Flint, Michigan.- The Flint Institute of Arts is pleased to present “The Art of Collecting”, on view from November 25th through January 8th. This exhibition of more than 125 paintings, prints, drawings and sculptures are on consignment from galleries in New York, Chicago and Detroit and have been selected based on comparisons of price and quality. All of the artworks are available for purchase and represent an outstanding value in the art market and an excellent opportunity for seasoned, as well as novice collectors to purchase high quality artwork with confidence.
FIA Director, John Henry, and Coordinator of Collections and Exhibitions, Michael Martin will conduct a preview tour of the exhibition on Wednesday, November 30th, at 5:30 pm and again on Thursday, December 1st at 1:30 pm. They will discuss trends in the art market and the special characteristics of individual works. Reservations are not necessary to attend these informative tours. “This is a unique opportunity to view or acquire art of exceptional quality and in response to public demand, I am delighted to bring this event back after a four year hiatus” said Mr. Henry. A Reception and Silent Auction will be held on Friday, December 2nd. At 6:30 pm, the Director will present trends in collecting and his “Top Ten Picks.” The Silent Auction will commence at 7:15 pm, and this year, for one hour, every work in the exhibition will be in the Silent Auction at dealer’s cost. Prices range from $150 for prints by emerging artists to more than $250,000 for works by master artists.
The Flint Institute of Arts has served an important role in the life of the Flint community since its founding in 1928 and today, continues to play a major role in the growth and revitalization of the city of Flint. Through its exhibitions, interpretive programs, film screenings, concerts, lectures, family events and educational outreach programs, the FIA serves more than 120,000 adults and children annually from all over southeast Michigan. The selection and presentation of exhibitions and related programming is at the heart of the FIA’s mission which is to advance the understanding and appreciation of art for all through collections, exhibitions, and educational programs. The FIA has been accredited by the American Association of Museums since 1972 and in 2002 the FIA’s collection was designated a National Treasure by the Presidents Committee on the Arts. In 2007, the FIA received the Governor’s Award for Arts and Cultural Organization.
The FIA’s 150,000 sq. ft. facility is a unique space with more than 25,000 sq. ft. of gallery space, a large light-filled and welcoming entrance and lobby area with visitor amenities including a café and gift shop, an Art School, a library, a theater ideal for presentations, films, and lectures, a video gallery, and a large “great hall,” seating more than 200 for events of all kinds. The FIA maintains a collection of over 8,000 objects, sustains a membership of 3,200, registers 1,700 students from pre-school age to senior citizens in Museum Art School studio classes, and presents school programs to 25,000 K-12 students annually. The Flint Institute of Arts has assembled outstanding collections of American, European, Native American, African, and Asian art including paintings, sculptures, prints, drawings, and decorative arts. Highlights of the collection include: 15th to 18th century English, French, and Italian decorative arts, a rare shaped panel by Peter Paul Rubens, a complete set of 17th century French tapestries; a fine collection of 18th and 19th century paperweights and European glass; American and French Impressionist and Post-Impressionist paintings; Hudson River School paintings; Regional and Great Lakes paintings; Modernist; and, Abstract Expressionist and Photorealist paintings. The collection includes works by renowned artists such as Auguste Renoir, John Singer Sargent, Mary Cassatt, Thomas Hart Benton, Andrew Wyeth, and Duane Hanson. Visit the museum’s website at … http://www.flintarts.org