To the Ends of the Earth, Painting the Polar Landscape
November 8, 2008 – March 1, 2009


Capturing the high drama and stark beauty of historic polar expeditions, To the Ends of the Earth, Painting the Polar Landscape presents more than 50 works by prominent artist-explorers, from monumental romantic canvases to early modernist works in pastel — all rarely shown in a single exhibition. The exhibition offers a range of artistic responses to the unique landscapes of the Arctic and Antarctic — from the documentary to the sublime and existential, by renowned painters such as Frederic Edwin Church, Rockwell Kent and Lawren Harris.

Mahjong: Contemporary Chinese Art from the Sigg Collection
February 21, 2009 – May 17, 2009


Mahjong presents over 120 works from the famed Uli Sigg Collection — one of the world’s most significant and comprehensive collections of contemporary Chinese art. Encompassing a range of media, from paintings, drawings and photographs to video and installation, this exhibition charts China’s artistic transformation over the last 40 years and offers a unique vantage on China’s rapidly evolving art market. The Peabody Essex Museum is the only East Coast venue for Mahjong, which includes works by groundbreaking artists such as Liu Wei, Ai Weiwei, Yue Minjun, and Zhang Huan.

Trans-fusion: India’s Artists Mine Their Traditions
April 2, 2009 – April 2010


In collaboration with Harvard University’s Sackler Museum, the Peabody Essex Museum presents Trans-fusion, India’s Artists Mine Their Traditions. Through the juxtaposition of more than 36 traditional and modern Indian artworks, this exhibition examines the manner in which Post-Independence artists negotiate the contemporary art world’s vernacular while maintaining strong ties their aesthetic traditions. Trans-fusion prominently features works from the Peabody Essex Museum’s Chester and Davida Herwitz Collection, one of the largest contemporary Indian art collections outside of India.

Turmoil and Tranquility, The Sea through the Eyes of Dutch and Flemish Masters, 1550 – 1700
June 13, 2009­­ – September 7, 2009


Turmoil and Tranquility follows the rise of seascape painting from 1550 to 1700. Through major works by Dutch and Flemish artists, the exhibition explores the major themes of maritime painting, from atmospheric to allegorical and nationalistic imagery. Works by Simon de Vlieger, Hendrick Minderhout and Caspar van Wittel explore methods of employing painting as a means to catalog foreign conquest and trade as the Dutch became a significant presence on the world’s seas.

Joni Sternbach: Surfers
July 4, 2009 – October 31, 2009


Utilizing 19th century tintype photographic techniques, emerging artist Joni Sternbach captures portraits and seascapes along America’s coastal regions. For her premiere solo museum exhibition, Sternbach presents a recent body of work focused on tintype portraits of surfers. These images mine the tradition of anthropological photography to explore the enduring culture of surfing within Sternbach’s own country. Joni Sternbach: Surfers is the debut exhibition for the Peabody Essex Museum’s newly appointed Curator of Photography, Phillip Prodger.

Iris Apfel: Rare Bird of Fashion
October 17, 2009 – February 7, 2010


Iris Apfel: Rare Bird of Fashion presents more than 80 dramatic ensembles from the personal collections of legendary tastemaker and style icon Iris Apfel. Known for her eclectic mixing of haute couture with costume jewelry and exotic baubles, Apfel has inspired bold developments in the fashion industry through her spirited irreverence and pitch-perfect taste. Now in her 86th year, she continues to challenge visual culture with radical juxtapositions of disparate influences. These spectacular and unexpected wardrobe combinations are exhibited with inventive staging and playful displays that underscore Apfel’s inexhaustible creative spirit.

Valerie Belin: Made Up
November 14, 2009 – February 14, 2010


Internationally acclaimed photographer, Valerie Belin commands her first solo exhibition in the United States at the Peabody Essex Museum in November 2009. Featuring 20 large format photographs, Valerie Belin: Made Up explores perceptions of beauty and identity through images which blur the line between fashion models and mannequins. Each image confronts the viewer head on and invites reflection on conventions of gender, fashion, and commerce. Valerie Belin: Made Up is curated by Phillip Prodger, the Peabody Essex Museum’s new Curator of Photography.

About the Peabody Essex Museum

The Peabody Essex Museum presents art and culture from New England and around the world. The Museum campus features numerous parks, period gardens and 24 historic properties, including Yin Yu Tang, a 200-year-old house that is the only example of Chinese domestic architecture on display in the United States.

HOURS Daily, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

ADMISSION Adults $15; seniors $13; students $11. Additional admission to Yin Yu Tang: $4. Members, youth 16 and under, and residents of Salem enjoy free general admission and free admission to Yin Yu Tang.

INFO Call 866-745-1876 or visit our Web site at www.pem.org.

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CONTACTS:
April Swieconek
Public Relations Manager
Phone: 978-745-9500, ext. 3109
e-mail: april_swieconek@pem.org

Whitney Riepe
Senior Public Relations Associate
Phone: 978-745-9500, ext. 3228
Fax: 978-745-7550
e-mail: whitney_riepe@pem.org