News Release
For Immediate Release: August 26, 2009
Re: 6° of Separation and A Cell of One's Own: John Frost, September 26 - January 24, 2010
Contact: Patrick Kelly preparator@theoldjailartcenter.org or Rebecca Bridges registrar@theoldjailartcenter.org
6° of Separation
Co-curated by OJAC staff, Patrick Kelly and Rebecca Bridges, 6° of Separation will showcase the relationships between artists and works from various areas of the Old Jail Art Center's permanent collection. Visitors will be able to visualize how friendships, influences, travels, and other relationships are shared among artists within the museum's holdings. The installation of works will utilize a tangible apparatus to guide the viewer from work to work along with a brief description of the connection and artists.
A Cell of One's Own: John Frost
A Cell of One's Own - John Frost is the fourth in a series of exhibitions featuring a contemporary Texas artist. Individual artists are invited to create an exhibition of their work within upper galleries of the museum's historic 1877 old jail building. In this site-specific installation, Frost takes ordinary materials, plywood and tree limbs, and transforms them into recognizable objects and forms. These objects, within the context of the installation, represent observations, contemplations and personal opinions about the current state of the environment, society, and economy.
The Old Jail Art Center in Albany, Texas, has grown considerably since its humble beginnings in 1980. Starting with the donation of four private collections, the permanent collection has expanded to include over 2,100 works that span important periods in Asian, European, American, and pre-Columbian art. Successful capital campaigns in 1984, 1996 and 2009 have added an important education space, as well as additional exhibition and operation areas. The museum facilities now occupy approximately 15,000 square feet.
The collection is strong in a number of areas, with most works dating from the 20th Century. The collection includes pieces from well-known artists Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, Amedeo Modigliani, Paul Klee, Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse, Henry Moore, John Marin, Charles Demuth, and Alexander Calder. In addition the museum has strong representation of the Fort Worth Circle (active 1945-55), the regional Taos Modernists (active 1948-1979), a small, impressive Asian Collection, and the W. O. Gross, Jr. Collection of pre-Columbian art. The outdoor sculpture collection is installed throughout the grounds, with key pieces placed inside the Marshall R. Young Courtyard, including Jesus Bautista Moroles' granite Sun Symbol, Pericle Fazzini's Conversation, and several other post-World War II Italian figurative bronze works.
The Old Jail Art Center is one of the few accredited fine art museums in Texas. Education, exhibitions and art programs are scheduled year-round to serve an audience of children, youth, adults, and visitors from around the globe. The Old Jail Art Center is located on Highway 6, two blocks east of Highway 180 in Albany, Texas. The museum is open to the public Tuesday-Saturday 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM and Sunday 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM. Admission is free. Please note: the museum is closed on Mondays and major holidays.