Mahler's Ninth Symphony Inspires New Works By Artist Barry Liebman in Sheldon Art Gallery Exhibit

Mahler's Ninth symphony inspires new works by Barry Leibman in Sheldon Art Gallery Exhibit.

The Sheldon Art Galleries presents Barry Leibman: The Mahler Suite, February 19 - May 29, 2010 in the Nancy Spirtas Kranzberg Gallery. Please join us for an opening reception on Friday, February 19 from 5 - 7 p.m.! Gallery Hours are Tuesdays, Noon - 8 p.m.; Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, Noon - 5 p.m.; Saturdays, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. and one hour prior to Sheldon performances and during intermission. Admission is free. For more information on the exhibition visit the galleries' website at www.thesheldon.org/galleries.asp.

The exhibition presents a suite of new abstract paintings by Barry Leibman who has made music the focus of his work. Past series included ones inspired by a Mozart clarinet concerto and music compositions by Erik Satie. He has also created assemblage paintings using the music of jazz artists like King Oliver, Cecil Taylor and Sun Ra, which were shown at the Sheldon Art Galleries in the group exhibition, Improvisus, curated by Alison Ferring in 2003. This recent body of work uses Mahler's Ninth Symphony as a springboard.

Mahler's Ninth Symphony premiered in Vienna in June 1912 to great acclaim. The symphony is comprised of four movements, each expressing complex emotions, culminating in Mahler's moving Adagio. This exhibition is based on that Adagio. The symphony, written in 1908 and 1909, was Mahler's last to be completed. He passed away in 1911 and he never heard it performed.

Barry Leibman is a former owner of Left Bank Books. After graduating from the University of Kansas , he spent two years in the Peace Corps, and then two years in the National Teacher's Corps (now Teach for America ). From 1970 to 1975 he taught English and created curriculum for African American college bound students. He had his first solo exhibition of paintings in 1990.

The not-for-profit Sheldon Art Galleries exhibits works by local, national, and international artists in all media. Over 6,000 square feet of the galleries' spaces on the 2nd floor are permanently devoted to rotating exhibits of photography, architecture, jazz art and history, and children's art. A sculpture garden, seen from both the atrium lobby and the connecting glass bridge, features periodic rotations and installations, and the Nancy Spirtas Kranzberg Gallery on the lower level features art of all media. The Sheldon actively supports the work of St. Louis artists in all mediums and features a dedicated gallery with museum-quality exhibits by St. Louis artists, past and present.

Financial Assistance for this project has been provided by the Missouri Arts Council, a state agency. Support is provided by the Regional Arts Commission and the Arts and Education Council.

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