Media Contact: Nathalia Bolivar
Lowe Art Museum
305-284-5422
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
SPIRITS OF TIME: NETSUKE FROM THE JOSEPH AND ELENA KURSTIN COLLECTION
Miami, FL (March 2023) - Discover the timeless beauty of netsuke and experience the creative vision of the University of Miami’s student curators in Spirits of Time: Netsuke from the Joseph and Elena Kurstin Collection, on view at the Lowe Art Museum from April 25 to September 24, 2023. The capstone project for the ArtLab @ the Lowe 2023 cohort, this exhibition features miniature masterpieces carved or formed from a variety of media spanning several centuries.
Now in its 14th year, Artlab @ the Lowe is an upper-level seminar, which—hosted by the University of Miami's Lowe Art Museum each year—is designed to give students hands-on, curatorial experience. The lead faculty changes with each ArtLab, as does the theme, but the program's general contours remain the same for each iteration. Speaking to the value of this program and her interest in enthusiastically supporting it, UM alumna Stella M. Holmes (for whom the Lowe’s Art Research Center is named) notes, "I have always been interested in art as communication— not only from artist to viewer but also as a bridge between different cultures.” ArtLab participants mine the museum's permanent collection (or, in exceptional cases, private collections) to thematically research and document checklist items, while creating a unique temporary exhibition and small companion publication or catalogue. The program also includes an immersive learning experience for participating students, whose travel the Lowe fully funds.
This year’s ArtLab exhibition will showcase thirty netsuke from the Joseph and Elena Kurstin Collection, highlighting intricate details and exploring the rich cultural heritage of each piece. Crafted with exquisite artistry, these tiny masterpieces (which were originally used as toggles to secure inro boxes to kimono sashes) are created from a variety of media, such as ivory, wood, metal, and other materials, and depict a wide range of subjects, from flora and fauna to mythical creatures and historical figures. The Kurstin Collection is renowned for its exceptional quality and diversity of netsuke, reflecting the passion and dedication of the collectors.
"ArtLab @ the Lowe exemplifies the value of academic art museums. Specifically, institutions like the Lowe function as true laboratories for learning, in which students balance practice and theory and learn by doing," notes Dr. Jill Deupi, Beaux Arts Director and Chief Curator of the Lowe Art Museum. She adds, "I am particularly gratified that, thanks to the generosity of six Lowe Advisory Council members, the Lowe will be taking this year's ArtLab cohort to Kyoto, Japan, where they will engage directly with artists, museum professionals, gallerists, and, most impactfully, spend time with Japanese students enrolled in the curatorial studies program at Kyoto University of Foreign Studies.”
The Lowe Art Museum welcomes visitors to join us in this inspiring celebration of fabulous fobs and to experience a unique educational experience for visitors to engage with the perspectives of the next generation of art professionals. For more information and updates, please visit the museum's website.
Spirits of Time: Netsuke from the Joseph and Elena Kurstin Collection was made possible by Elena Kurstin, with support from Jane Hurt; the Palley Family; Perri Lee Roberts; Emily and Rob Rutwich; and Waqas Wajahat. Additional funding was provided by the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Arts and Culture, the Florida Council on Arts and Culture, and the National Endowment for the Arts; the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs and the Cultural Affairs Council, the Miami-Dade Mayor and Board of County Commissioners; the City of Coral Gables; Beaux Arts Miami; and Lowe members.
About LOWE ART MUSEUM
The Lowe Art Museum, a unit of the University of Miami’s College of Arts & Sciences, is located at 1301 Stanford Drive, Coral Gables. The museum is open Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM. Admission to the museum is free. For more information visit lowe.miami.edu or call 305-284-3535.
An integral part of the University of Miami, the Lowe Art Museum offers its diverse audiences' opportunities and resources for engaging with contemporary culture through 5,000 years of human creativity. ###