See Van Gogh and His Inspirations this fall at the Columbia Museum of Art

The Columbia Museum of Art proudly announces the major exhibitionVan Gogh and His Inspirations, on view Friday, October 4, 2019, through Sunday, January 12, 2020. Organized by the CMA and presented by the Blanchard Family, Van Gogh and His Inspirations is an original exhibition that brings the work of one of the most beloved artists in the world to Columbia, South Carolina, alongside a variety of handpicked paintings and drawings that shaped his vision.

“Van Gogh and His Inspirations represents an exhilarating high-water mark for exhibitions at the Columbia Museum of Art,” says Executive Director Della Watkins. “This show is the commitment of years of work to secure loans from museums and private collections; plan complicated logistical details; establish national, statewide, and local partners in arts, culture, tourism, marketing, hospitality, and education; and honor audience requests for internationally significant shows in the Midlands. Get ready to immerse yourself in fascinating stories, breathtaking art, and get to know the real Van Gogh, one of history’s most mysterious and intense artists.”

Art historians and South Carolina residents Steven Naifeh and his late partner Greg Smith made a major contribution to the understanding of Van Gogh through the publication of their monumental book (and New York Times bestseller) Van Gogh: The Life in 2011. During the decade spent researching and writing this book, with access to the Van Gogh Museum archives and translations of previously ignored documents, the pair built a coherent collection of works by artists who influenced Van Gogh’s aesthetic thinking. On view to the public for the first time, this private collection speaks directly to Van Gogh’s artistic evolution.

In addition to the Smith/Naifeh collection used as its foundation, Van Gogh and His Inspirations includes loans from 12 museums across the U.S. to explore the development of Van Gogh through the lens of the artists who inspired him. The exhibition also brings 12 paintings and drawings by Van Gogh himself, including an outstanding painting of flower fields from the National Gallery of Art, a sensitive painting of a peasant weaving from The Boston Museum of Fine Art, and the world-famous self-portrait from the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art. Side-by-side with their inspirations, these works offer visitors a window into the mind of Van Gogh.

“No artist emerges out of a vacuum, including Van Gogh,” says Chief Curator Will South. “All of us are shaped by our culture, our time, our experiences. The works by Van Gogh being loaned for this exhibition reveal his connections to the artists and culture he was part of: Flower Beds in Holland from the National Gallery of Art, for example, shows how he looked hard at the work of other landscapists like Charles-Francois Daubigny in addition to that of the Impressionists. His famous Self-Portrait from the Wadsworth Atheneum shows how Van Gogh’s ability to translate psychological intensity stretches back to predecessors such as Rembrandt. This exhibition explores, in short, how Van Gogh became Van Gogh.”

In total, Van Gogh and His Inspirations consists of some 60 works, largely paintings but also drawings and etchings, that form a unique, landmark exhibition building on the scholarship of Smith and Naifeh. Notable artists featured range from the incredibly influential and famous, including Rembrandt van Rijn and Jean-Francois Millet, to the lesser-known but highly talented, such as Charles-François Daubigny, Jean-Joseph Benjamin-Constant, and Anton Gerhard Alexander van Rappard.

“Before Vincent, there were surely visual pyrotechnics on canvas. But it was Van Gogh, laying dollop after dollop of brilliant color onto his canvases, consciously seizing the opportunity for copious amounts of complementary hues, who achieved the great intensity that resulted from what appeared to others at the time to be a deranged methodology,” says South. “It was this extraordinary use of color that made Van Gogh compelling, even in his own lifetime. Van Gogh and His Inspirations is a chance to see the work of artists who inspired him, to see what he borrowed from other artists, and to experience how he became the first fully Expressionist painter. It is a rare opportunity in the art world, and it just happens to be in Columbia.”

Presented by the Blanchard Family.

This exhibition is supported by an indemnity from the Federal Council on the Arts and the Humanities.

A full-color catalogue will accompany the exhibition and document, for the first time, the Naifeh/Smith Collection.

