Yasmina Reza's Art on June 24
The Portsmouth Museum of Art and New Hampshire Theatre Project Collaborate
By: Ariel Petrova - Jun 08, 2010
The Portsmouth Museum of Art and New Hampshire Theatre Project have forged a collaboration to present a reading of the award-winning play ‘Art’ on Thursday, June 24th at 7:00 pm. The play, a witty comment on the human condition, has been referred to as a ‘comic gem’ by the Boston Globe.
It will be presented at the Portsmouth Museum of Art’s Harbour Place home and is a performance companion to the current exhibition ‘At the Edge’, curated by Katherine Doyle and on view through July 11, 2010.
‘Art’, by Yasmina Reza, is a clever and entertaining look at the bonds of friendship through the prism of modern art. The central metaphor is provided by a modern abstract painting, that in one character’s view, offers so little with regard to principles of color and form, that he finds it offensive to learn that his friend has placed so much value on it by paying so much for so little.
A heated discussion ensues around the painting and the trio of friends’ reaction to it. At one level, the play revolves around the question of aesthetic values, weighing the significance of modern abstract art in comparison to more traditional representational art.
At another level, the purchase of the painting comes to symbolize a rift in their friendship. The painting becomes a piece of concrete evidence that the friends have grown apart. It becomes clear that this discussion isn’t just about a painting; it’s about expectations and the complexities of friendships, honesty and obsession with social status.
“We’re really pleased to be working with the NH Theatre Project to present such an intelligent, funny and provocative play. ‘Art’ is loaded with debate and should provide plenty of fodder for discussion.”, says Cathy Sununu, Director of the Portsmouth Museum of Art. “Our goal at the Portsmouth Museum of Art is, primarily educational and there are so many wonderful ways in which all of the arts can inform the public and generate creative conversation around meaningful subjects. We hope this will be just the first of many collaborative projects that we have the opportunity to develop in our ongoing efforts to meet our educational objectives.”
‘Art’ will be presented at the Portsmouth Museum of Art at One Harbour Place in downtown Portsmouth on Thursday, June 24th at 7:00 pm for one night only. Admission is free. Hours of operation for the Portsmouth Museum of Art are Wednesday-Sunday, 11:00-5:00, Fridays until 8:00; it is closed Mondays and Tuesdays. Guided group tours are available by appointment by contacting the museum at 603-436-0332 or by email at info@portsmouthmfa.org