Art I'm Seeing #44

I drove up to Wilmington, Delaware today to visit the Delaware Art Museum. As always, it's a charming place with a collection that makes for a wonderful way to while away an hour or two. They are known for a couple of things: 1) Their diverse collection of pre-Raphaelite paintings and artisan items, 2) Their extensive collection of late nineteens and early twentieth century American illustrators centered most notably around the works of Howard Pyle, but including I would imagine 100's of others from N.C. Wyeth to Maxfield Parrish, and 3) Their collection of the works by John Sloan, in particular, and the Ash Can School in general. When you think about it, a relatively small, regional museum that plays upon current sensibilities in art over the years to amass impressive collections in three relatively idiosyncratic arenas of art study and thus distinguishing itself internationally -- pretty damn smart.

On this occasion, I had another purpose, to see the special exhibition entitled: Dinotopia: The Fantastical Art of James Gurney.

This exhibition was organized by the Norman Rockwell Museum and premiered there in Stockbridge, Massachusetts. Next, it toured to the Los Angeles Public Library on the west coast. Now it finishes its run here in Delaware. Comprised of 60 illustrations, models, and artifacts created by James Gurney in the creation of his Dinotopia fantasy world, the paintings represent a sampling from each of his three major books in the series: "Dinotopia: A Land Apart From Time," "Dinotopia: The World Beneath," and "Dinotopia: Journey to Chandara."

The painting are vibrant and lush. They demonstrate a powerful use of technique and almost demand to be touched as the brush strokes and use of the palate knife present themselves in a way that the flat illustrations are mute to sing. This one entitled "Will Arrives" was among my favorites for the use of sparse sketchy application of paint that so thoroughly gave the illusion of rapid movement of the central figure.

A wonderful exhibition that was tailor made for this wonderful little museum, and a perfect way to spend a couple of hours on an atypically humid and muggy-hot Sunday in early May.