"ALMOST WARM AND FUZZY: CHILDHOOD AND CONTEMPORARY ART"
2000-07-08 until 2000-09-17
Tacoma Art Museum
Tacoma, WA, USA United States of America

ALMOST WARM AND FUZZY: CHILDHOOD AND CONTEMPORARY ART is an exhibition of work that evokes the imaginative world of childhood. The exhibition comprises some forty works, including paintings, sculptures, and installations, created by approximately thirty artists from around the world. The works highlight various views of childhood-a mix of innocence and nostalgia, comic-strip heroes and science fiction, fairy tales and computer games.

In Charles Long's Sundae Sculpting School, visitors can create shapes and visions from chocolate-colored clay. Confetti will sail from the cannons aboard Joseph Schneider's galleon, a colorful ship the size of a small car. In a magical installation by Sandy Skogland, thousands of jellybeans shimmer in the reflection of fluttering butterfly wings. There are high fashion Barbie photographs by David Levinthal and a lowbrow giant nose by The Art Guys called Big Sneeze. There are snow angels and stuffed turkeys, big rabbits, little mice and looming overhead in the gallery will be three of Takashi Murakami's seven foot wide Japanimation balloons.

While exhibitions that explore childhood usually assume an adult audience, ALMOST WARM AND FUZZY acknowledges children themselves as viewers and engages them in art of their own time. The exhibition introduces both children and adults to a wide array of contemporary art, including works by artists who have created pieces specially for the show. A bilingual Spanish and English activity book is available, raising intriguing questions and providing projects for young people. Family groups may also call ahead and book a tour with a trained docent, including an artmaking lesson in ArtWORKS. Come join the fun this summer!

Almost Warm and Fuzzy: Childhood and Contemporary Art was organized for the Des Moines Art Center by it director, Susan Lubowsky Talbott, and its research curator, Lea Rosson DeLong. The exhibition is circulated by Independent Curators International, New York.

IMAGE:
Sandy Skoglund
Shimmering Madness, 1999
Mixed media,
including fluttering butterfly wings & jellybeans
8 x 10 x 12 ft.

Related Links:

Indepth Arts Resources for the State of Washington

Other Important Exhibitions in Tacoma