Last modified: Friday, April 8, 2011
'Storytellers': New Kinsey Institute exhibit features works from library collections
WHAT: "Storytellers," the spring exhibit in the Kinsey Institute Gallery, features a wide range of story-inspired material and media drawn from the Kinsey Institute's library and art collections.
OPENING RECEPTION: Friday, April 8, 5-7 p.m., free and open to the public. Refreshments will be served.
WHERE: Kinsey Institute Gallery, Morrison Hall, 1165 E. Third St., Bloomington.
WHEN: The exhibit opens on April 8 and runs through July 15. The gallery is open 1:30-5 p.m. weekdays or by appointment.
ADMISSION: Free. Due to adult content, visitors should be 18 or older, unless accompanied by a parent or guardian.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 8, 2011
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- The remarkable library collections of the Kinsey Institute for Research in Sex, Gender and Reproduction are generally the fare of researchers -- until now. A new exhibit displays four centuries of story-inspired art and media to give the public a taste of the rare and diverse holdings.
Eye-popping pulp fiction paperbacks from the 1960s, illustrated French and English erotic novels, underground comic books, Japanese pillow books, and other narrative texts are displayed, along with story-driven art ranging from vintage photographs, prints, watercolors and drawings by anonymous and known artists. "Storytellers" includes a 1970s series of Judy Chicago lithographs and other contemporary pieces as well as a Dutch print titled "The Flood" dating back to the 16th century.
One intriguing print, by Portuguese artist Paula Rego, illustrates Wendy sewing Peter Pan's shadow onto the boy. Judy Chicago's "Butterfly Vagina Erotica" series appears abstract compared to some of the book and magazine illustrations that tell stories using more explicitly sexual imagery.
"We have really high end fine art," said curator Catherine Johnson-Roehr, pointing to the Judy Chicago series and the nearby color lithograph by Marc Chagall from his series based on Arabian Nights. "And we have some material that is low end, such as this photograph of 'Sorority capers,' which is one of a series of images that would have been bought as a set in the 1950s.'"
Bookcover for 1960s pulp fiction
Johnson-Roehr, curator of art, artifacts and photographs at The Kinsey Institute, said exhibits often have a few items from the library, which is housed primarily on the fourth floor of Morrison Hall, but this is the first exhibition to feature so many items from the library collection.
"Storytellers" will be on view through July 15, 2011. The Kinsey Institute Gallery is open 1:30-5 p.m. weekdays or by appointment. Admission is free. The Kinsey Institute is in Morrison Hall, behind Memorial Hall on the south side of the IU Bloomington campus. Guided tours of the Kinsey Institute may be scheduled by calling 812-855-7686.
The Kinsey Institute receives support from the Office of the Vice Provost for Research at IU Bloomington (OVPR). OVPR is dedicated to supporting ongoing faculty research and creative activity and developing new multidisciplinary initiatives to enhance opportunities for federal, state, and private research funding.
Johnson-Roehr can be reached at catjohns@indiana.edu and 812-855-8890. For more information about the Kinsey Institute, visit https://www.kinseyinstitute.org/.
