Beth van Hoesen, Matthew, 1992, ink on paper, 8 x 7 7/8 in., Gift of the E. Mark Adams and Beth Van Hoesen Adams Trust, Scripps College, Claremont, CA
The Artists and the Mews, the upcoming exhibition of pieces from the Scripps College collection, will explore representations of cats in eastern and western traditions from domestic pets to legendary monsters. This exhibition is part of a new tradition: for four years, Ruth Chandler Williamson Gallery interns have designed and curated their own annual show highlighting works from the Scripps College collection. The Artists and the Mews will run from March 17 to March 31. An opening reception with refreshments is scheduled Monday, March 21 from 7 to 9 p.m. in Gallery 112.
This year’s interns at the Williamson Gallery, Abby Rodriguez ’16, Maggie Wei Wu ’17, and Marie-Nicole Jeffroy-Meynard ’18, have focused on exploring the ways in which different artists find inspiration in cats. They look at the artists’ depictions of the various behaviors and characteristics of the domestic house cat, ultimately remarking upon the shared appreciation for cats across different cultural practices through paintings, etchings, ink prints, and ceramics.
From the western tradition, the interns plan to use a combination of modern American and 19th-century European pieces, including depictions of the mystery and curiosity of domestic cats and their place in our lives. These more familiar images will serve as a frame of reference for better contextualizing the rest of the pieces. As for the eastern traditions, Japanese prints and ceramic sculpture have been selected to display the legendary and historical aspects of cats.
The exhibit is free of charge and open to the public. Gallery 112 is located in the Lang Art Building at Scripps College, 250 E. 12th St., between Columbia and Dartmouth avenues. Hours are Monday through Thursday, 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 to 5 p.m. For more information, please contact the Williamson Gallery at (909) 607-3397.
Image on homepage: Beth van Hoesen, Bugs, 1985, ink on paper, 10 5/8 x 13 1/4 in., Gift of the E. Mark Adams and Beth Van Hoesen Adams Trust, Scripps College, Claremont, CA