By: Norma Loya
To understand Van Gogh one must go to the end. To understand his work currently on display at the Denver Art Museum, a person must start at the beginning. To understand the artist, you have to go through the stages.
After seven years of intensive planning, curators Timothy Standring and Louis van Tilborgh say they are are proud to present 70 works from the Dutch artist, whose life work is displayed in Becoming van Gogh which began Oct. 21 until Jan. 13, 2013. The exhibit also includes works from different artists—including Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec and Camille Pissarro—that influenced several van Gogh paintings. “This is something that doesn’t happen often,” said director of the DAM, Christoph Heinrich, “It’s a big moment for Denver.”
This exhibit explores the life and journey of van Gogh through art. “Your own journey will parallel van Gogh’s journey,” said Standring of a display that spans seven different chapters of influence. From discovering color to discovering himself, this exhibit first dives into his first works then ends with the famous and unforgettable self-portraits.
Visitors even vaguely familiar with van Gogh go in expecting to see paintings on a wall—hopefully Starry Night or Night Cafe–but they go out with a full biography about an artist whose legacy has continued even 130 years after his death. This display includes paintings like The Basket with Six Oranges, A Pair of Shoes, Courtesane: after Eisen, Postman Joseph Roulin, Wheatfield with Sheaves, The Potato Eaters, A Pair of Boots, Grass and Butterflies, Landscape under a stormy sky, Self Portrait with Straw Hat and so many more that have traveled from all over the world to hang on the walls in Denver. The most famous paintings like Starry Night and Sunflowers, are not included. Because the lesser known works, the ones that would bless any art collection, are the ones that tie Vincent van Gogh all together as a renown artist.
Entry fees for the exhibit vary depending on age, and the hours go from 10 am – 5 pm, except on Friday when the museum is open until 8 pm. DAM is closed on Mondays. Special features involved with this event include separate audio guides for adults and kids, a paint studio, a behind-the-scenes event at the Tattered Cover Book Store, and a Colorado Symphony concert on Nov. 4.
Children, students and aesthetes alike will take something from this exhibit. Whether it is a new take on van Gogh or a bigger appreciation for art, the Denver Art Museum has truly created a wonder of an exhibit. “This is the difference between desire and determination,” said Visit Denver director Richard Scharf. The masterminds behind Becoming van Gogh have taken the Denver arts scene to a whole new level. No single person can appreciate the years of planning it took to bring this world-class event to Denver, Colorado. One simply cannot grasp the display without understanding the hours upon hours of contacts, loans and arrangements. Do not miss out on this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see one of history’s greatest artists, as well as one of history’s greatest displays. Because the greatness in both truly reveals itself in their beginnings.
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