viewed with a new eye they can now be considered as objects of Folk Art, or reference points in the discussion of its evolution. Twentieth century assemblages, objects and paintings depicting local scenes are also on view. With this exhibition, we leave it up to the viewer to decide whether each creation qualifies as "Folk Art." |
| What is Folk Art? A Somers View opened on October 7, 2004 and will run until September 9, 2005. EXHIBIT GUIDE Historical collections are exhibited in the museum on the third floor. Contemporary works by regional artisans are on view on the first floor of the building. (Click here for a list of artists) Photographs of local folk art elements by Kevin Monaghan & Peter Burckmyer discovered in situ are displayed in the first floor meeting room. ACKNOWLEDGMENT Exhibition organized by Somers Historical Society with funding from the New York State Legislature through the efforts of Senator Vincent Leibell. |
| What is Folk Art? A Somers View Exploring Historical & Contemporary Forms Handmade. Naive. Unschooled. Recycled. Innocent. Visionary. Primitive. |
| CURRENT EXHIBITION |
| Continued from first page of the Current Exhibition |
| Contemporary folk art becomes a bit of a contradiction in terms, in a country where education and information of exchange is the norm, and the unschooled artisan is a rarity. With technology and mass production as a given in the contemporary world, scholars and critics now look closely at manipulated versions of nontraditional forms like photography to include them under the umbrella. Context and intent are everything in contemporary Folk Art. |
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