Ludovic Piette (French, 1826–1877), Siesta in the Shade, gouache + pastel, 12.2 x 16.53 inches, private collection
Curated from private collections by the Myrtle Beach Art Museum, A Lasting Impression is a momentous opportunity for residents and visitors alike to experience Impressionist paintings and drawings by major period artists, including Mary Cassatt, Henri Cross, Edward Dégas, Georges d’Espagnat, Armand Guillaumin. Albert Charles Lebourg, Ludovic Piette and Auguste Renoir.
The exhibition is scheduled for June 13-September 27 at Myrtle Beach’s Franklin G. Burroughs-Simeon B. Chapin Art Museum at 3100 South Ocean Boulevard.
The Impressionists began as a group of artists breaking away from the academic traditions of fine art and opening the door for modern art as we know it. Artists painted what they wanted to paint, as opposed to what the Parisian Académie des Beaux-Arts dictated as acceptable. Replacing historical genre paintings were scenes of everyday life in contemporary dress and landscapes composed of bright, new color palettes so very different from the traditional muted earthy toned palettes of academic teachings. Artists painted outside, or en plein air, aiming to capture the fleeting hues of light of that particular point in time.
The Impressionists paved the way for freedom of artistic expression. Many of the founders associated with the movement—like Cassatt, Dégas and Renoir—are household artists’ names that we associate with the collections of big museums, like the Musée d’Orsay in Paris and the Museum of Modern Art (MOMA) in New York.
It is a rare opportunity for an exhibition of Impressionist art to make its way to Myrtle Beach. And it is an even rarer occasion to have public access to works housed in private collections. Be sure not to miss this exciting exhibition that is sure to leave you with a lasting impression.
Franklin G. Burroughs-Simeon B. Chapin Art Museum is open Tuesday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. The museum is closed on Mondays and major holidays.
General admission is $8 for all adult visitors who do not qualify for student, senior, or veteran discounts; $5 for seniors ages 65 and older; veterans are free, with valid ID and children ages 18 and under, museum members and full-time students with a valid ID are free.
With 11 galleries that change throughout the year, Myrtle Beach’s only art museum offers exhibitions featuring paintings, textiles, sculpture, photography, video, ceramics, assemblage, collage and more. A visit to the museum’s exhibitions can be enhanced by its programming, including artist receptions, tours, lectures, workshops and classes for both adults and children.
