Opening Reception for MYTHOS: Assemblages by Maureen McCabe

MYTHOS: Assemblages by Maureen McCabe

October 19, 2007 - January 12, 2008

The work of critically acclaimed assemblage artist Maureen McCabe will be on view in the Parthenon's East Gallery. For her exhibition at the Parthenon, McCabe has created a series of new works inspired by ancient mythology, exploring these myths' modern relevance.

Assemblage is a technique similar to two-dimensional collage. Assemblage takes the form into three dimensions, and can include miniatures, natural materials, small toys, and found objects. McCabe's works include objects collected during her travels around the globe, including a recent trip to Athens, Greece.

In addition to the new assemblages she created specifically for the Parthenon venue, work from four decades of McCabe's career will be on view. Throughout her career, McCabe's witty, exquisite creations have explored the themes of fortune, fate, luck, and chance. For example, in the assemblage titled Paris and Helen, McCabe depicts the fated lovers at a critical moment, pondering what would have happened if they had "uncoupled," thus precluding the Trojan War. As Assistant Curator Brenna Cothran says, "Each of us has been at a similar crossroads at one time or another, and has wondered what our lives would be like if we had taken the other path. The brilliance of McCabe's work lies in its ability to re-energize these ancient stories and make them personally relevant."

After her exhibition at the Parthenon ends, Maureen McCabe's work will travel to Hollis Taggart Galleries in New York, where it will be shown alongside the assemblages of Joseph Cornell, the mid-20th-century artist who pioneered the technique.

Artist's talk Thursday, October 18, 7 p.m. Free; reservations recommended (contact Linda at 862-8431)

Opening reception Friday, October 19, 6-8 p.m. Free. Sponsored by the Conservancy for the Parthenon and Centennial Park.

Image captions: Paris and Helen, 2006, mixed media on board, 16 x 21 x 1 inches; Daedalus, 2006, mixed media on board, 16 x 21 x 3 inches

The Parthenon is open 9:00-4:30, Tuesday - Saturday. Admission is $5.00 for adults and $2.50 for seniors 62 and over and children 4-17. Children under 4 are free.