Picasso’s Richmond Period

  

Picasso’s Richmond Period: a 14-week romance at the VMFA   

By F.T. Rea 

Published Feb. 18, 2011, in the Richmond Times-Dispatch  

It was built … now they are coming.

“It” is the newly renovated Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. “They” are the art lovers, tourists from all over the East Coast and your neighbors in Richmond. 

Beyond the stunning museum building itself the special attraction is a 176-piece collection of Pablo Picasso’s favorites, which is on display at the VMFA in ten galleries. No doubt, this eye-popping exhibition is about to make Picasso images and conversations ubiquitous in Richmond.

Thus, Richmond is embarking on a spring fling with the notion of all things Picasso.

Picasso: Masterpieces from the Musée National Picasso, Paris opens to the public on Sat., Feb. 19 and will be at the VMFA through May 15, 2011. Then it moves on to San Francisco. (Admission is $20; free to VMFA members and children six and under. Discounts are available to seniors, students and groups. The museum is open every day.)   

“This exhibition is without a doubt a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the American public,” said Alex Nyerges, now entering his fifth year as the VMFA’s Director.

An art show to rival this one has probably never be presented in Richmond. So, don’t be surprised by the number of way-out-of-town accents you’re going to hear in Carytown shops and the Fan District’s restaurants over the next 12 weeks. The impact on this city’s economy is expected to be significant.

In the long run, though, perhaps local school children will be the greatest beneficiaries of this chance to see a collection of objects that did much to shape the world’s art history over eight decades -- art that most people only ever see in photographs.

It will be interesting to see how many kids’ art shows will have Picasso-influenced pieces in them over the next year. So, don’t scold the sixth-graders for putting both eyeballs on the same side of a face ... they will just be having a little fun.

Nyerges said, “An exhibition this monumental is extremely rare, especially one that spans the entire career of a figure who many consider the most influential, innovative and creative artist of the 20th century.”

Since this collection of Picasso (1881-1973) paintings, drawings, sculpture, etc., is showing in just seven cities, worldwide, how did Richmond end up being the only one on the East Coast to have it?  

There are two parts to the answer: How the collection came to be, and how the VMFA got to be one of just three museums in America to be in on this unprecedented tour.

In 1985 the Musée National Picasso opened in a renovated 17th century mansion in Paris. The art in the museum came directly from Picasso’s estate. To settle the inheritance bill with the French government his heirs donated the pieces from Picasso’s collection of his own work. For most of his life he had kept certain favorite pieces.

Now the museum in Paris is being renovated, so to get some of the art out of the way -- and to make some money to defray renovation expenses -- a traveling show was put together by Anne Baldassari, the Paris museum’s director. She also oversaw the installation of the show at the VMFA.

At the media preview (on Thursday morning) Baldassari said, with a decidedly French accent, that she’s a little bit jealous of the display capabilities of the VMFA.

Aside from whatever pull Nyerges has to bring in such an attraction, it seems the Richmond museum’s fancy new look itself -- a $150 million upgrade -- played a significant role in the decision made in France to include it on the tour.

Then there’s the exhibition’s presenting sponsor’s backing: Altria Group said the right underwriting number to Baldassari and her colleagues. Altria also kicked in significantly on the previously mentioned renovation at 200 N. Boulevard.

This time Richmond stepped up to the plate and hit a home run. It beat out other cities because it demonstrated it offered a better opportunity for the French museum to cash in on schlepping Picasso’s private collection to America for a limited run in three cities.

While it may not always be true when talking about sports stadiums, or convention centers, etc., in this case “it” was built properly, and now “they” are going to come in droves. This Picasso show is going to change many perceptions of Richmond, Virginia.

“Painting is just another way of keeping a diary,” once commented Picasso.

The Picasso masterpieces show is simply dazzling! Don’t miss this chance to peruse and ponder Picasso’s fascinating diary.

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