Exhibitions, Fall 2009

The Expanding Eye
Art Inspired by Edgar Allan Poe
September 12, 2009 - January 3, 2010

Organized by the Museum

		Félix Edouard Vallotton Swiss, 1865-1925 A. Edgar Poe, 1894 Woodcut, 6 1⁄4 x 4 7⁄8 inches Museum Purchase with Curriculum Support Funds, 2001.9
		James Ensor, Belgian, 1860-1949 La Vengeance de Hop-Frog (The Vengeance of Hop-Frog), 1898 Etching on simili Japanese paper, second of two states, 14 1/8 x 9 13/16 inches Museum Purchase with Curriculum Support Funds, 2001.14.1

In celebration of the 200th anniversary of Poe's birth, this exhibition displays works by major artists inspired by the innovative literary creations of Poe, arguably one of the most influential writers in history. His words conjured up new ways to see and feel for many visual artists, from the nineteenth century to the present. His is an ongoing legacy and to a degree related to the daring and explorative spirit of Jefferson's Academical Village, a concurrent show. Poe was a member of the first class of Jefferson's University, and although Poe's fantastic tendencies seem opposed to Jeffersonian rationalism, both men shared an interest in architecture, languages, technology, exploration, and invention. The Expanding Eye emphasizes the fact that Poe's legacy is both artistic and literary.

The exhibition includes varied works by James Ensor, Félix Vallotton, Alméry Lobel-Riche, Federico Castellon, Odilon Redon, Alice Neel, Nathan Oliveira, and Shusaku Arakawa. Their art constitutes aspects of what might be called the metaphysical voyeurism of Poe, with images that give the viewer a revelatory shock, sometimes horrible in itself yet opening up vast psychological or spiritual territory as Poe did in his writings. From Redon's presentation of the eye as a hot air balloon to Nathan Oliveira's monumental series of black and white lithographs visualizing Poe's story of A Descent into the Maelstrom, these works of art encourage the eye and the mind to expand and experience the seemingly endless dimensions of Poe's imagination.

Works of art in this exhibition come from the Museum Collection, the University's Special Collections, and private collections. The exhibition is curated by Stephen Margulies, volunteer curator, and Marjorie Balge-Crozier, interim academic curator. This exhibition is sponsored in part by The Hook.

Saturday Special Tours
September 19, October 24,
November 28 & December 26
2-3 pm
In the Museum
RSVP 434.243.2050

Poe's Ghastly Ghost Story and Poetry Competition
Submissions by Thursday, October 10
See details >
Download guidelines (pdf) >

Extemporary Performances and Awards
Friday, October 30, 5:00-6:30 pm
In the Museum

Final Friday Reception
October 30, 5:30-7:30 pm
In the Museum

Lunchtime Talk
by Jerome McGann, John Stewart Bryan
University Professor of English
Wednesday, November 11, 12 pm
In the Museum

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Poe's Ghastly Ghost Story and Poetry Competition

If you like the work of Edgar Allan Poe, we have another writing competition that may appeal to you. Prizes will be awarded for the most inspired works. It is recommended that competition entrants view the Museum exhibition prior to making their submissions.

Entries
Entries may be prose of 1,000 words or less, or poetry not to exceed two standard typewritten pages. Proposals for extemporized work should be submitted in the form of a short written summary.

Deadline for submissions
Saturday, October 10, 5 pm

Submissions should be turned into the Museum’s front desk, or mailed to the Museum to arrive by this date. No electronic submissions will be accepted. Please include your name, address, phone number, and e-mail address, and indicate if you are an enrolled University of Virginia student.

Readings, Performances, and Awards
Friday, October 30, 5-6:30 pm

Competition winners will read their compositions, two selected extemporizers will spontaneously recite, and awards will be presented in the exhibition gallery.

Download guidelines (pdf) >