When an exhibit is traveling, local venues frequently complement what arrives in crates with what can be carried across town. A Picasso and Matisse, together again, blockbuster? We can add to that. European Impressionism, peak and post? We can match that.
The exception is contemporary. If an exhibit on a contemporary theme is on the road, rare is the regional museum able/willing to integrate the home grown with the imported.
Why? If done badly, it’s better not done. Good examples of Picasso exist lots of places. But faith that artists in a particular region can succeed in a global context is harder to come by.
The Puppet Show from the ICA is a hit at the Frye. That’s great, but why not spread that applause around?
Take Seattle’s Mr. Puppet, Warner Blake, veteran of innumerable street fairs and puppet dinner theaters. No room for his orchestra on the back of a turtle, his suitcase-sized marching band?
It would have been easy to make a little.
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