September 29, 2021
FORT WORTH, TX—In conjunction with the U.S. premiere of Turner’s Modern World, the Kimbell Art Museum will offer a series of free online and onsite public programs that explore the British artist J.M.W. Turner’s innovative practice, dramatic compositions and contemporary subjects. Programs include a film series of award-winning titles, lectures with renowned Turner scholars from around the world and drop-in art-making activities inspired by Turner’s techniques.
This exhibition arrives in Fort Worth from Tate Britain, where it was on view earlier this year. The exhibition will conclude its tour at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, in early 2023.
TURNER’S MODERN WORLD
Called “a roaring, wondrous whirlpool of a show” (The Guardian), Turner’s Modern World showcases the astonishing paintings of J.M.W. Turner (1775–1851), one of Britain’s greatest artists. A modern painter for a modern time, Turner immortalized the inventions, events, politics and culture of his era in vivid and dramatic compositions.
See the remarkable events of the early 19th century—from the proliferation of steam engines and whaling ships to the military and political battles at home and abroad—unfold across more than 100 works that reveal Turner’s new and radical way of painting. Turner surpassed other artists by presenting contemporary subjects in a revolutionary style—an accomplishment that established him as one of the founders of modern art. On view at the Kimbell Art Museum from October 17, 2021, through February 6, 2022.
* Dates and details subject to change. Please visit kimbellart.org/calendar for up-to-date information.
FREE PUBLIC PROGRAMS
Inaugural Lecture: Turner’s Modern World
J.M.W. Turner in the Modern World
George T. M. Shackelford, deputy director
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 16, 11 a.m.
Online program (YouTube Premiere)
No registration required
“To be modern” meant something particular in Britain and the Continent in Turner’s lifetime. In an age where extraordinary technical and industrial advancement were coupled with rapidly evolving social and intellectual structures, it was difficult to remain abreast of the march of time. Turner’s triumphant modernity will be placed in the context of international efforts to discover the “heroism of modern life.” This free program inaugurates the exhibition Turner’s Modern World.
Also streamed in the Pavilion Auditorium (seating is limited) at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.
Film Series
Turner on Screen
SELECTED SUNDAYS, 2 p.m.
Pavilion Auditorium (seating is limited)
Mr. Turner (2014, 150 min.)
OCTOBER 24 and JANUARY 23
Turner at Tate (2006, 59 min.)
NOVEMBER 21
How the Victorians Built Britain: How Britain Got Moving (2018, 43 min.) & J.M.W. Turner (2007, 30 min.)
DECEMBER 19
The life and times of the British artist J.M.W. Turner have inspired a range of big- and small-screen productions that offer perspectives on his legendary persona and the dramatic social changes that informed his subjects and revolutionary style. This sampling includes an award-winning characterization of the artist, an in-depth exploration of the greatest repository of Turner’s work and a look at one facet of Victorian London’s modern transformation. Offered in conjunction with Turner’s Modern World.
Friday Evening Lectures
SELECTED FRIDAYS, 6 p.m.
The Making of “Turner’s Modern World”
David Blayney Brown, former senior curator, Tate Britain, London
Amy Concannon, senior curator, Tate Britain, London
Moderator: George T.M. Shackelford, deputy director
NOVEMBER 12
Online program (YouTube Premiere)
No registration required
Tate Britain houses the largest repository of Turner’s artwork, an inexhaustible mine for exploring the pioneering spirit of one of Britain’s most beloved artists. In this online conversation, Tate curators speak about the exhibition Turner’s Modern World and how the artist captured the industrial and societal revolutions of his time.
“Painting Is a Strange Business”: A Discussion of Turner’s Technique
Mark Aronson, deputy director and chief conservator, Yale Center for British Art, and chair, Shared Conservation Laboratory, Institute for the Preservation of Cultural Heritage, New Haven, Connecticut
DECEMBER 3
Location and registration details to be announced
Turner was famously secretive about his painting techniques, and some of his radical technical experiments challenge conservators charged to care for them, but close examination and scientific study reveal an artist who could be both traditional and mysterious.
Turner’s “Slave Ship”: “Written upon the sky in lines of blood, girded with condemnation”
Nancy J. Scott, professor of fine arts, Brandeis University, Waltham, Massachusetts
James Walvin, professor emeritus in history, University of York, United Kingdom
JANUARY 14
Location and registration details to be announced
Slave Ship (Slavers Throwing Overboard the Dead and Dying, Typhoon Coming On), Turner’s 1840 masterwork, is unfortunately too fragile to leave the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. The painting occupies a critical place in the artist’s oeuvre; its subject, too, is of critical importance, in Turner’s time and in our own. In this talk, a scholar of art history and an expert in the history of slavery and Britain will elucidate the creation, exhibition, provenance and historical context of this, one of Turner’s most modern works.
