Two new exhibitions opened on September 19 at the Jan Shrem and Maria Manetti Shrem Museum of Art at the University of California, Davis, that shed new light on artistic traditions, ideas and mediums. Light into Density: Abstract Encounters 1920s–1960s |From the Collection of Jan Shrem and Maria Manetti Shrem comprises paintings from world-renowned abstract artists shown together for the first time in decades.
Light into Density: Abstract Encounters 1920s–1960s|From the Collection of Jan Shrem and Maria Manetti Shrem is the museum’s first student-curated and student-designed exhibition. Most of the 15 paintings — including works by Francis Bacon, Salvador Dalí, Vassily Kandinsky, Wifredo Lam and Joan Miró — are on public view for the first time in decades. Thirty-two undergraduate and graduate art history, museum studies and design students worked on the exhibition throughout the past year as part of dedicated classes. Their goal was to demystify abstract art and to encourage visitors’ personal interpretations.
The works in Light into Density come from the collection of art lovers and museum founding donors Jan Shrem and Maria Manetti Shrem, and are shared between the Manetti Shrem Museum and San Francisco Museum of Modern Art — the two museums the couple has supported the most.
“I am so delighted this exhibition is happening after 30 years,” said Manetti Shrem, who this year made a landmark gift to support arts programs and students at UC Davis. “It's the first time these unparalleled works of 20th century art will be shown together. It’s also very special that UC Davis students worked to curate such a unique exhibition.”