Van Gogh Field Trips for K-12 schools

Thanks to the generosity of Premier Programming Sponsor First Citizens Bank, field trip admission to Van Gogh and His Inspirations is free. CMA field trips engage students with art through a discussion-based approach that sparks curiosity, creating a personal connection that helps them retain information. School programs at the CMA are nationally recognized for their excellence in providing innovative cross-curricular learning experiences for all ages based on state and national standards. Field trip advanced registration is required as availability is limited.

A Selection of Van Gogh and His Inspirations Programs:

Support for the Van Gogh and His Inspirations programming schedule provided by Premier Programming Sponsor: First Citizens Bank.

Public Tours: Van Gogh and His Inspirations
Saturdays | 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. 
Alternating Wednesdays beginning October 9 | 2:00 p.m.
Vincent van Gogh is one of the most recognizable and sought-after artists today. But how did he become the artist we now know him to be? Experience Van Gogh and His Inspirations with insights from one of our trained docents as they provide context for the spheres Van Gogh traveled in, the artists he admired, and how those influences helped shape his signature style. Free with membership or Van Gogh admission.

Getting to Know Van Gogh: A Lecture Series
Dive into the world of Van Gogh and His Inspirations in this lecture series featuring CMA staff and guest experts. Free with membership or Van Gogh admission.

Getting to Know Van Gogh with Will South
Saturday, October 5 | 2:00 p.m.
Van Gogh is a famous example of artistic genius. It is widely believed that his abilities in painting were beyond the abilities of the average person—that he was special, different, gifted, a genius. This talk examines the notion of genius and asks if there is not a more rational explanation for artistic achievement. CMA Chief Curator Will South looks at the many sources Van Gogh used to arrive at his unique and personal style, many of which are featured in the current exhibition. South provides an alternative to the idea of genius, an alternative that does not diminish Van Gogh but rather widens our appreciation of one of art history’s most enduring legends.

Getting to Know Van Gogh with Steven Naifeh
Wednesday, October 16 | 6:00 p.m.
Van Gogh and His Inspirations builds on the scholarship of artists, collectors, and art historians Steven Naifeh and his late partner Gregory White Smith in their biography Van Gogh: The Life. Since its publication, the book has been widely praised and identified as “the definitive work” on the artist by the Van Gogh Museum. Join us for an evening celebrating the life and work of Van Gogh as Naifeh discusses the artist in concert with his predecessors and major influences. The lecture is followed with a book signing.

Getting to Know Van Gogh with Stephanie Viani Hromadka
Sunday, November 10 | 2:00 p.m.
Neuroscientist Stephanie Viani Hromadka weighs in on the notion of Van Gogh and the concept of The Spread Mind, in which experience and the world are one.

Getting to Know Van Gogh with Alyssa Velazquez
Sunday, December 8 | 2:00 p.m.
In the tradition of Quirk’s bestselling Secret Lives of the U.S. Presidents, Alyssa Velazquez divulges some of the most outrageous and uncensored profiles of the great artists in Van Gogh and His Inspirations. There will be little-known facts, outright bizarre stories, and sheep. Lots of sheep. With these strange but true tales gleaned through her work on the exhibition catalog, Velazquez weaves a narrative of the interconnected artists that directly, or indirectly, influenced Van Gogh.

Evening for Educators
Wednesday, October 9 | 4:30 – 6:30 p.m.
Educators from across the state are invited to join the CMA for an evening of art, wine, and nibbles as they enjoy a private look at new exhibitions. Chief Curator Will South gives a talk on Van Gogh and his place in history before viewing Van Gogh and His Inspirations. Educators are invited to explore the exhibition galleries, learn about new tour scripts, and try out lesson plan materials focusing on Van Gogh and His Inspirations. Attendees receive documentation for professional development renewal credit. Free. Registration required as space is limited.

Members’ Opening Party for Van Gogh and His Inspirations
Thursday, October 10 | 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Celebrate the opening of Van Gogh and His Inspirations with exhibition overviews from Chief Curator Will South at 6:15 and 7:15. Members only. Cash bar. $5 valet parking. RSVP to 803-799-2810 or columbiamuseum.org.

