Montclair Art Museum, Opening Feb. 8th featuring FEDERICO URIBE: ANIMALIA UNCAGED: ANIMALS IN THE COLLECTION PERSONAL LANDSCAPES

Media Contacts Nancy Klein, 973-960-2349 Asif Iqbal, 973-259-5134 THINGS TO DO!  MONTCLAIR ART MUSEUM'S THREE NEW SPRING EXHIBITIONS OPEN FEBRUARY 8 FEDERICO URIBE: ANIMALIA UNCAGED: ANIMALS IN THE COLLECTION PERSONAL LANDSCAPES MONTCLAIR, NJ January 21, 2020 -- Montclair Art Museum (MAM) unveils three new exhibitions in February, two focusing on animal-themed work and the third highlighting Essex County artists.   Federico Uribe: Animalia MAM is proud to showcase a major collection of paintings and sculptures created by famed Colombian-American artist, Federico Uribe.  Animal-themed pieces embody multilayered meaning in their haunting and provocative use of materials, their gestures and poses, and the sense of introspection and social critique. By layering mundane objects such as colored pencils, shoes and shoelaces, plastic waste and recycled bullet shells, the artist fashions creatures that reflect his alchemical, intuitive and imaginative process. For viewers, the bullet animals evoke hunting, a reminder of the horrors of war or the epidemic of gun violence in the U.S, and, for environmentally conscious individuals, they may appear to be statements about defending endangered species.  Federico Uribe, Coral Reef Installation, 2019, plastic and mixed media Audiences will experience the breadth and depth of recent Uribe work, such as the massive Coral Reef Installation (2019), 13 panels each measuring more than eight feet made from hundreds of pieces of plastic waste, carefully cut and arranged to raise awareness of the effects of pollution on marine ecosystems worldwide. The Uribe show will include his monumental 8'x16' mural Zebras (2011) made from tire treads and bicycle parts; Panda Bear (2018) made from bullet shells; and Tree (2015) made from old books.  With more than 60 pieces on display at MAM, Uribe's colorful, larger-than-life works will delight the young and not so young alike, inspiring many "Instagram Moments" for museum goers. The exhibition is curated by Gail Stravitsky and is located in the Weston Gallery and Elevator Lobby. Uncaged: Animals in the Collection The galleries continue to roar to life as MAM unleashes a cache of animal-themed works spanning generations of artists and a variety of mediums from its permanent collection. With more than 80 paintings, photographs, sculptures, and a treasure trove of curiosities drawn from MAM's extensive American and Native collections, the exhibition will explore the variety of ways artists engage with animal imagery in their work.   The exhibition includes works by well-known artists such as George Inness, Jr., Jeff Koons, Lilly Martin Spencer and Will Barnet. 19th century artist John James Audubon’s hand-colored lithographs will give viewers an encyclopedic look at the richness of America’s wildlife. Jumping fish, lovingly beaded on a Northwest Coast baby carrier, offer visual prayers for the child held inside. Brightly colored tigers serve as totemic stand-ins for the artist Thornton Dial, Sr. The exhibition also includes intriguing photographs such as George Diebold’s White Trash Elk, Red Wood Forest, California (2008) and William Wegman’s Bird Dog Suite (1990) as well as works from Robert Rauschenberg created using photo serigraph and string.  Melchior DiGiacomo, Man With Dog on Car, Jersey City, NJ, photograph,1980 Curated by Alison Van Denend, Uncaged: Animals in the Collection will be located in the Roberts Gallery, McMullen Gallery and Constable Rotunda. Personal Landscapes: Highlighting Local Artists Artists from Essex County, NJ will be the focus of a small, juried exhibition exploring the theme of Personal Landscapes.  Since its founding, MAM has been nourished by its connection to the artists of the region, and the the success of last season's Fiber Arts exhibition, sponsored by the NJ State Council on the Arts, brought home the positive spirit and energy of local artists. “MAM cares deeply about supporting our local working artists.” says museum Director Lora Urbanelli, who adds “Our museum wouldn’t exist if not for the work of the renowned local artist George Inness in the late 1800s who attracted other well-known artists, helping to establish Montclair’s reputation as an art community.” For Personal Landscapes, artists were encouraged to consider their personal environment, external or internal, and use a wide range of materials and methods. The exhibition will be located in Lehman Court.  The three exhibitions run through June 21, 2020.  For more information on the exhibits or high res images contact Nancy Klein at nklein@montclairartmuseum.org or Asif Iqbal at aiqbal@montclairartmuseum.org. # # # RELATED PROGRAMS The Vance Wall Art Education Center at MAM will present a series of programs and art classes for all ages in conjunction with the special spring 2020 exhibitions.    