An epic subject demands an epic response. And for New York artist Alexis Rockman, a research tour of the Great Lakes region inspired a suite of five mural-sized oil and alkyd paintings, six 6×4-foot watercolors and 30 field drawings made from materials found on site, including mud, sand, coal, and leaves — all of which will be on display through April, 29, 2018, at Grand Rapids Museum.
Rockman’s series celebrates the natural majesty and global importance of the Great Lakes, which make up 20 percent of the world’s fresh water, while exploring how they are threatened by factors including climate change, globalization, invasive species, mass agriculture, and urban sprawl. While there has been some success in reversing these trends, the exhibition of these dramatic works will serve to inspire wider understanding and draw greater attention to the urgency of these issues.
Exhibition Touring Schedule
Following its debut in Grand Rapids, Alexis Rockman: The Great Lakes Cycle will travel to the following venues:
Chicago Cultural Center – June 2 through October 1, 2018
Museum of Contemporary Art, Cleveland – October 19, 2018 through January 27, 2019
Haggerty Museum of Art of Marquette University, Milwaukee – February 8 to May 19, 2019
Weisman Art Museum, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis – October 5, 2019 through January 5, 2020
Flint Institute of Arts – May 9 to August 16, 2020
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