Symposium on Barnett Newman

Barnett Newman--Cathedra: Considering the restoration of a
    monochrome painting
A symposium in the Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam
December 8 2001

Four years ago, on November 21 1997, Cathedra, a work by the
American painter Barnett Newman, was badly damaged. Using a sharp
knife, a deranged visitor to the Stedelijk made five large slashes
in the canvas, amounting to a total length of fifteen metres. The
museum decided almost immediately to have Cathedra restored under
the supervision of an international committee of independent
experts.

On December 8 the public will be able to see the restored Cathedra
for the first time. To mark the occasion the Stedelijk will host a
symposium on the theme of Newman's painting and the major task of
its restoration. In addition to the methodical, technical and
organisational aspects of the operation, Newman's studio practice
will be discussed, as will the significance of the monochrome in the
history of abstract painting. December 8 is also the opening date of
an exhibition of colourfield painting and monochrome canvases by
Newman, Ryman, Kelly, Fontana and other artists represented in the
museum's collection.

Barnett Newman (1905-1970) painted Cathedra in 1951. The blue
monochrome, measuring approximately 2.5 x 5.5 metres, was purchased
for the museum in 1975 by the then director, Edy de Wilde. A
Stedelijk Museum Cahier to be published at the beginning of December
will focus on Newman's work in the Stedelijk and the restoration of
Cathedra.

Programme
Saturday December 8 2001

9-10 a.m.
    arrival

10:00
    Word of welcome from Rudi Fuchs, director of the museum

10.15

    Jan van Adrichem
    Introduction to the symposium
    Van Adrichem is head of the Stedelijk Museum's research
    department. He is currently investigating the reception of
    neo-avant-garde art in the Netherlands in the 1960s and 1970s.

10:35

    Ann Temkin
    On Newman's work and his ideas about his painting of around
    1950, the period in which he produced Cathedra
    Temkin, curator at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, is preparing
    a major exhibition of Newman's work.

11:15

    Carol Mancusi-Ungaro
    On Newman's studio practice and technical aspects of his
    painting
    Mancusi-Ungaro is a conservator at the Whitney Museum in New
    York and an expert in the field of modern art conservation.

12-13:30

    Break for lunch and an opportunity to see Cathedra and view the
    exhibition.

13:30

    Yve-Alain Bois
    On the art-historical and theoretical aspects of Cathedra and
    monochrome painting
    Bois is Professor of Art History at Harvard and currently
    preparing an oeuvre catalogue of Newman. His publications
    include Painting as Model (1990); he is the co-author (with
    Rosalind Krauss) of Formless--a user's guide (1997).

14:10

    Alan Charlton
    Monochrome painting discussed in the light of a contemporary
    artist's practice
    Charlton is an artist living in Great Britain. Recent work by
    him was on show this summer in the Stedelijk's Gallery of
    Honour.

14:50

    Tea-break

15:20

    Irene Glanzer/Elisabeth Bracht/Louise Wijnberg
    On the restoration of Cathedra
    Bracht, Glanzer and Wijnberg are painting conservators at the
    Stedelijk Museum.

16:00

    Thierry de Duve
    'Vox Ignis Vox Populi': On public opposition to abstract
    painting and notably to Newman's work, illustrated by a case in
    Canada.
    De Duve's publications include The Definitely Unfinished Marcel
    Duchamp (1991) and Kant after Duchamp (1996).

16:40-19:00

    Closing remarks and reception

Registration and payment: Participants can register by filling in
the form below and posting or Faxing it to the Stedelijk Museum.
You will receive confirmation on receipt of payment of the symposium
fee of NLG 125,-. Students pay NLG 75,- but must produce evidence of
student status on arrival. Coffee/tea, lunch, reception, admission
to the museum and a copy of the Stedelijk Museum Bulletin are
included. Applications will be processed in order of arrival.
Maximum capacity: 200. For more information contact

    Frank Hermelijn
    +31 0 20 57 32 726
    <f.hermelijn [at] stedelijk__nl>

Name
Institution/student at
Address
Postal code/City
E-mail

My payment (tick box)
    NLG 125
    NLG 75 (student)

Please transfer the appropriate amount as soon as possible to
account number 4500092; recipient: Dienst Museum voor Moderne Kunst,
Amsterdam, reference: 'Cathedra'. You may also pay by credit card:

Name of card-holder:
Card issued by:
    VISA/Am.Express/Mastercard (no other cards accepted)
Card no
exp. date:

Please Fax: this form to +31 20 57 32 789 or post it to:

    Postbus 75082
    1070 AB Amsterdam
    The Netherlands

Alternatively, e-mail your application and all requisite information
to f.hermelijn [at] stedelijk__nl

Stedelijk Museum
Paulus Potterstraat 13
P.O. Box 75082, 1070 AB Amsterdam
31-20-573 29 11  Fax: 675-27-18
<URL:http://www.stedelijk.nl>


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                  Conservation DistList Instance 15:36
                 Distributed: Tuesday, November 6, 2001
                       Message Id: cdl-15-36-016
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