Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art simultaneously opens three major exhibitions

EUGENE -- (June 11, 2008) -- On Wednesday, June 25 at 6 p.m., the Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art begins its 75th anniversary year by simultaneously opening three major exhibits: "Faster, Higher, Farther: The Spirit of Track-and-Field Sports"; "Edward Burtynsky: The China Series"; and "The Thinking Body."

The three exhibits stem from themes related to the human physical experience in relation to its spatial, cultural and intellectual environment.

"Faster, Higher, Farther: The Spirit of Track-and-Field Sports," on view June 14 through Aug. 31, 2008, spans the last six Olympiads -- Los Angeles 1984, Seoul 1988, Barcelona 1992, Atlanta 1996, Sydney 2000, and Athens 2004. Featuring selected black-and-white and color photographs by David Burnett, Kenneth Jarecke, Annie Leibovitz, and Dilip Mehta, the exhibit presents the artists' photographs in the purest of forms, uncropped, unmanipulated or unenhanced in any way. The human drama and competitive spirit of the athletes engaged in Olympic moments shine through in every single frame.

"Faster, Higher, Farther: The Spirit of Track-and-Field Sports," was conceived by Jeffrey D. Smith. The exhibition is co-curated by Smith and Robert Pledge, both of Contact Press Images.

"Edward Burtynsky: The China Series," open June 26 through Sept. 7, 2008, offers 20 large-scale, newly completed works from Burtynsky's recent trips to China, documenting the rapid social and physical change taking place in that country. Over the past two and a half decades, Burtynsky has been surveying the man-made terrain of quarrying, mining, rail cutting, recycling, oil refining, ship breaking and other pursuits of industrialization. The exhibit draws upon images that illuminate mankind's manipulations of the natural world while showcasing the immense work force and manufacturing prowess of a country in the throes of an industrial revolution. The exhibit was organized by the Southeastern Center for Contemporary Art, Winston Salem, N.C., and is cosponsored at the University of Oregon by the Donald and Coeta Barker Foundation.

"The Thinking Body," a traveling exhibition organized by the JSMA, runs June 26 through Sept. 7, 2008. "The Thinking Body" is a small exhibition focused on contemporary American and European artists and designers whose work considers the body in relation to its physical and intellectual environment. The featured artists' works represent multiple perspectives on reinterpreting jewelry, functional objects and constructed spaces, and exploring the conceptual ranges of these forms and locations. Following its debut at the JSMA, "The Thinking Body" will exhibit Oct.17, 2008, to Jan. 4, 2009, at the San Francisco Museum of Craft and Design.

"The Thinking Body" is co-curated by Kate Wagle, chair of the University of Oregon Art Department and Anya Kivarkis, an art professor at the University of Oregon. Funding is provided by the office of the Office of the President, University of Oregon. "The Thinking Body" exhibit catalogue is sponsored by the Rotasa Foundation.

Listed below is a series of lectures and workshops have been scheduled in conjunction with the three exhibits.

Swing, Tilt and Pull: The Sports Photography of David Burnett in a Digital World
Thursday, June 26, 6 p.m.
David Burnett, acclaimed photojournalist and one of the featured photographers in "Faster, Higher, Farther: The Spirit of Track-and-Field Sports," details his motivations, style of photography, and techniques using medium and large format photography in a world gone digital.

All That "Jav"
Monday, June 30, 1 p.m.
Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and track historian, Jack Pfeifer, and former Olympic athlete, Duncan Atwood (whose personal record for a longest javelin throw is 308 feet 7 inches), answer questions about what a javelin is made of, how far it goes, does it stick in the ground and more. Plus you'll get a chance to try throwing a javelin, too.

"The Thinking Body" Curators' Talk
Wednesday, July 16, 6 p.m.
"The Thinking Body" co-curators, Anya Kivarkis, University of Oregon visiting assistant professor of metals and jewelry, and Kate Wagle, chair of the University of Oregon art department, speak on the contemporary work in the exhibition.

Looking at China, Seeing Our Global Economy
Wednesday, July 30, 6 p.m.
Richard Kraus, Professor Emeritus of Political Science, University of Oregon, discusses how Burtynsky's stunning and stark photographs of China's industrialization collide with our conceptions of China as distant, exotic, and irrelevant to our daily lives. China is now the platform for manufacturing our stuff and the repository for our pollution, all done with low wages guaranteed by an authoritarian government Americans love to hate.

Free Family Day: Art Olympics
Saturday, Aug. 9, 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.
The day after the opening ceremonies in China, engage in a series of art activities focusing on the Olympics, including product design, and movement in art. Come design your own Olympic medal, create a running shoe, design a Greek vase with motifs, design a custom track suit, and participate in a javelin throw. Tours of the "Faster, Higher, Farther: The Spirit of Track-and-Field Sports" exhibition will be led by trained volunteers. Powerbars and sports drinks will also be provided. Please bring a non-perishable food item to donate to Food for Lane County.

Film Screening: "Manufactured Landscapes"
Wednesday, Aug. 20, 6 p.m.
A stunning documentary by award winning director Jennifer Baichwal, "Manufactured Landscapes" (2006) follows photographer Edward Burtynsky to China as he captures the effects of the country's massive industrial revolution. This remarkable film leads us to meditate on human endeavor and its impact on the planet.

About the Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art
The University of Oregon's Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art is a premier Pacific Northwest visual arts center for exhibitions and collections of historic and contemporary art. The JSMA features collections galleries devoted to art from China, Japan, Korea, America and elsewhere as well as changing exhibition galleries. The museum continues a long tradition of bridging international cultures and offering a welcoming destination for discovery and education centered on artistic expression that deepens the appreciation and understanding of the human experience. We engage diverse communities through innovative, interpretive programs in a museum within a major university setting. The JSMA is one of six museums in Oregon accredited by the American Association of Museums. The Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art is located on the University of Oregon campus at 1430 Johnson Lane. Museum hours are 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesdays and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursdays through Sundays. Admission is $5 for adults and $3 for senior citizens, high school students and non-UO college students with ID. Free admission is given to children ages 13 and under, members, and university faculty, staff and students. For more information, contact the Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art, 541-346-3027.

About the University of Oregon
The University of Oregon is a world-class teaching and research institution and Oregon's flagship public university. The UO is a member of the Association of American Universities (AAU), an organization made up of 62 of the leading public and private research institutions in the United States and Canada. Membership in the AAU is by invitation only. The University of Oregon is one of only two AAU members in the Pacific Northwest.

Contact: Debbie Williamson-Smith, 541-346-0942, debbiews@uoregon.edu
Erick Hoffman, 541-346-3162, erickh@uoregon.edu

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