Wellin Museum’s “Menagerie: Animals in Art” Opens Sept. 7

The exhibition’s opening reception will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 7. The exhibition and reception are free and open to the public. Exhibition curator Elizabeth Shannon will lead a virtual preview of the exhibition on Friday, Sept. 6, at 1 p.m. on Facebook Live.

The large survey of artworks and artifacts in the exhibition features representations of real and imagined creatures from across eras and cultures. Drawn from the broad scope of the Wellin Museum’s collection, “Menagerie” includes works that not only engage with animal imagery for symbolic, cultural, ceremonial, and religious purposes, but as decorative motifs and to comment — often satirically — on human folly and events.

The exhibition also takes a holistic and environmental approach to animals and encourages visitors to examine the many ways in which wild and domesticated creatures impact our lives, and vice versa. Selections include objects from Ancient Egypt, Greece, and Rome; Mesoamerican and Andean artifacts; artworks from Medieval, Renaissance, and 19th-century Europe; prints, drawings, and textiles from East Asia; Persian illuminated manuscripts; and global modern and contemporary art.

Shannon explained, “The persistent presence of creatures in art throughout time and across cultures reflects the diverse roles that wild and domesticated animals play in our lives. A dog might be a dangerous threat, a symbol of protection, or a beloved family member, while an insect in its natural habitat may be perceived as a pest if humans encroach on its environment.”

WellinWorks, the interactive environment related to the exhibition and designed to inspire creativity within the museum, was prompted by an aspirational question that emerged during the development of the Menagerie exhibition: When you leave the museum, will you look at the world differently than when you entered?

Designed by Hamilton students and Wellin staff to consider the many ways that humans, animals, and the natural world interact, the space provides opportunities for hands-on artmaking and tools to foster contemplation. Areas for reflection on the cultural and symbolic meanings of animals are designed to encourage conversation around human relationships with animals. Also on view is a video illuminating how faculty engage with and enrich our knowledge of objects in the museum’s collection. 

On Wednesday, Sept. 18, at 4:30 p.m., Alexa Hatanaka, whose work is included in the exhibition, will discuss her work.

The Wellin Museum of Art hours are Tuesday through Sunday, 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. Parking and admission are free of charge.