When the Gibbes Museum opened in 1905, the nation celebrated what Charleston has always understood: the power of art – to inspire our imagination, heal our hurt, and nourish our souls.
Face Lift: Caption This!Week Eight: Character Study
Halloween is just around the corner. These works of art capture the theme of costume and disguise. Ghosts and gobblins may abound this holiday, but these creative characters—Ichikawa Danjuro VI as Arakawa Taro and the ghoulish mask design by Edward Jennings—should inspire you to think (or dress) outside the box. Give us some candy—Caption This!
Thanks to all who have participated in our contest! Week Eight will be your last opportunity to win free admission to the Gibbes and a chance at a facial from The Spa at Charleston Place.
Performance and role-playing has been explored through portraiture since the fifteenth century. Here, Toshusai Sharaku captures Japanese kabuki theater actor, Ichikawa Danjuro VI, playing the dramatic role of Arakawa Taro. Danjuro was one of the chief actors among the most famous kabuki acting clans. He was seventeen at the time of this portrait. Much like Hollywood actors in America today, famous theater actors in Japan were idolized by the people, and portraits of the actors in character sold by the thousands.
Centuries later, artist and stage designer, Edward Jennings, used his theatrical portrait designs for a more personal purpose. From his paintings he created wire and papier-mâché masks to portray dramatic characters. His designs exemplify the intense subjects he produced. Jennings was born with a severe speech impediment and it was from behind these masks that he was able to reveal his dramatic personality. He is known to have performed interpretive dances for groups of friends crowned with his creations.
The Gibbes to Unveil Exhibition of Contemporary Portraits During Art Charleston 2023
The Gibbes Museum of Art will unveil an exhibition of powerful portraits by renowned contemporary painter Beverly McIver on April 28 during the museum’s visual arts festival Art Charleston. Beverly […]
The Gibbes Museum of Art to Exhibit Recent Works by Contemporary Painter Damian Stamer 2023
The Gibbes Museum of Art will exhibit a collection of works by former 1858 Prize finalist, Damian Stamer, from March 17 – Oct. 15, 2023. Damian Stamer: Ruminations showcases new […]
The Gibbes Museum of Art Announces 2023 Special Exhibitions and Visiting Artists
The Gibbes Museum of Art is pleased to announce its schedule of special exhibitions and class of Visiting Artists coming to the museum in 2023. The lineup of exhibitions explores […]
Gibbes Museum of Art to Display Rare Collection of Greek Geometric Art 2022
The Gibbes Museum of Art will display From Chaos to Order: Greek Geometric Art from the Sol Rabin Collection, the first major museum exhibition in the U.S. to focus on […]