Educator Guides: MAM Educator Guides are designed to provide teachers with questions, ideas, and materials for facilitating inquiry-based, open-ended dialogues with students of all ages. Taking artworks as their points of departure, they encourage conversations reaching into other subject areas, such as science and ELA.  Curriculum Guides will be available online. TOURS Insider Highlights: Wild at Art Themed Tours 3rd Sunday of the month, 2 p.m. FREE with admission Discover the best of the Museum’s collection and special exhibitions on a tour with a knowledgeable and engaging docent. Advance online RSVP requested at www.montclairartmuseum.org/calendar Private Tours: Wild at Art Themed Tours Bring your college class to see world-class art, celebrate a family milestone, entertain out-of-town guests, or reconnect with alumni groups and community members by booking a Museum tour. Tours are offered for groups of six or more guests. Contact us at tours@montclairartmuseum.org to design your tour. School Tours: Wild at Art Themed Tours Led by MAM docents and educators, gallery tours and hands-on workshops in the art studio are available for visitors from preschool to high school. Gallery conversations promote literacy and evidential reasoning, content knowledge and critical thinking, communication, collaboration, and creativity.  Contact us at tours@montclairartmuseum.org to design your tour. Family Learning Lab Open during gallery hours FREE with admission Take a walk on the wild side and make art, play games, and read books about animals inspired by spring 2020 exhibitions. Learn what you can do to help endangered species! Kids Class Studio Explorers: Art Safari Tuesdays, 4–5 p.m. Wednesdays, 5–6 p.m. Thursdays, 4–5 p.m. Saturdays, 10-11 a.m. $245 members $275 nonmembers Studio Explorers provides an encouraging and supportive atmosphere for budding artists to develop creative thinking skills and experiment with a variety of art-making materials and techniques including painting, drawing, collage, printmaking, and sculpture. Inspired by the exhibition spring 2020 exhibitions, students will explore animals and their habitats. Drop-In Studio Sundays, 1-4 p.m. FREE with admission Get creative in our Drop-In Studio! Each week features a new art-making activity and gallery talk inspired by current exhibitions. Reservations not required and visitors of all ages are welcome! Adult Class Pet Portraiture 5-week course, 1/14-2/11 Tuesdays, 7-9:30 p.m. Capture your pet’s personality! Create a tribute to your furry or no furry friend. Anyone can create a pet portrait regardless of art experience. No guess work and no pressure. Bring an 8.5” x 11” photo print of your pet to the first day of class. $130 members $150 nonmembers Creative Aging Art in the Afternoon  2nd and 4th Wednesday of the month 2-3:30 p.m. Animal themes will be the topic of select Winter/Spring 2020 Art in the Afternoon sessions. Learn about art through tours, conversation, and related art projects. This studio-based program is designed for older adults. Advance online RSVP requested at montclairartmuseum.org Refreshments served. All levels of experience welcome. About the Montclair Art Museum (MAM) The Montclair Art Museum (MAM) boasts a renowned collection of American and Native American art that uniquely highlights art making in the United States over the last 300 years. The Vance Wall Art Education Center encompasses all the Museum’s educational efforts, including award-winning Yard School of Art studio classes, lectures and talks, family events, tours, and the mobile MAM Art Truck. MAM exhibitions and programs serve a wide public of all ages, from families and seniors to artists, educators, and scholars. Address: 3 South Mountain Avenue, Montclair, NJ 07042 Website: montclairartmuseum.org Phone: 973-746-5555 Gallery & The Store at MAM Hours: Wednesdays through Sundays, 12–5 p.m. Free First Thursday Nights: 1st Thursday of the month (October–December, February- June), 5–9 p.m. Student & Senior Fridays: 1st Friday of the month, 12–5 p.m. Free admission for students and seniors with valid ID Admission: FREE members $12 nonmember adults $10 veterans, seniors, and students with valid ID FREE children under 12 All Museum programs are made possible, in part, by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State, a Partner Agency of the National Endowment for the Arts, and by funds from the National Endowment for the Arts, Carol and Terry Wall / The Vance Wall Foundation, the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, and Museum members.

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