1. Artrain and renowned American artist
Eric Fischl announce unprecedented art experience
America: Now + Here preparing to take the national stage
ANN ARBOR, MI / June 24, 2009 – Artrain – the nation’s mobile museum authority
– and renowned American artist Eric Fischl today unveiled an unparalleled cultural
experience in the form of America: Now + Here.
A “moveable feast” of work by leading contemporary artists, poets, playwrights,
filmmakers and musicians, America: Now + Here was inspired by the juxtaposition of
emotions that Americans everywhere have been feeling since 9/11 – patriotic yet
conflicted, determined yet anxious, celebratory yet guarded, privileged yet vulnerable.
Fischl, who is also serving as curator, has set out to create a multi-genre, multi-media
traveling exhibition that gives creative voice to these feelings and encourages others to
speak up about what it means to be an American at this very charged moment.
Over 150 of America’s leading artists have created new work specifically about our
nation, reflective of this moment in time. America: Now + Here will launch from the
nation’s capitol in April 2010 before traveling the country on a 40-plus stop tour over a
12-month period, with the potential to extend the show to 30 additional locales through
2011 based on demand. The exhibition will tour on board Artrain’s specially designed
and innovative mobile museum units. Cities such as Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, New
York and Seattle are currently being targeted as host communities in addition to towns
and villages of all sizes, many which are not reached by traditional museums programs.
"It is not a natural reflex for Americans to look to art to clarify the moment we live in,
even though it is what art does best,” said Fischl. “This is not a role for any single artist
or any single citizen, but taken together, a compelling conversation may emerge and help
to reinvigorate our hopes, dreams and desires.”
Joining Fischl on the America: Now + Here curatorial team are Merrill Falkenberg, PhD.
(visual arts); Carol Muske-Dukes & Bob Holman (poetry); Jon Robin Baitz & Marsha
Norman (playwrights); Josh Woods (music) and a film curator yet to be selected.
The palette of contributing artists for this event are some of America’s most acclaimed
and revered, including visual artists Jasper Johns, James Rosenquist, Chuck Close,
Barbara Kruger, Cindy Serham, Vic Muniz, Fred Wilson and Julian Schnabel; poets
Robert Pinsky, Billy Collins, Rita Dove, Joy Harjo and Vijay Sheshadri; playwrights
Edward Albee, Christopher Durange, Nilo Cruz, Tina Howe and David Henry Hwang as
well as musicians Laurie Anderson, Sting, Paul Simon, Rosanne Cash and Lou Reed.
“We are delighted that America: Now + Here will be the first exhibition to tour the
country in Artrain’s new mobile museum units.” said Debra Polich, Artrain
president/CEO.
“We believe that showcasing the work of the all-star lineup of artists will stimulate civic
dialogue around local, regional and national issues and inspire creativity in communities
across the country.”
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America: Now + Here will be mounted and toured in Artrain’s fleet of transformable
state-of-the-art semi-trailers that serve as mobile museum galleries. Each trailer meets
art museum facility standards ensuring the care, custody and control of the objects
and the design flexibility allows configuration for different site locations such as
parking lots, fair grounds, fields, downtowns, etc.
About Artrain
Artrain is a national arts organization with roots in communities across the country.
Initially building on the great democratizing power of America’s rail system, and today
by utilizing the country’s roads and highways, Artrain delivers award-winning art
exhibition and education programs to diverse audiences in cities and towns not
usually reached by cultural institutions and touring exhibitions. With a mission to
enrich lives and build communities through the arts, Artrain provides exceptional
opportunities for learning, growth and art appreciation and encourages the
development of local cultural programs. Winner of the 2006 National Medal for
Museum Service Artrain was founded in 1971. More than 3.2 million people have visited
Artrain during 845 community visits across the nation.
About Eric Fischl
Fischl studied painting at California Institute for the Arts and graduated with a
Bachelor of Fine Arts in 1972. Fischl's paintings, sculptures, drawings and prints have
been the subject of a number of solo and major group exhibitions; and his work is
represented in numerous private, museum and corporate collections including the
Whitney Museum of American Art, The Museum of Modem Art, Museum of
Contemporary Art in Los Angeles, the St. Louis Museum of Art, Louisiana Museum
of Art in Denmark, Paine Weber Collection, among others. The Mary Boone Gallery
in New York represents Fischl. He lives in New York City and Sag Harbor, New
York.
Contact:
Robb King
Artrain, Inc.
734.417.1788
Robb.king@artrainusa.org
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