Wednesday Series: Art in Context
Astonishment! The Sublime, J.M.W. Turner, and American Art
Mark Thistlethwaite, Kay and Velma Kimbell Chair of Art History Emeritus, School of Art, Texas Christian University, Fort Worth
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 19, 12:30 p.m.
Pavilion Auditorium (seating is limited)
No registration required
In his influential 1757 treatise A Philosophical Inquiry into the Origins of the Beautiful and the Sublime, Edmund Burke declares: “Astonishment is the effect of the sublime in its highest degree.” Taking Burke’s assertion as its starting point, this talk will examine the aesthetic concept of the sublime and the reception of the art of J.M.W. Turner within the context of 19th-century American painting.
DISCUSSIONS AND WORKSHOPS FOR ADULTS
Wednesday Workshop in a Box
SELECTED WEDNESDAYS, 2–4:30 p.m.
Online program (Zoom)
Registration required
Turner-Inspired Paintings: Tempestuous Seas
OCTOBER 27
Turner-Inspired Prints: Sublime Sunsets
DECEMBER 1
Join us for virtual studio programs from the comfort of your own home! Creative art-making lessons designed for all levels will highlight the exhibition Turner’s Modern World. Flexible options for participation include instructional videos and group discussions via Zoom; arts kits are available for an additional fee.
KIDS AND FAMILY PROGRAMS
Celebrating Turner Family Weekend
SATURDAY–SUNDAY, JANUARY 8–9, 1–3 p.m.
Kahn West Lobby
Free; no registration required
Pick up free art kits and gallery exploration guides inspired by the special exhibition Turner’s Modern World and the Kimbell’s permanent collection. While supplies last.
SCHOOL AND EDUCATOR PROGRAMS
University Evening
Turner’s Modern World
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 4–6 p.m.
Piano Pavilion
Free; registration required
Students and faculty from area colleges and universities are invited to explore the current special exhibition, participate in gallery and studio activities and win trivia game prizes.
Topics for Teachers
Turner’s Modern World
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 6
Morning Session: 10 a.m.–noon
Afternoon Session: 1:30–3:30 p.m.
Piano Pavilion; space is limited
Free; registration required
Complementary teacher workshops will provide in-depth training focusing on the current special exhibition. Teachers may sign up for either or both sessions, which will feature staff presentations and gallery discussions in the morning followed by a studio-art activity in the afternoon. Includes free instructional materials and CPE credits.
MEMBER EVENTS
Members-Only Previews
Turner’s Modern World
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 15, noon–7 p.m.
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 16, 10 a.m.–4 p.m.
Piano Pavilion
Free; no registration required
Members are invited to be among the first to visit Turner's Modern World at these free Member Previews. These informal events are wonderful opportunities to view the exhibition before it opens to all on Sunday, October 17.
Members-Only Early-Entry Hours
Turner’s Modern World
SATURDAYS, OCTOBER 23 and 30, 9–10 a.m.
SUNDAYS, OCTOBER 24 and 31, 11 a.m.–noon
Piano Pavilion
Free; no registration required
Visit the special exhibition Turner's Modern World an hour before the Kimbell is open to the public.
Members’ Exhibition Tours
Turner’s Modern World
SATURDAYS, NOVEMBER 6, DECEMBER 4, and JANUARY 15, 2 p.m.
Piano Pavilion; space is limited
Free; registration required
Learn about current special exhibitions during docent-guided tours that provide historical context, discuss overarching themes and highlight individual artworks. Members may invite one nonmember guest.
Kimbell Young Professional Friends
The Kimbell Young Professional Friends, a dynamic group of art enthusiasts ages 21–40, are invited to unique events throughout the year exploring the museum’s programs and the burgeoning regional art scene. Events include entertaining networking events, special member social hours and private tours of selected exhibitions. For more information or to join, call 817-332-8451, ext. 293.
Turner’s Modern World
JANUARY 2022
Tour the exhibition with George T.M. Shackelford, deputy director. Invitation to be mailed in December.
ABOUT THE KIMBELL ART MUSEUM
The Kimbell Art Museum, owned and operated by the Kimbell Art Foundation, is internationally renowned for both its collections and its architecture. The Kimbell’s collections range in period from antiquity to the 20th century and include European masterpieces by artists such as Fra Angelico, Michelangelo, Caravaggio, Bernini, Velázquez, Vigée Le Brun, Monet, Cézanne, Picasso and Matisse; important collections of Egyptian and classical antiquities; and the art of Asia, Africa and the Ancient Americas.
The museum’s 1972 building, designed by the American architect Louis I. Kahn, is widely regarded as one of the outstanding architectural achievements of the modern era. A second building, designed by Italian architect Renzo Piano, opened in 2013 and now provides space for special exhibitions, dedicated classrooms and a 289-seat auditorium with excellent acoustics for music. For more information, visit kimbellart.org.
FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
For more information, contact [email protected].