THE ANN NORTON SCULPTURE GARDENS PRESENTS THE HOMAGE TO PICASSO, 1973 MARCH 27 – APRIL 28, 2013

WEST PALM BEACH, FLA (March 5, 2013) – The Ann Norton Sculpture Gardens is pleased to present The Homage to Picasso Portfolio, 1973 taking place in the galleries from March 27 – April 28, 2013. 

The Homage to Picasso portfolio represents a unique event in the history of printmaking. In the early 1970s, with the intent of honoring the fertile genius of Picasso and his role as a catalyst for many different styles of twentieth century art, German critic Wieland Schmied and German publishing house The PropyläenVerlag initiated a call for prints.

Seventy-one artists were asked to take part. They came from seventeen countries, different generations, and worked in widely varied styles. The artists include: Roy Lichtenstein, Enrico Baj, Robert Motherwell, Niki de Saint Phalle, Andy Warhol, Louise Nevelson, Wifredo Lam, Robert Indiana, Joan Miro and many others. While numerous artists directly referenced Picasso in the prints they created—such as Richard Hamilton, Pol Bury and David Hockney — others including Jim Dine, Dan Flavin and Frank Stella made works in their own styles with no Picasso-related content. When Richard Hamilton was invited to submit for the Picasso Portfolio, Hamilton’s first thought was to pay respect to Picasso’s masterly craftsmanship and love of medium.  Hamilton had seen the famous “Las Meninas (the Court Maidens)” by Velasquez in 1972 and thought it ideal to do an etching from his painting using several of Picasso’s styles.  In this imaginative court scene, the artist was able to play with Valezquez’s portrait as well as the interchange of personalities. The entire portfolio contains seventy-one prints.

To view a conversation with Hamilton, please visit: http://www.museodelprado.es/en/exhibitions/exhibitions/at-the-museum/richard-hamilton-picassos-meninas/video/ 

There are many interesting anomalies connected with this portfolio. The Homage to Picasso was officially issued in 1973, but individual prints bear dates ranging from 1971 to 1976, depending on their actual completion date. The catalog for the portfolio, which is out of print and unavailable except in certain libraries, does not include many prints completed after the official date. There are three editions of this project created—an edition of 30 for museums and galleries and two editions (each of 45) for the PropyläenVerlag and the Patheon Presse.

The historic Ann Norton Sculpture Gardens, Inc. is a recognized 501(c)(3) operating foundation established in 1977 by the prominent sculptor Ann Weaver Norton (1905-1982). The organization has grown to be an important cultural institution giving the community and visitors an opportunity to explore nature and art in an environmentally conscious urban environment. Dedicated to preserving the historic beauty of The Ann Norton Sculpture Garden, the nationally designated property and 2.2 acre urban gardens are home to over 300 species of tropical palms and native plants — one of the most significant collections in Florida.

The gardens are conveniently located at 2051 South Flagler Drive, in West Palm Beach, Florida. The rare palm and sculpture gardens, exhibition galleries and artist studio are currently open Wednesday-Sunday 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Available services include: exhibitions, guided tours of the gardens and Norton's original sculpture studio, guest lectures, and educational programs. All programs promote a preservation ethic and incorporate the arts, environmental awareness, and interpretive history of Ann Weaver Norton. 

For more information about the Ann Norton Sculpture Gardens and how to become a member and to learn about programming and exhibitions, please visit: www.ansg.org or call:  (561) 832-5328. 

 If you would like more information on this topic or to schedule an interview, please call Linda Soper at (612) 308-4159 or email: linda@lindalanemarketing.