The Missoulian featured the exhibition Present Tense: Prints from the Collections of Jordan D. Schnitzer and His Family Foundation at the Montana Museum of Art & Culture, University of Montana. The exhibition, on view now through January 14th, 2017, focuses on contemporary works with a theme of text. It comprises almost 70 pieces spanning from 1965 to 2015, produced by 25 internationally recognized artists, including Andy Warhol, Louise Bourgeois, Mel Bochner, Jenny Holzer, and more.
Reporter Cory Walsh writes, "The works stretch from early conceptual pieces to present-day works that address racism and colonialism, power, information and knowledge." Exhibition Curator Jeremy Canwell explained that many of the works were a reaction to the popularity of abstract art after WWII: "Abstract painting didn't really provide a lot of ways to engage critically with those issues," Canwell said.
At the exhibition opening, exhibition lender Jordan D. Schnitzer encouraged students to visit and interpret the works as they will without worrying about arriving at the "correct" interpretation. "Each of us is a unique human being, and we're all the sum of everything we've ever experienced, learned, seen and done," he said. That "pre-loaded" experience results in our own view, he result of critical thinking that's an important skill to thrive in the modern world."
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