Media get the first peek at Marilyn Monroe Exhibitions this Thursday at the McMichael

MEDIA PREVIEW
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2011
11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Marilyn Monroe makes her debut at the McMichael, featured in two exhibitions
Life as a Legend: Marilyn Monroe makes its final stop on an international tour at the gallery

When: Thursday, February 17, 2011, 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Where: McMichael Canadian Art Collection, 10365 Islington Avenue, Kleinburg (just north of Major Mackenzie Drive)

Why: The public gallery is expecting a large turnout for two exhibitions about Marilyn Monroe. Life as a Legend: Marilyn Monroe (curated by Artoma, Hamburg, Germany; the tour organized by International Arts & Artists, Washington, DC) and Marilyn in Canada (organized by the McMichael Canadian Art Collection and curated by Chris Finn, Assistant Curator) both open on February 19th and run to May 15th, 2011. Contemporary art and artists, celebrity, notoriety, fame and fortune are key ingredients to these two Marilyn Monroe exhibitions.

Who: Tour the exhibitions and meet with McMichael Chief Curator, Katerina Atanassova and Assistant Curators, Chris Finn and Sharona Adamowicz-Clements.

What: “Although it has been fifty years since the death of Marilyn Monroe, worldwide interest in her life and career has sustained,” says McMichael Chief Curator, Katerina Atanassova. “Our two exhibitions examine how the art world has been motivated by the myth and legend of this iconic star. Life as a Legend: Marilyn Monroe is an internationally touring exhibition (over 180 paintings and photographs) which has been enhanced by McMichael curators for our visitors.”

Curated especially for the McMichael by the gallery’s Assistant Curator, Chris Finn, Marilyn in Canada provides an intriguing glimpse into Marilyn’s experiences while filming in Canada, as well as her popularity among Canadian artists. Works by artists such as Shelley Niro, John Vachon, and George S. Zimbel are some of the highlights of this unique Canadian content-based exhibition.

Both shows demonstrate the broad range of artists who responded creatively to Marilyn’s life – from a constellation of great fashion photographers of her day, to the champions of the Pop Art movement in North America, to well-known artists in Canadian contemporary art.


About the Gallery

The McMichael Canadian Art Collection is an agency of the Government of Ontario and acknowledges the support of the Ministry of Tourism and Culture. It is the foremost venue in the country showcasing the Group of Seven and their contemporaries. In addition to touring exhibitions, its permanent collection consists of more than 5,500 artworks, including paintings by the Group of Seven and their contemporaries, First Nations and Inuit artists. The gallery is located on Islington Avenue, north of Major Mackenzie Drive in Kleinburg, and is open daily from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Admission is $15 for adults, $12 for seniors/students and $30 for families. There is a $5 fee for parking. For more information about the gallery, visit www.mcmichael.com.

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Please RSVP:
Stephen Weir, Publicist
Gallery: 905.893.1121 ext. 2529
Toronto Office: 416.489.5868
Cell: 416.801.3101
sweir@mcmichael.com