Art Class: Plein Air Oil Painting
Saturday, October 12 and Sunday, October 27 | 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
In this four-hour class, students create their own Impressionistic painting inspired by Van Gogh and His Inspirations as well as the outside studio setting of Boyd Plaza. Taught by local artist and About Face founder David Phillips. Ages 15 and up. All materials and equipment provided. $70 / $56 for members.

An Evening with the Curator
Mondays, October 21, November 4, November 18, and December 2 | 6:00 – 7:30 p.m.
Join Chief Curator Will South for an exclusive after-hours tour through Van Gogh and His Inspirations. Get up close and personal with the exhibition in a small group setting and gain invaluable insights from the curator responsible for the exhibition. Members only. $50.

Art Class: Oil Painting
Wednesdays, November 6, 13, and 20 | 6:00 – 9:00 p.m.
Explore the process of oil painting to better understand color blending, brushwork, and glazing in this three-part painting class. Taught by Laurel Archie, a professional painter and instructor who studied art in Chicago, Italy, and Paris before earning her Masters of Fine Arts from USC and teaching at their School of Visual Art and Design. All skill levels welcome. Some familiarity with drawing and painting is helpful. Ages 15 and up. Supplies and equipment provided. $140 / $112 for members.

Van Gogh to the Movies: A Film Series
Join us for this series featuring movies about or influenced by Vincent van Gogh. Free with membership or Van Gogh admission.

Van Gogh to the Movies: Akira Kurosawa’s Dreams
Tuesday, November 5 | 6:00 p.m.
This sumptuous Akira Kurosawa film based on the filmmaker’s own dreams consists of eight colorful vignettes ranging from tales of childlike wonder to apocalyptic apparitions. One of these stories, entitled “Crows,” serves as a tribute to Vincent van Gogh, played by director Martin Scorsese. Rated PG. 2 hours.

Van Gogh to the Movies: Vincent van Gogh: A New Way of Seeing
Sunday, December 1 | 2:00 p.m.
This documentary details the life of Vincent van Gogh, as presented through the collection of the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam with exclusive interviews of the curatorial team. The museum gives an intimate look at Vincent’s life through his brother Theo’s letter collection as well as the over 200 paintings he inherited after his brother’s death. This film has not been rated. 1 hour and 32 minutes.

Van Gogh to the Movies: Vincent & Theo
Sunday, December 15 | 2:00 p.m.
This film explores the complicated relationship between a brilliant but undiscovered painter and his brother. As an art gallery owner, Theo pushes for the recognition that Vincent’s masterpieces deserve, only to meet with abject failure. While Vincent struggles with obscurity and mental illness, Theo faces serious financial difficulties due to poor sales. PG-13. 2 hours and 14 minutes.

Van Gogh to the Movies: Loving Vincent and Talkback Featuring Steven Naifeh
Wednesday, January 1 | 6:00 p.m.
In this film rendered in oil-painted animation, a young man comes to the last hometown of painter Vincent van Gogh to deliver the troubled artist’s final letter and ends up investigating his final days there. Talkback with artist, collector, and Van Gogh scholar Steven Naifeh following the screening. PG-13. 1 hour and 35 minutes.

Gladys’ Gang Toddler Edition: Weather or Not 
Wednesday, November 6 | 10:00 – 11:00 a.m.
This month we explore the work in Van Gogh and His Inspirations and discuss weather. We look for key environmental elements like trees and clouds before creating our own outdoor scenes. Key topic: weather.

This program is specially designed for 2- to 3- year old participants and their adult companions as a way to explore art through movement and play. Gladys’ Gang includes story time, gallery exploration, and a creative studio activity related to the art exploration theme. Siblings welcome! Free. Registration required as space is limited.

Stop-In Studios
Saturday, November 9 | 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. 
Get creative in the studios at this drop-in for all ages held on the second Saturday of every month. This month we bring the outside world into the studios with Van Gogh-inspired landscapes. Free with membership or admission.

