In 2017 the Farnsworth is presenting two major exhibitions featuring the work of women who have played important roles in twentieth-century American art, both of whom also had deep connections to Maine:  Marguerite Zorach and Louise Nevelson.

Marguerite Zorach – An Art-Filled Life is an exhibition that brings together sixty paintings and textiles by Marguerite Thompson Zorach made between 1910 and 1965. In highlighting her contributions as a modernist who helped changed the course of American art, the Farnsworth presents the full range of her skills.

Louise Nevelson is recognized as one of the most important sculptors of the twentieth century whose wood sculptures, painted in black or white, revolutionized artists’ ideas of what sculpture could be. This exhibition will feature signature examples of these works, drawn from the Farnsworth’s collection, the second largest collection of Nevelson’s work in the world.

A figurative show featuring multiple Art Collector Maine artists! Join us on Thursday, January 4th for the opening reception!

Stephen Sondheim’s legendary musical is staged for the first time at the National Theatre and broadcast live to cinemas. New York, 1971. There’s a party on the stage of the Weismann Theatre. Tomorrow the iconic building will be demolished. Thirty years after their final performance, the Follies girls gather to have a few drinks, sing a few songs and lie about themselves.

Dirty Dancing—The Classic Story on Stage is an unprecedented live experience, exploding with heart-pounding music, passionate romance and sensational dancing. Seen by millions across the globe, this worldwide smash hit tells the classic story of Baby and Johnny, two fiercely independent young spirits from different worlds who come together in what will be the most challenging and triumphant summer of their lives. Featuring the hit songs, “Hungry Eyes,” “Hey Baby,” “Do You Love Me?” and the heart-stopping “(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life.” London’s Sunday Express says, “This crowd-pleasing stage adaptation hits the jackpot!” Don’t miss your chance to see this record-breaking live theatre sensation. You’ll have the time of your life!

A figurative show featuring multiple Art Collector Maine artists! Join us on Thursday, January 4th for the opening reception!

Punch needle rug hooking, also called “New England Style,” is easy to learn and fun to do. Create a small square or circular wool hooked mat of your own design. With a punch needle threaded with yarn, the rug is worked from the back to form the loops, instead of from the front, as in traditional rug hooking. Simple, graphic designs work best for this method. Time will be spent introducing and practicing technique, creating a design (perhaps inspired by the museum collection), choosing colors of available 100% wool rug yarn, hooking, and finishing off the project. Participants will have use of Oxford punch needles, hoops and frames during class time as well as all necessary supplies and equipment to complete their project.

In this four-part discussion series led by long-time art museum educator and university instructor Roger Dell, participants will answer important questions concerning contemporary art and its historical context. Each session’s theme will be introduced by a brief slide presentation, followed by an honest and jargon-free conversation about the complexity of understanding contemporary art. Take-home readings will be provided at each session to follow up on ideas and prepare for the next session.

The artist John Baldessari once said “Art is anything an artist does.” Can we be satisfied with that? Writer and critic Susan Sontag believed that art is the process of producing objects of grace, intelligence, expressiveness, energy, and sensuousness. This session will go beyond these two definitions of art, while examining many different answers to the question: “What is art?”