Michelle Obama portrait, John Singer Sargent’s ‘Madame X’ inspire new Mark Arts exhibit
Inspired in large part by two well-known paintings that caused quite a stir at their unveilings, Mark Arts’ current major exhibition focuses on fashion in fine art.
“The jumping off point is the John Singer Sargent portrait “Madame X” from the 1880s and also Amy Sherald’s portrait of Michelle Obama in a couture dress,” said Laura Taylor, Mark Arts’ exhibitions and engagement director.
The “À La Mode: The Language of Fashion in Art” exhibition at Mark Arts, which will be on view through March 15, also ties in with one of the arts education center’s annual fundraisers, a shopping event called Rodeo Drive: ICT Style. This year’s fundraiser kicks off the evening of Thursday, Feb. 6, with a first-access party and fashion show, followed by a daylong shopping event Feb. 7. Tickets range from $20 to $100.
While the 80 or so works in the “À La Mode” exhibition likely may not draw the kind of criticism and comments that “Madame X” and the Michelle Obama portrait initially received, they continue the themes that those two works have in common: that of an artist sending a message or expressing their take on culture, beliefs and style.
Sargent’s portrait, perhaps his most famous, drew a lot of negative reviews when it was unveiled in the 1884 Paris Salon exhibition. Many considered it “shocking,” as Taylor described it, because it went against many norms at the time. The subject was wearing what nowadays most fashionistas call the little black dress.
The “À La Mode” exhibit will have a similar painting. Texas artist Robin Williamson’s portrait “Madame S” is her interpretation of the iconic work.
Sherald’s Obama portrait, too, drew strong reactions when it was unveiled in 2018. While it’s generally been popular among critics and the public, some comments have focused on Sherald’s signature use of gray colors, a painting method called grisaille, to depict the former first lady’s complexion.
For the current exhibition, “We called it ‘À La Mode’ since we were open to any fashion and any time period,” Taylor said.
New Mexico-based artist Shana Levenson, who has a bachelor’s degree in fashion design and a master’s degree in fine art painting, was the juror for the exhibition.
Taylor offered a behind-the-scenes, pre-installation tour of the artworks.
Before being displayed, two works — Colorado artist Brenda Jones’ vertically oversized “Prairie Queen” dress and Seattle artist Damia Smith’s “Fragile Myths I” — required some hang time to knock out the wrinkles in the works.
On closer inspection, one realizes the patchwork pattern of Jones’ “Prairie Queen” dress was made with pieces of repurposed documents, like invoices and sales slips.
For her piece, Smith used brown packaging paper and cotton thread to create oversized earrings.
Florida artist Jennifer Gironda paid homage to Iris Apfel, a designer well-known for her flamboyant style and oversized glasses, in her illustrations.
Several area and regional artists also have works in the show.
Kansas City, Mo.,-based artist Bryce Holt has four works, including a diptych, that showcase his signature vibrant combinations of pop art and surrealism.
El Dorado, Kan., artist Mary Binford Miller, a former fashion illustrator who teaches painting at Mark Arts, portrays the broad shoulder pad look of the ’80s in her painting “Retro Sparkles.”
Various mediums and types of art are represented in the show, including a hair sculpture by Wichitan Trish Dool). There are also sculptures, jewelry pieces, a bejeweled mask and a lacy dress made of hand cut and colored paper.
Admission to the exhibition, displayed in the Gladys and Karl T. Wiedemann Gallery, is free. Mark Arts’ hours are 10 a.m. through 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays.
‘À La Mode: The Language of Fashion in Art’ exhibition
What: a juried exhibition of more than 80 works
Where: Mark Arts, 1307 N. Rock Road
When: through Saturday, March 15; gallery hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays.
Admission: free
More info: 316-634-2787 or markartsks.com
