Delaware Art Museum hosts famous fantasy, science fiction artists
SEE THE UNREAL, EXPERIENCE THE IMPOSSIBLE
Delaware Art Museum hosts famous fantasy, science fiction artists
http://www.delart.org/press-room/delaware-art-museum-hosts-famous-fantasy-science-fiction-artists/
WILMINGTON, DE
Imaginative Realism combines classical painting techniques with narrative subjects, focusing on the unreal, the unseen, and the impossible. The Delaware Art Museum is partnering with IX Arts organizers to host the first IX Preview Weekend September 23 – 25, 2016 at the Museum, celebrating Imaginative Realism and to kick off IX9–the annual groundbreaking art show, symposium, and celebration dedicated solely to the genre. Imaginative Realism is the cutting edge of contemporary painting and illustration and often includes themes related to science fiction and fantasy movies, games, and books. A pop-up exhibition and the weekend of events will feature over 16 contemporary artists internationally recognized for their contributions to Star Wars, The Lord of the Rings, Avatar, Marvel, DC Comics, Blizzard Entertainment, and Wizards of the Coast, among others.
The weekend will also include after-hours events, performances, exclusive workshops with artists, talks, film screenings, artist signings, live demos, and games. The artists represented include Greg Hildebrandt, illustrator of the original Star Wars poster; Boris Vallejo, who is famous for his illustrations of Tarzan and Conan the Barbarian; Charles Vess, whose award-winning work graced the covers of Marvel and DC Comics; and Donato Giancola, known for his paintings for Lucasfilm, DC Comics, Playboy Magazine, and the Syfy Channel.
Other featured artists include Julie Bell, Bob Eggleton, Rebecca Leveille-Guay, Ruth Sanderson, Jordu Schell, Matthew Stewart, William O'Connor, David Palumbo, Dorian Vallejo, Michael Whelan, and Mark Zug. Each artist will present original work in the pop-up show, covering the gamut from illustration through personal/gallery work in a wide range of mediums. All artists represented will be present at the Museum over the course of the weekend.
"When the Museum approached us about the possibility of doing an IX Weekend, we were immediately struck by the appropriateness of this particular partnership," says IX Arts co-founder Patrick Wilshire. "The Delaware Museum holds the country's finest collection of Pre-Raphaelite art and is also the definitive home for Howard Pyle and Brandywine illustrators. Many contemporary Imaginative Realist artists' work is founded in these past traditions."
The Imaginative Realism tradition harkens back to many of the great 19th century Romantic, Pre-Raphaelite and Victorian artists such as John Martin, Edward Burne-Jones, and John William Waterhouse, and moves through many of the great Golden Age illustrators of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, including Howard Pyle and N.C. Wyeth, both well-represented in the Museum's collection. Rarely seen fantasy works from Pyle and other Golden Age illustrators will be displayed in the Museum's permanent collection galleries during IX Preview Weekend.
With the mass exposure to imaginative subjects that has come with science fiction and fantasy movies, games, and books throughout the 20th century and up to the present, the imagery of these artists is more deeply embedded in the public consciousness and popular culture than ever before.
Ticket and registration information will be available this summer. Visit delart.org for details and updates.
Click here for bios of the IX Preview Weekend artists.
About IX 9 and IX Arts
Launched in 2008, IX is the first, groundbreaking art show, symposium, and celebration dedicated solely to Imaginative Realism–bringing artists, students, collectors, and art fans together for an annual gathering intended to inspire and create further awareness and zeal for Imaginative Realism and the realm of the fantastic.
IX is the world's largest gathering of artists, students, and collectors of Imaginative Realist art. Each year, over 200 artists come to IX from around the world for five days to exhibit their work, finding inspiration and buyers in equal measure. Over the years, the show has been attended by artists from all over the United States, Canada, Spain, Australia, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Croatia, and the Netherlands, featuring well over 1,000 pieces of original art and countless books, prints, and other materials each year. In addition, art collectors from as far away as the United Kingdom and continental Europe attend annually.
IX 9 will be held in Reading, Pennsylvania at the GoogleWorks Center for the Arts October 19 – 23, 2016. For more information, visit imaginativerealism.org.
Sponsors and Partners
IX Arts is a partner for IX Preview Weekend. Support is provided in part, by a grant from the Delaware Division of the Arts, a state agency, in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts. The Division promotes Delaware arts events on www.DelawareScene.com.
ABOUT THE DELAWARE ART MUSEUM
Founded in 1912, the Delaware Art Museum is best known for its large collection of British Pre-Raphaelite art, works by Wilmington-native Howard Pyle and fellow American illustrators, and urban landscapes by John Sloan and his circle. Visitors can also enjoy the outdoor Copeland Sculpture Garden and a number of special exhibitions throughout the year.
The Delaware Art Museum is located at 2301 Kentmere Parkway, Wilmington, DE 19806. Open Wednesday: 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., Thursday: 10:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m., and Friday – Sunday: 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Monday and Tuesday: Closed. Admission fees are charged as follows: Adults (19-59) $12, Seniors (60+) $10, Students (with valid ID) $6, Youth (7-18) $6, and Children (6 and under) free. Admission fees are waived Thursdays 4:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. and Sundays 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. thanks to support from generous individuals. For more information, call 302-571-9590 or 866-232-3714 (toll free), or visit the website at delart.org.
Follow the Museum for details and updates:
Twitter: @delartmuseum
Facebook: delawareartmuseum
Instagram: @delartmuseum
For more information, contact:
Jessica Jenkins
Manager of Marketing & Public Relations
jjenkins@delart.org
302.351.8558
