The Tucson Museum of Art offers Tucsonans and art enthusiasts the experience of a lifetime. The museum recently opened a new exhibition, “Into the Night: Modern and Contemporary Art and the Nocturne Tradition”, that features paintings, photographs and paper works that showcase the auras and mysteries of the night skies.
These works, traditionally called nocturnes, display the night sky in context with natural and rural landscapes. Nocturnes also showcase urban works of illuminated scenes from city and electric lights, as well as night time abstractions that allude to the magical qualities of the night sky and the mind’s subconscious realm.
“Into the Night” offers the community an artistic realm of night time wonders at fair prices. Normal admission is $12, but students, active military members and seniors can experience the exhibit along with the other galleries for $7.
The museum prides itself on upholding professionalism and elegance. One enthusiastic and culturally appreciative security guard named Sandy O’Neil stood at the entrance of the main exhibit. She expressed her sincere happiness about the exhibit’s public attendance.
“‘Into the [Night]’ has a high popularity rate,” O’Neil said. “Along with the downstairs Chinese zodiac exhibit, this gallery tends to attract a lot of art majors and appreciators. We had about 600 people come in on opening day.”
The entrance of the exhibit displayed an enormous painting of the night sky, welcoming visitors in with an alluring atmosphere. The architecture of the entire gallery follows a squared, spiral pattern, giving equal representation to every work.
The crowds that attended the gallery ranged from senior citizens to small groups of children on school field trips. “Coyote,” which displays an eerie 1930s photograph of a wild coyote looking into the camera was a hit with the crowds of children.
Elizabeth Mott, museum tour guide and volunteer, takes great pride in her role in the art community.
“I’m partial to playing music during my tours at times,” Mott said. “I sometimes make a music game for my audience. I would play two certain songs while observing a piece, such as Michael Jackson’s ‘Thriller,’ or Alfred Hitchcock’s main theme. I would then proceed to ask the audience what song captured the piece’s message more. I love receiving the positive feedback and reactions from the crowd.”
Jake Fischer’s “Truck on Maple” displayed a chilling oil painting of a dimly lit house. From a distance, the painting simply looked like a night time photograph. Upon closer inspection, one can see that the piece is actually an oil paint composition rather than a photo.
Other pieces, such as Robert Renfrow’s “Ozark Night- Moth and Fireflies” and “The Lightning Over the Twin Towers,” offer audiences nighttime photographs with differing shutter speeds and light capture. These pieces highlight natural phenomena, such as lightning storms and grassy fields with nighttime insects.
Rocky Schenck’s “Island” proved to be a highly popular piece. “Island” displays a dark silhouette of a man sitting on a sandbar.
Sherri Green, gallery overseer, agreed with the painting’s positive feedback.
“It’s such a gorgeous painting,” Green said. “It sort of displays a heavenly landscape, while also giving a sinister sense. I love the purple lighting, it contrasts with the black lighting on the ocean. The man represents our individual journeys in this beautiful yet hazardous world. This piece is definitely a must see.”
Green’s sentiments could extend to the exhibit in general. It is a must see for all art enthusiasts.
“Into the Night” will run until July 10, giving UA students a chance to experience the nighttime wonders. The fair pricing and its convenient location downtown makes this exhibit a excursion that all can enjoy.
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