Hey, everybody--superheroes are art now!

Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Rogers, Arkansas, has just begun an exhibit called "Men of Steel, Women of Wonder." It will run through April 22. The exhibit is apparently all about how artists have responded to these iconic--overused word there, but makes sense in this context--comics figures over the years.

https://crystalbridges.org/exhibitions/ ... of-wonder/


"Men of Steel, Women of Wonder is a new exhibition developed by Crystal Bridges Assistant Curator Alejo Benedetti that examines art-world responses to Superman and Wonder Woman ranging from their Depression-era origins to today’s contemporary artist interpretations. The exhibition features over 70 paintings, photographs, installations, videos, and more by over 50 artists.

"Offering fresh perspectives on these cultural icons and tapping into our current national love for superheroes, the artists in Men of Steel, Women of Wonder use Superman and Wonder Woman to explore national identity, American values, social politics, representation, and the concept of humanity in an exciting, thought-provoking, unforgettable exhibition.

"We recognize that Superman and Wonder Woman are familiar figures and may have more appeal for younger audiences. For parents and families, it’s important to know that in Men of Steel, Women of Wonder, there are a range of ways artists are depicting these characters. Some are represented in familiar and heroic ways, while others are exploring mature topics like race, gender, sexuality, and national identity."



I'm going to have to see whether I can make an excuse to get to Rogers (I don't live nearby, even though I'm in-state) sometime in the next three months. Aside from their special exhibits like this one, Crystal Bridges has a fantastic permanent collection. If anybody at IMWAN can make it to northwest Arkansas for this, do it!

For those who can't make the exhibit, the University of Arkansas Press has put out a full-color exhibition catalog:




"Saturated in patriotic colors, Superman and Wonder Woman are about as American as baseball and apple pie. Superman, created in 1938, materialized as the brawny answer to the Great Depression, and when Wonder Woman arrived three years later, she supported her adopted country by fighting alongside Allied troops in World War II. As the proverbial mother and father of the superhero genre, these icons appeared to a society in crisis as unwavering beacons of national morality, a quality that lent them success on the battlefield—and on the newsstand.

"As new crises arise our comic-book champions continue to be called into action. They adapt and evolve but remain the same potent, if flawed, symbols of the American way. The artists in Men of Steel, Women of Wonder, an exhibition organized by Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, wrestle with Wonder Woman’s standing as a feminist icon, position Superman as a Soviet-era weapon, and question the immigration status of both characters. Featuring more than seventy artworks that range from loving endorsements to brutal critiques of American culture, this exhibition catalog reveals the enduring presence of these characters and the diverse ways artists employ them.

"Published in collaboration with Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art and the University of Arkansas School of Art. Crystal Bridges publications are sponsored by Acquavella Galleries."


https://www.uapress.com/product/men-of- ... of-wonder/

This sounds outstandingly good! I really hope you get to go.

Neato burrito.