Among the first pieces guests will notice in Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art's newest temporary exhibition is a giant oil painting from Jackson Pollock.
That the 1952 piece titled Convergence is so prominently displayed as part of "Van Gogh to Rothko: Masterworks From the Albright-Knox Art Gallery" is no coincidence. Pollock's work might best sum up the 76-piece collection and how it wound up in Bentonville from its home in Buffalo, N.Y.
"This show very much is a convergence," said Albright-Knox gallery director Janne Siren, who was on hand for a preview of the exhibit, which opens Saturday. "It is about convergence of Europe and the United States. It is about convergences in different artistic practices and indeed it is about the convergence of our collaborative efforts between Bentonville and Buffalo, and our supporters and teams in different museums."
Crystal Bridges will host the exhibition through June 1. Included are works from 73 artists, spanning 150 years from the late 19th century. Admission is $10 for nonmembers of Crystal Bridges and free for members and anyone under the age of 18.
Major works featured are Van Gogh's The Old Mill (1888); Joan Miro's Carnaval D'Arlequin (1924-25); Pollock's Convergence (1952); Mark Rothko's Orange and Yellow (1956); and Andy Warhol's 100 Cans (1962).
Periods represented range from post-impressionism featuring Van Gogh to 20th-century artists like Warhol, whose 100 Cans is a rare example of a work in which he handpainted, rather than mixed the painting with screen printing.
Many of the European artists represented served as inspirations for the American artists. The museum described the most "significant representation in the exhibition" of about 20 mid-century American artists.
Curator Manuela Well-Off-Man said even though "Van Gogh to Rothko" includes such a diverse collection of artists and spans more than 150 years, there is a common theme. The artists' use of colors serves to tie the pieces together.
"To me it all speaks to the artists' really innovated uses of color," Well-Off Man said. "You can start with Van Gogh and see how he liberates color. ... There is an emotional quality of color that becomes the main subject. You can go on to Rothko and how he tries to evoke major human emotions. I think the innovated way of how the artists use color really ties it all nicely together."
Albright-Knox selected Crystal Bridges as one of four venues to host the exhibition. Crystal Bridges Executive Director Rod Bigelow said the museum, one of the youngest in the country, was fortunate to be able to display the exhibition from The Albright-Knox Museum, which opened in the early 1900s.
Crystal Bridges opened in 2011. Other museums that will feature "Van Gogh to Rothko" are the Denver Art Museum, San Diego Museum of Art and the Milwaukee Art Museum.
"We're grateful to share these stunning works that helped shape the story of American art," Bigelow said.
Siren said the collection speaks "to the true pioneering spirit of the Albright-Knox Art Gallery." Recognizing in the 1950s that it would struggle to acquire older works, the gallery began turning its attention to American art and emerging artists.
"They dedicated their efforts to contemporary art and did a truly remarkable job in selecting pioneering works," Siren said.
Well-Off-Man said the selections included in Van Gogh to Rothko are a great complement to the museum's permanent collection. Some artists like Rothko are already included at Crystal Bridges and patrons can compare the works. Other artists are new to the museum.
"This is a wonderful way to fill certain gaps we currently have in the collection," Well-Off-Man said. "It's a fantastic opportunity for our guests to experience the development of modernism and also the importance of artists presented in this exhibition and how they shaped modernism internationally."
Business on 02/20/2015