Arts & Draughts
Friday, November 15 | 7:00 – 11:00 p.m.
Art, drink, and be happy! Enjoy beer tastings from The Whig, live musical performances, D.I.Y. art projects, scavenger hunts, unique perspective tours, and a variety of food vendors. $10 / $5 for members. Join or renew membership or volunteer that night and get in free.

First Citizens Family Day
Saturday, November 16 | 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Join us for a Family Fun Day on Boyd Plaza to celebrate Van Gogh and His Inspirationswith exhibition-themed activities and programming for the entire family, from hands-on art making to musical performances and more.

Gladys’ Gang Preschool Edition: Weather or Not 
Wednesday, November 20 | 10:00 – 11:00 a.m.
This month we explore the work in Van Gogh and His Inspirations and discuss weather. We look for key environmental elements like trees and clouds before creating our own outdoor scenes. Key topic: weather.

This program is specially designed for 4- to 5- year old participants and their adult companions as a way to explore art through play and inquiry. Gladys’ Gang builds skills for kindergarten readiness through story time, gallery conversations, and a creative studio project related to the art exploration theme. Siblings welcome! Free. Registration required as space is limited.

ArtBreak: Van Gogh and French Literature
Wednesday, November 20 | Café at 10:30 a.m. | Program at 11:00 a.m.
USC French Professor Alexandre Bonafos discusses the rise of the realist novel and how Van Gogh’s deep appreciation of Emile Zola impacted his work. Begin the morning at the museum at 10:30 a.m. with pastries and coffee sold at a pop-up café provided by Curiosity Coffee Bar. Program starts at 11:00 a.m. Free with membership or Van Gogh admission.

ArtBreak is a program that looks at art through a different lens. Each session features a speaker sharing their interpretation of works of art at the CMA.

Gladys’ Gang Toddler Edition: Counting Sheep 
Wednesday, December 4 | 10:00 – 11:00 a.m.
This month we discuss the animals in Van Gogh and His Inspirations and examine the different ways animals and humans can live and work together. Then we create our own baa-utiful works of art. Key topic: animals.

This program is specially designed for 2- to 3- year old participants and their adult companions as a way to explore art through movement and play. Gladys’ Gang includes story time, gallery exploration, and a creative studio activity related to the art exploration theme. Siblings welcome!

Stop-In Studios
Saturday, December 14 | 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Get creative in the studios at this drop-in for all ages held on the second Saturday of every month. This month we make our own wax seal stamps inspired by the letters of Van Gogh. Free with membership or admission.

Gladys’ Gang Preschool Edition: Counting Sheep  
Wednesday, December 18 | 10:00 – 11:00 a.m.
This month we discuss the animals in Van Gogh and His Inspirations and examine the different ways animals and humans can live and work together. Then we create our own baa-utiful works of art. Key topic: animals.

This program is specially designed for 4- to 5- year old participants and their adult companions as a way to explore art through play and inquiry. Gladys’ Gang builds skills for kindergarten readiness through story time, gallery conversations, and a creative studio project related to the art exploration theme. Siblings welcome! Free. Registration required as space is limited.

Letter Write-In
Thursday, December 26 | 2:00 – 5:00 p.m.
Van Gogh is known today not only for his art but for the many letters he left behind. The correspondence he kept with his brother, sister, and fellow artists have filled books and helped us to paint a clearer picture of his life experiences. As a nod to Van Gogh, drop in for an afternoon devoted to the art of letter writing. We have stationery, writing implements, typewriters, envelopes, and more. Bring along your addresses, stamps, and any other supplies you’d like to use. Vive la snail mail! Cash bar. Free with membership or Van Gogh admission.

Ikebana Display and Demonstration
Sunday, January 12 | 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Ikebana is the Japanese art of flower arrangement that combines natural elements with an artistic touch. The local Ikebana Chapter 182 will be on hand in The Loft to display their arrangements inspired by pieces in the Van Gogh and His Inspirations exhibition. Free with membership or Van Gogh admission.

For more information, visit columbiamuseum.org.
For hi-res images, email [email protected].