Press in Paris and a Festival at Home
On November 20, Agustín Arteaga, The Eugene McDermott Director, and Nicole Myers, The Lillian and James H. Clark Curator of European Painting and Sculpture, joined partners from the Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec, the Barnes Foundation, and the Musée d’Orsay in Paris to announce the co-organized exhibition Berthe Morisot, Woman Impressionist. More than two dozen journalists attended the press conference at the Musée d’Orsay to hear remarks by the directors of all four institutions.
The internationally touring exhibition will be the first dedicated presentation of Morisot’s work to be held in the United States since 1987, the very first solo exhibition of her work to be mounted in Canada, and the first time since 1941 that a French national museum will devote a monographic show to this important painter. "With this exhibition, the Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec [Barnes Foundation, Dallas Museum of Art, and Musée d’Orsay] hopes to give the painter her rightful place in the world of art," said ICI Radio-Canada. Reporters from Marie Claire, Beaux Arts Magazine, Elle, Connaissance des Arts, and Le Journal des Arts, along with other important international art journalists, were in attendance as the historic exhibition was announced.
Approximately 50 to 60 paintings from public institutions and private collections will trace the exceptional path of a female painter who, in opposition to the norms of her time and social background, became an important member of the Parisian avant-garde. The enthusiastic response from media and art lovers everywhere has grown steadily since the announcement; people are already calling the exhibition a long-awaited blockbuster dedicated to an under-appreciated artist. "History had forgotten the ‘impressionist woman.’ The exhibition that will be dedicated to her by the Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec [Barnes Foundation, Dallas Museum of Art, and Musée d’Orsay] next summer should repair this injustice," wrote La Press +, echoing the sentiments of many.
Over the course of four days, more than 7,000 visitors came to the Museum to learn about Islamic art and culture during our Islamic Art Festival: The Language of Exchange. Many of them shared with staff that it was their first time in the Museum and they definitely plan to come back. KERA and the Dallas Morning News kicked things off with preview coverage.
Festivities began with a royal welcome Wednesday evening when Her Highness Princess Lalla Joumala Alaoui of Morocco, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Morocco to the USA, gave a special lecture to DMA Members. "When we talk about Islamic art,” she said, “a complex and elaborate mosaic comes to mind, as pieces, shapes, and colors merge to form an exquisite ensemble.” Her Highness went on to set a tone of understanding and learning for the days to come, continuing to shed light on an often misinterpreted culture.
During the festival, community members participated in hands-on art projects, heard a variety of musical performances, and enjoyed getting to know fellow art-appreciating neighbors in Dallas. On Friday and Saturday, visitors of all ages and backgrounds lined the Concourse, awaiting their opportunity to view the treasures in the Keir Collection of Islamic Art Gallery, and filled the Atrium to cheer on each performance.
Thank you to Dr. Haroon Rasheed and Mrs. Rania Mohamed, whose generosity made the Islamic Art Festival: The Language of Exchange possible. We are also grateful for our partnerships with the Islamic Art Revival Series, the Texas Muslim Women’s Foundation, the Aga Khan Council for the Central United States, and the World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth. For everyone involved in this rewarding undertaking, your contributions did not go unnoticed. Praise from festival-goers could be heard throughout the building and on social media. Here are just a few of the comments:
Agustín Arteaga
The Eugene McDermott Director