Founded in 1919 by Joseph G. Butler, Jr., The Butler Institute of American Art is the first museum of American art. The original structure is a McKim, Mead and White architectural masterpiece listed on the National Register of Historic places. Known worldwide as “America’s Museum”, the museum’s collection totals over 20,000 pieces in all media, and spans four centuries of work. Plan a visit!
EXHIBITIONS
MATEO BLANCO: My United States of America
September 29-December 1, 2024
Mateo is Colombian-American, and a resident of Orlando, Florida, of many years. Mateo is known for his unusual materials to create his works of art, displayed in galleries all over the world. He has always been fascinated with the glamorous Hollywood stars and the heroic or funny characters in comics. For this exhibition, Blanco has painted several versions of the flag of the United States and explains why: “All of us have different colors inside or outside. We can change a color or a shape, but the magic and essence remain intact. It doesn’t matter what color or shape; it will always be recognizable. We have different colors of skin, hair, or even spirit, but all of us are Americans; the external differences hide what we have inside. I cherish my Colombian roots, but I love deeply my new homeland. It’s our differences what makes the United States so powerful, unique, and rich. These paintings are my song to The Star-Spangled Banner, and my personal homage to the American coat of arms above the bald eagle, E pluribus unum.” Learn more
Sally Weber and Craig Newswanger: ENTANGLED ATTRACTION, 2022 with Soundscape composed and produced by Jonathan Crawford
October 27, 2024-February 16, 2025
Meet-the-Artists Reception: Sunday, October 27, 1-3pm
Like galaxies spinning through space or the chaotic interactions of fundamental particles in the core of stars, Entangled Attraction was inspired by nature’s patterns and complexities, and their effects on the entire system.
Gazing up to watch the spiraling dance of 300 lights, each trail fills our field of vision and leaves traces of their paths suspended in the air. Glints of color, invisible to a camera, are occasionally seen following these arcs of light. “Persistence of vision”, our visual system’s ability to remember light’s image for up to a tenth of a second, captures details the camera cannot see and holds the orbiting trails of light suspended, weightless in the air.
As viewers watch and wonder at the lights, a 7-hour, non-repeating Soundscape by composer, Jonathan Crawford, encourages the viewers to relax submerged in the moment.
Stay tuned for new and exciting exhibitions and events!
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