'Dazzle' Opens In Martinsville March 3

MARTINSVILLE, VA.

:"Dazzle," the first of three Virginia Museum of Fine Arts exhibitions in a statewide outreach series titled "Look Here," will open March 3 at the Piedmont Arts Association and run through April 23.

The exhibition, presenting finely crafted objects in gold, silver, gemstones and other precious materials from the museum's collections, concluded a successful run at the museum's Richmond headquarters in January.

The "Look Here" exhibitions capitalize on the fact that the museum is beginning the largest expansion in its history and many galleries will be closed during construction.

"This presents us with a unique opportunity to share masterworks from VMFA's collection with our partners throughout the state," said Susan Ferrell, head of the museum's statewide partnership program.

Each of the cross-cultural exhibitions will feature a distinctive theme in an informal yet focused setting.

"Dazzle" highlights include jewels by French designer Jean Schlumberger (1907-1987), who worked for Tiffany & Co. in New York; pre-Columbian and African gold; American silver; ancient Chinese bronzes; and elaborately detailed works from the princely courts of Mughal India.

"The exhibition demonstrates how such objects transform the ordinary into the extraordinary: gold crowns turn wearers into rulers; jeweled headdresses transform ordinary people into gods or heroes; gold cups and vessels transmute their contents into substances of high status; and elaborate and beautiful jewelry makes the human body into something special," says Joseph M. Dye III, VMFA's chief curator.

Dye worked with Mitchell Merling, VMFA's Paul Mellon Curator and head of the department of European art, to organize "Dazzle."

Other exhibitions in the statewide series will be "Feast" and "Speed." The former will debut in Richmond March 16, and the latter will go on view in Richmond September 6.

"Feast" will explore the relationship between food and art in cultures around the world. "Speed" will examine how artists have used movement to create spirited and expressive masterpieces.

"Dazzle" will be on view at the Piedmont Arts Association during regular gallery hours: Tuesday-Friday, 10 am to 5 pm; Saturday, 10 am to 3 pm; and Sunday, 1:30 to 4:30 pm. Admission is free.

Piedmont Arts is at 215 Starling Avenue. For information, www.piedmontarts.org or 276-632-3221.

The exhibition will travel to the University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg later this year and the Museum of the Shenandoah Valley in Winchester in early 2007. For more information about VMFA, www.vmfa.state.va.us or 804-340-1400.