A-to-Z Index

James and Gladys Kemp Lisanby Museum

Skyline Museum



Located in the lower level of the Festival Conference and Student Center, the James and Gladys Kemp Lisanby Museum houses rotating exhibits drawn from the Madison Art Collection.  This coffee friendly gallery welcomes the casual visitor to purchase their favorite brew from the nearby Java City Coffee Bar and enjoy it while viewing art and cultural objects from around the world.  We will also have iPads that can be checked out with a JAC card or Driver's License for use with the exhibits in the gallery!

Currently on Display:

The Lisanby Museum is closed for the summer. 


Upcoming Exhibits:

The Friar's Club: A Charles Lisanby Exhibition
Dates: 9/2/2013-10/11/2013

Birds and Blooms: Beauty Throughout the History of Art
Dates: 10/21/2013-12/6/2013

After Rembrandt
Dates: 1/13/2014-2/28/2014

Charles Lisanby, the Artist
Dates: 3/17/2014-5/2/2014

 

Past Exhibits:

The Folk Artist as Minstrel: John L. Heatwole and his role in shaping Shenandoah Valley folk culture
Dates: 4/1/2013 - 4/26/2013
Opening: 4/5/2013, 5:00-7:00pm

This exhibit focuses on the role of iterative processes, such as storytelling, in Shenandoah Valley folklife in connection to the works of John L. Heatwole, a Valley native and artist.  Heatwole carved pieces and shared stories that reflected Valley folk culture.  Each of his works hark back to a particular 19th century tradition, role in society, or superstition.  Even in his staining technique, Heatwole utilized the methods of period artisans.  As a result, he became the Valley's contemporary minstrel through sharing his own portrayals of folk culture and lore. 

The Mysterious, Absurd, and Ironic: The Photographs of Elliot Erwitt and Manuel Bravo

   Dates: 3/12/2012 - 4/27/2012 

Mentor to an Icon: A Charles Lisanby and Andy Warhol Exhibit

Dates: 1/23/2012 - 3/2/2012 

Age of the Floating World: Chinese and Japanese Art from the 17th-20th Centuries

Dates: 11/15/2011 - 12/16/2011 

Unlocking Italy: Stories from its Past

Dates: 10/17/2011-11/11/2011

Andrea Morgan
ARTH 408
1 April 2012
The West as America
As with most conservative critiques, The West as America show was promptly deemed too politically correct. Vocalizing the struggles of, in this case, Native Americans, falls under the category of multiculturalism which is considered too PC or even anti-American. As Wallach explains, much of this controversy may be because the show came at a time of, “super-charged patriotism” after the Gulf War. Lynne Cheney says that there is a lack of objectivity in the show and Foner and Wiener state that the show is full “political indoctrination” that serves to promote leftist agenda. Complaints from Senators argue that the show is a, “historically inaccurate,” “perverted history.” They worry it is tarnishing the American history that conservatives are so desperate to uphold and preserve. Wallach explains that revisionist shows challenge the museum’s role to produce an, “eternal image of the past” and, “undermine the museum’s authority,” which would be concerns for traditionalists. Final arguments concede that museums should stick to the, “art history approach,” that favors aesthetics over ideology and that they should, ultimately, be ahistorical.
On the other hand, arguments for The West as America show agree that long set notions of the West should be challenged and that we shouldn’t take these “nationalistic” images as ultimate truth. Revisionists want to reinterpret things like Manifest Destiny so they are more historically accurate instead of the idealized meanings the paintings suggest or have been given. America is not without its problems, but as Trachtenberg explains, art has always had a roles in creating, “national myths.” Because art has this meaning and power, supporters ascertain that it should not be dismissive of certain truths of history and minorities. In support of the exhibit, Wallach says the objects are no longer just art but become what he calls historical artifacts with purpose. He argues for context and to having “real” images, not those with a “constructed” ideology. Despite the controversy, some visitors left, “grateful for the enlightenment,” proof that difficult issues shouldn’t simply be glossed over. The interpretation of art and history is an evolving process and revisionist shows such as this are taking a step in the right direction to debunk deeply imbedded, often incorrect myths.