Exhibition Information Date:  November 21, 2009 - November 21, 2010 Place:  Linda and Lawrence Perlman Gallery View all associated images View this exhibition in the Walker Calendar
		Image: Installation view of the exhibition Benches & Binoculars Photo: Cameron Wittig

A reminder that all art was at one time contemporary, this exhibition is inspired both by the Walker's history and the serendipity with which works come together in its storage vaults. More than 75 masterpieces, new discoveries, and notable oddities from the Walker collection crowd the gallery walls, with seating and binoculars provided so that visitors can conduct their own close-up investigations of individual works.

Contrasting with the minimalist tendencies in the galleries of many contemporary arts organizations, the salon-style installation refers to the 19th- and early 20th-century gallery practices that lumber magnate T.B. Walker emulated in displayed his personal collection. The result is a lively and unconventional narrative of recent art history, and a testament to changing tastes over time.

Artists whose work is on view include Milton Avery, Max Beckmann, Chuck Close, John Currin, Marsden Hartley, David Hockney, Edward Hopper, Sherrie Levine, Franz Marc, Alice Neel, Georgia O’Keeffe, and Andy Warhol.

Curators: Darsie Alexander and Elizabeth Carpenter

Benches & Binoculars is made possible by major support from the Shank Family Foundation. Additional support is generously provided by Jean Walker Lowell and Wayne Lowell.

	Target Free Thursday Nights The Inquisition: Art Is Fun Quiz Party Proves It January 7, 7:00 pm, February 11, 7:00 pm, March 4, 7:00 pm
	Exhibition Preview Party Walker After Hours/Preview Party Friday, November 20, 2009   9:00 pm to 12:00 am

TEN: This Week in Local Art http://blogs.walkerart.org/mnartists/2009/11/12/ten-this-week-in-local-art-3/ Walker blogs, mnartists.org: mnartists.org

TEN: This Week in Local Art Sales, Scrap and Carl Sagen http://blogs.walkerart.org/mnartists/2009/11/20/ten-this-week-in-local-art-sales-scrap-and-carl-sagen/ Walker blogs, mnartists.org: mnartists.org

Reviewing our Reviews: Has the Walker Art Center Discovered Fun? http://blogs.walkerart.org/visualarts/2009/12/01/reviewing-our-reviews-%e2%80%9chas-the-walker-art-center-discovered-fun%e2%80%9d/ Walker blogs, Visual Arts: Exhibitions

Building the Benches and Binoculars Touchscreen Kiosk http://blogs.walkerart.org/newmedia/2009/12/07/building-the-benches-and-binoculars-touchscreen-kiosk/ Walker blogs, New Media Initiatives: Hardware

Bits & Pieces: Alec Soth, Barbara Kingsolver, and the coming Inquisition http://blogs.walkerart.org/offcenter/2009/12/23/bits-pieces-alec-soth-barbara-kingsolver-and-the-coming-inquisition/ Walker blogs, Off Center: Around the Twin Cities

This week in Walker history: from Galleries to Art Center http://blogs.walkerart.org/ecp/2010/01/06/this-week-in-walker-history-from-galleries-to-art-center/ Walker blogs, Education and Community Programs: Art and Civic Engagement

The Inquisition is coming! Meet Your Expert Competition http://blogs.walkerart.org/mnartists/2010/01/06/the-inquisition-is-coming-meet-your-expert-competition/ Walker blogs, mnartists.org: General

The Inquisition is coming! Meet Your Expert Competition http://blogs.walkerart.org/mnartists/2010/01/06/the-inquisition-is-coming-meet-your-expert-competition/ Walker blogs, mnartists.org: General

Benches & Binoculars: A Closer Look at Old Favorites and New Acquisitions http://visualarts.walkerart.org/detail.wac?id=5333&title=Articles