The Many Faces of Modernism

The Many Faces of Modernism
at the Addison Rowe Gallery

Santa Fe, NM— The Many Faces of Modernism, an exhibition highlighting American Modernist painters such as John Marin, Lawrence Calcagno, Louis Catusco, Louis Ribak, Raymond Jonson, and Andrew Dasburg will open at Addison Rowe Gallery (229 East Marcy Street) on Friday, October 2nd, 2015 with a reception from 5 to 7:00 p.m. The show will close on December 18th, 2015.
This exhibition focuses on the unique form of Modernism that developed in New Mexico in the late 1920s. Modernism, as a movement, was inherently concerned with depicting things as they really were (e.g. Social Realism) and also depicting the future (e.g. Futurism). This is due in large part to the industrial revolution—people saw themselves as building the future. Scenes of workers in factories, trains, and automobiles abound during the beginning of the 20th century. Along with this came a break in traditional modes of painting and a unique Modernist style emerged. This is seen in works by Diego Rivera, Thomas Hart Benton, and Kenneth Adams. However, New Mexico did not have many factories, or automobiles. It had pueblos, old churches, mountains, and canyons. Modernism in New Mexico became a union of old and new—painters honestly depicted living history in a new style. Thus, Georgia O’Keeffe painted the Ranchos de Taos Church in the same style as she did the Brooklyn Bridge. The artists chosen for this exhibition represent a chronology of Modernism ranging from the 1930s – 1980s with both abstract and representational styles included.

###