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Large-scale inflatable sculptures head to the Michener Art Museum this fall Frank Hyder: The Janis Project is on view from November 10, 2018 through February 23, 2019 DOYLESTOWN, PA – Beginning November 10, the James A. Michener Art Museum will present Frank Hyder: The Janis Project, a multimedia exhibition that showcases the work of sculptor and painter Frank Hyder. Featuring a series of large-scale inflatable heads and accompanying watercolors, Hyder’s Janis Project defies traditional methods of exhibition and encourages dialogue about art in public spaces. The sculptures will be on view to the public through February 23, 2019. Programs and additional information can be found at MichenerArtMuseum.org. Frank Hyder, who splits his time between Philadelphia and Miami, has become known for his unique integrations of painting and sculpture. His latest work, entitled The Janis Project, has garnered international attention during its travels throughout Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Americas. Comprised of more than a dozen large-scale, double-faced inflatable sculptures of heads, The Janis Project draws on themes of unity and equality and invites the public to consider issues that often divide us as humans. "With The Janis Project, I intended to engage people with art in surprising places,” said Hyder of his project. “Monumental sculpture is usually found in clearly designated public spaces and museums; my installations are random and almost always surprising. Toy-like yet carrying meaning, the heads are at once disarming while also evoking humor and wonder. They are sculpture, they are paintings, they are culture.” The sculptures, which are inspired by the Moai of Easter Island, the Olmec heads, and the ancient Roman god of new endeavors, present two faces with two distinct skin colors and a unique adornment of face paint. A series of watercolors documenting the public’s response to these heads as the exhibition traveled the world will accompany the sculptures. Through Oceania Cruise Line’s Artist-in-Residence program, Hyder’s Janis Project has traveled the entire coast of Europe from Istanbul to St. Petersburg. It has been to Israel, Africa, North, South and Central America, passed through the Panama Canal, and been seen from Singapore to Beijing in Asia. The Janis Project continues its international campaign with its growing number of sculptures and interpretive watercolors and will land at the Michener in November of 2018. Hyder began making monumental inflatable sculptures in 2008 for a group show named “Giants in the City,” part of Miami Art Basel. After a visit to Easter Island in 2015, the Janis Project began. It has been widely exhibited in notable venues such as the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Art, Brandywine Workshop and Archives, Noyes Museum, and Art Students League of New York City among others. Hyder is also known for several of his public art works, including three murals through the City of Philadelphia’s Mural Arts Program: Hanging Garden of I-95, Honey’s Garden, and Bell’s Pond. ture Garden from November 10, 2018 - February 23, 2019. The watercolors will be on view in the in the Bette and Nelson Pfundt Gallery from November 24, 2018 - February 17, 2019. The exhibition program in the Bette and Nelson Pfundt Gallery is presented by Vivian Banta and Robert Field. The installations in the Outdoor Sculpture Gardens are sponsored by Silverman Family Partnerships. Exhibition and programming-related information can be found at MichenerArtMuseum.org.
Large-scale inflatable sculptures head to the Michener Art Museum this fall
Frank Hyder: The Janis Project is on view from November 10, 2018 through February 23, 2019
DOYLESTOWN, PA – Beginning November 10, the James A. Michener Art Museum will present Frank Hyder: The Janis Project, a multimedia exhibition that showcases the work of sculptor and painter Frank Hyder. Featuring a series of large-scale inflatable heads and accompanying watercolors, Hyder’s Janis Project defies traditional methods of exhibition and encourages dialogue about art in public spaces. The sculptures will be on view to the public through February 23, 2019. Programs and additional information can be found at MichenerArtMuseum.org.
Frank Hyder, who splits his time between Philadelphia and Miami, has become known for his unique integrations of painting and sculpture. His latest work, entitled The Janis Project, has garnered international attention during its travels throughout Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Americas. Comprised of more than a dozen large-scale, double-faced inflatable sculptures of heads, The Janis Project draws on themes of unity and equality and invites the public to consider issues that often divide us as humans.
"With The Janis Project, I intended to engage people with art in surprising places,” said Hyder of his project. “Monumental sculpture is usually found in clearly designated public spaces and museums; my installations are random and almost always surprising. Toy-like yet carrying meaning, the heads are at once disarming while also evoking humor and wonder. They are sculpture, they are paintings, they are culture.”
The sculptures, which are inspired by the Moai of Easter Island, the Olmec heads, and the ancient Roman god of new endeavors, present two faces with two distinct skin colors and a unique adornment of face paint. A series of watercolors documenting the public’s response to these heads as the exhibition traveled the world will accompany the sculptures. Through Oceania Cruise Line’s Artist-in-Residence program, Hyder’s Janis Project has traveled the entire coast of Europe from Istanbul to St. Petersburg. It has been to Israel, Africa, North, South and Central America, passed through the Panama Canal, and been seen from Singapore to Beijing in Asia. The Janis Project continues its international campaign with its growing number of sculptures and interpretive watercolors and will land at the Michener in November of 2018.
Hyder began making monumental inflatable sculptures in 2008 for a group show named “Giants in the City,” part of Miami Art Basel. After a visit to Easter Island in 2015, the Janis Project began. It has been widely exhibited in notable venues such as the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Art, Brandywine Workshop and Archives, Noyes Museum, and Art Students League of New York City among others. Hyder is also known for several of his public art works, including three murals through the City of Philadelphia’s Mural Arts Program: Hanging Garden of I-95, Honey’s Garden, and Bell’s Pond.
ture Garden from November 10, 2018 - February 23, 2019. The watercolors will be on view in the in the Bette and Nelson Pfundt Gallery from November 24, 2018 - February 17, 2019.
The exhibition program in the Bette and Nelson Pfundt Gallery is presented by Vivian Banta and Robert Field. The installations in the Outdoor Sculpture Gardens are sponsored by Silverman Family Partnerships.
Exhibition and programming-related information can be found at MichenerArtMuseum.org.