Over 50 original paintings are presented in several big rooms of the museum. For those who saw the Lyman Allyn show in eastern Connecticut a couple of years ago, this is a completely different show—all different artwork.
Most of the major paintings are here, such as Dinosaur Parade, Dinosaur Boulevard, Skybax Rider, and Waterfall City. Some of the paintings are paired with the original reference maquettes.
Throughout the exhibition are display cases showing some of the Museum's fine collection of dinosaur bones and trackways, Pleistocene mammals, and invertebrate fossils, as well as fossilized plants (above). Throughout the exhibition, you can see original specimens similar to the ones that inspired the fantasy world.
At the Farm to Table Supper on February 28, I'll be taking guests through the show on a private tour, telling some of the stories behind the creation of the paintings. This will be an informal event (with very delicious artisanal food), and will be a memorable event for a fantasy or art fan of any age.
On Sunday, March 1, I'll be leading a hands-on Fantasy Drawing Workshop. We'll be drawing with water-soluble colored pencils. Materials will be provided. I'll do a very brief digital presentation and demo, and then let the attendees get to work.
Curator Kirsten Brophy took us behind the scenes to select specimens and still life objects that we will borrow from the museum's collection and set up in the workshop room. This will be a rare chance to draw from real specimens.
They have also got some exquisite bisque sculpts by Jonas Studios of mammals, and we'll borrow a few of those, too. If you're interested in the workshop, you might want to act today, because I'm told there are only two spots left.
If you want to see a Dinotopia exhibition in your region, please contact your local art museum's curator or director and tell them you want to see "Dinotopia: The Fantastical Art of James Gurney" travel there, and that you'll rally your friends, too. A couple of GurneyJourney readers have actually done this and we're in discussions with their city's museums, so it can really happen.
Info and links
The exhibit will continue until May 25.
Fantasy Drawing Workshop, March 1 (almost sold out)
Purchase tickets for the Feb. 28 Farm to Table Supper at this link or call Madeline Raleigh at 203.977.6546.
The exhibition is curated and traveled by the Norman Rockwell Museum.
9 comments:
Looks like a treat and as soon as the snow melts I'll make every effort to get to the show.
I hope the Frist/Nashville is moving forward!
What a great show this is! The curator has done an insightful and superb job arranging and presenting Jim Gurney's great work. The art does not disappoint being seen up close. It is filled with wonder, joy, humor, and amazingly skilled detail.
I was about to ask "Are you ever going to have a show in the Southeast US?" and then I noticed rotm81 mentioned a show in Nashville. Is that in the planning stages?
Thanks, Christopher,
Rotm81 and Danny, We've been in discussion with several interested museums, and will let you know when we can announce future stops in the tour. Most museums plan two or three years in advance.
Wish I were there!
Congrats! I would love to be there...thank you for sharing the tour!
Hi James! I am the research associate at the SM and NC (I wrote the label copies and drew the illustrations for the fossil specimens). I hope you enjoyed the exhibit! We are all so excited to have you on the 28! Thanks in advance for coming and I will see you then!!!
Are you going to be there any other times besides tomorrow? I was hoping to make it but it doesn't look like it is possible.
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