#The James Museum

[longlistshort]

(Hung Liu “Portrait of China Mary”, 2006, Oil on canvas)

Currently at The James Museum in St. Pete, is From Far East to West: The Chinese American Frontier, an informative show that includes many beautiful paintings. There’s so much history in America that often doesn’t get taught in school. This is a great opportunity to learn about this immigration story through artwork as well as text.

From the museum about the exhibition-

While European American settlers gradually pushed the United States frontier westward throughout the 1800s, the West coast of the country was developing independently as well. Accelerated by the discovery of gold mid-century, the population boom included Chinese immigrants who crossed the Pacific Ocean to California.

Most 19th century Chinese immigrants came to their new country from the coastal Canton region (province of Guangdong today) in southeastern China. Starting over on a different continent away from familiar surroundings and culture would be challenging, but for many decades anti-Chinese hostility and exclusion laws made settling in the United States even more difficult. The achievements of Chinese immigrants paved a path for future generations and are a testament to strength and perseverance.

The foundation for the exhibition highlights narratives of Chinese America from the 1850s to the 1930s. The paintings-all created by Chinese Americans in the 21st century-reflect inspiration from this history. The painters are also fueled by their own, more recent immigration stories to the United States after China’s Cultural Revolution (1966-1976) and their rigorous art training in the government-sponsored movement of Socialist Realism. After China opened to the rest of the world in the late 1970s, many Chinese artists-like Mian Situ, Jie Wei Zhou, Benjamin Wu, Hung Liu, and Z.S. Liang, all featured here were inspired to immigrate to the United States in search of greater opportunity.

Here, these artists’ historical interpretations speak to culture, identity, community, and resilience. Related objects and ephemera from the period support these stories. From the Gold Rush to Angel Island, this exhibition reveals often overlooked but significant contributions and perspectives of Chinese immigrants that deepen our understanding of U.S. history.

Hung Liu “Dandelion with Small Bird”, 2017 Mixed media

About the above painting from the museum-

Dandelions and their fluffy seed pods can be found anywhere in the world and thrive wherever they land. Their migratory nature allows them to survive a journey across vast lands even across oceans and take root anywhere in the world. For Liu, the dandelion represents her own tenacity and ability to thrive in the face of adversity.

The dandelions, fragile in nature and tattered by the lightest breeze, mimic how images, and personal narratives, too, can be scattered by time and the winds of history —as well as by the rhythms of feast and famine … –Hung Liu

Mian Situ “Blasting a Route Through the Sierra Nevada, 1865, Central Pacific Railroad”, 2018, Oil on canvas

Mian Situ “The Gold Seekers , Chinese Camp, 1850”, 2015, Oil on canvas

Jie Wei Zhou “Dragon Parade”, 2012, Oil on Linen

This exhibition is on view until 1/28/24.

[life-imitates-art-far-more]

William James Webbe (1830-1904) "Rabbit amid Ferns and Flowering Plants" (1855) Oil on canvas Located in the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, Massachusetts, United States

[lionofchaeronea]

Umbrella Pines in the Villa Borghese, Rome, William James Müller, 1839

[james-tissot-paintings]

-Young Lady In A Boat-

[389]

Two masks of Richard David James AKA Aphex Twin at the opening of new exhibition "Electronic: From Kraftwerk to The Chemical Brothers" at The Design Museum on July 28, 2020 in London, England.

Photo by David M. Benett

[theinvisiblemuseum]

he was cool as heck

[v1tfrma]

I know Josh is a psycho, but Rami Malek is so fit

[symbolism-art-history]

The Apparition (1885) by James Tissot

[bitingmypawsoff]

More logurt, anyone?

[victusinveritas]

[longlistshort]

This year The James Museum partnered with SHINE Mural Festival and Chenlin Cai to create the mural seen above, The Path We Came. It was inspired by the museum’s current exhibition From Far East to West: The Chinese American Frontier.

[ultravioletbrit]

“museum” - Jegulus microfic - @into-the-jeggyverse - 542 words

 

Part 2 of “flawed” microfic for those that requested!!

“French food, crème brûlée, the museum, ice-cream, tapas and the stars.”  

James once again finds Regulus in the library and sits down across from him.

“What?” Regulus questions the random string of words.

“Those are the reasons you should let me take you on a date.” James says trying to sound confident.

“There’s not much info in that list, now is there?” Regulus tells him.

“Well, you didn’t let me explain, now did you?” James fires back but immediately recoils when Regulus shoots him a glare. 

James is silent for a long moment, so Regulus prompts him to continue.

“So…?”

“Oh, right, so, I thought we could start with lunch at that fancy new French restaurant. And I know lunch may not seem as good as dinner, but I know you like to have a bigger meal for lunch and something smaller for dinner. And you love French food, but only when it’s really good, and based on my research this place is already getting rave reviews. And I hear the crème brûlée is to die for and that’s your favorite dessert.”

Regulus hums, doing his best to look uninterested while trying to keep his heart from beating right out of his chest. James did research? On things he knows Regulus likes? He tamps down a smile and urges James to continue.

“After lunch, I thought we could go to the art museum. And I know you’re a member and have been there countless times. But I also know you like to show people your favorite paintings and exhibits. And I love how passionate you get about the things you like, and I want to learn and listen and be able to appreciate the art like you do. And that will probably take more than one day, so I’m also trying to ensure more dates in the future. Plus, you have a beautiful voice that I could listen to for hours… Okay, the museum is starting to sound like it’s more for me, but I swear it’s for you.”

Regulus raises an eyebrow with what he hopes is a blank stare. He would go to that museum everyday if he could. And James wants to go with him? And learn about his passions? And listen to him talk endlessly about art? Regulus is trying very hard not to swoon.    

“After the museum, it’ll depend what time it is, I thought maybe we could get ice-cream and walk around town a bit. Or if it’s late enough, there’s this really amazing tapas place that I think would be perfect for dinner. Amazing food, but not too much. Then I’d love to walk you home through the park so we can look at the stars.”

James finishes and Regulus just stares at him. He’s not sure what would come out if he opens his mouth, but it would most certainly be undignified, so he remains silent.

“That’s it… That’s the date… or, well, the reasons I think you’d like to go on a date with me.” James says nervously.

Regulus says nothing, just packs up his books and stands to leave, stopping beside James on his way out.

“I’ll think about it.” And try as he might, he wasn’t able to hide his smile from James any longer. 

[classicalcanvas]

Title: The Gates of Dawn

Artist: Herbert James Draper

Date: 1900

Style: Academicism

Genre: Symbolic Painting

[james-tissot-paintings]

-The Farewell-

[lionofchaeronea]

Evening Attire. A portrait by the African-American photographer James Van Der Zee (1886-1983), made of an unknown sitter in Harlem, NYC, in 1922. Now in the collection of the Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington, D.C.

[romanticism-art-history]

Melrose Abbey (1807) by James Ward