The Harn Museum of Art at the University of Florida celebrates creativity, discovery and inquiry through its newest exhibition Divergent Convergence opening March 31. Offered as part of the University of Florida’s campus-wide, year-long celebration of invention and creativity, the exhibition investigates how various artists discover and question the past, reinterpret the present, and imagine the future. Divergent Convergence: The Arts of Creativity, Discovery & Inquiry will be on view through July 21, 2019.
The highest levels of creativity require both divergent and convergent thinking. Divergent thinking, whether as an individual or as a collective, encourages the generation of numerous ideas leading to multiple solutions. Convergent thinking promotes the use of information and a set of rules to arrive at one solution to a problem. The exhibition explores the work of more than 55 artists from 18 countries, including their divergent and convergent thinking processes behind the production of the works of art. The wide range of media—from ceramics, light sculpture and film, to paintings, prints and drawings—allows for the convergence of diverse voices and ideas.
“The Harn Museum of Art is a hub of interdisciplinary research and creativity at the University of Florida that encourages innovation,” said Lee Anne Chesterfield, Harn Museum of Art Director. “We are pleased to exhibit these works of art that honor the creative and innovative minds of artists in the museum’s permanent collection.”
The Harn will provide multiple ways for visitors to interact with the art on view. These opportunities include viewing performances and participating in activities developed by the Gator VR (Virtual Reality) Club, UF Professor Dr. Elif Akçalı, and the Harn “Creatives-in-Residence”—Choreographer-in-Residence, Composer-in-Residence, and Poet-in-Residence. These programs, developed through a collaboration of museum educators and curatorial staff, with University of Florida faculty and students, provide new artistic experiences for both the creators and viewers.
“We researched the Harn’s collections to provide excellent examples of divergent and convergent thinking,” said Jason Steuber, Harn Cofrin Curator of Asian Art. “Alongside extraordinary selections from the museum’s permanent holdings, the exhibition exudes the spirit of inquiry and creativity through public programming collaborations with UF students and faculty.”
The exhibition is made possible by The Collier Companies and Nathan & Ani Collier, the Margaret J. Early Program Endowment, the Harn Program Endowment, and the Londono Family Endowment, with additional support from a group of local museum supporters and the Harn Annual Fund.
Admission to the Harn Museum of Art is free.
Programs
The Harn is offering a number of related programs providing an opportunity for visitors to engage in conversation and learn more about the works on view. All programs are free and open to the public, unless noted otherwise.
Member pARTy
Saturday, March 30, 6:30 – 9 p.m.
Harn Members receive an exclusive preview of the exhibition before it opens. This opening celebration includes Director remarks, hors d’oeuvres and drinks. Membership is free and accessible for all to join online at harn.ufl.edu/join. There will also be an opportunity to join at the door the night of the event.
Spring Break Art Camp: Flight!
April 1 – 5, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. | Cost: $290 ($250 Members)
Young “art-venturers” will explore the museum and experience art-making activities centered on the notion of Flight. Campers will find inspiration in the galleries and explore drawing, collage, cloth and paper to make individual and collaborative works. Projects include watercolor collage portraits, flying machine models, winged soft sculpture creations and more.
Family Day: Art Inventors!
Saturday, April 6, 1 – 4 p.m.
Participants will explore the materials and process behind some of their favorite works of art at the Harn. After an engaging tour, children and families will learn about the screen printing process as they pull a print of their own. This program is ideal for families with children ages 5 to 11, but all ages are welcome.
Gallery Talk
Divergent Convergence: Ways of Seeing
Sunday, April 7, 3 p.m.
Jason Steuber, Cofrin Curator of Asian Art, Allysa B. Peyton, Assistant Curator of Asian Art, and Elif Akçalı, UF Associate Professor and Associate Chair in Industrial and Systems Engineering will explore divergent thinking and discuss the themes in the exhibition.
Museum Nights: Art + Engineering
Thursday, April 11, 6 – 9 p.m.
An evening of innovation and creativity will make connections between disciplines during this event. Visitors will view works of art and attend performances by UF College of Engineering faculty and students. Opportunities to experiment with screen printing and explore other art-making processes will take place. Museum Nights is an ongoing program made possible by University of Florida Student Government and the Office of the Provost. Additional support for this evening provided by the UF College of Engineering.
Convergence: Music & Art by Harn Creatives-in-Residence
Saturday, April 20, 1 – 4 p.m.
This afternoon of original works by Harn Composer-in-Residence Diogo Carvalho brings together art, music, dance, poetry and audience participation to explore divergent thinking and blur the boundaries between disciplines. The music compositions will be performed by UF New Music Ensemble, clarinet duo Ian McIntyre and Amy Humbert, and The Bold City Contemporary Ensemble. Choreography and dance performances are by Harn Choreographer-in-Residence Danielle Frost. Poetry readings are by Harn Poets-in-Residence Debora Greger, Danny Duffy and Corinne Titus.
Schedule:
1 p.m.: Echo Chamber
This interactive composition invites audience members to participate in the creation by choosing how the musical piece will proceed. With musicians, poets and dancers stationed throughout the museum, the composition explores how we experience music at a particular time and place.
2 p.m.: Space Duo and Afrosamba
Traditional concert performance expectations are obliterated in this clarinet Space Duo performance combining sound and movement. Afrosamba’s musical and dance components are inspired by Carvalho’s Brazilian background with a mixture of West-African, European, North-American, and Brazilian cultures.
3 p.m.: Garden Soundscape
The David A. Cofrin Asian Art Wing Rock Garden provided inspiration for the development of this musical composition. The music follows the visual aspects of the rock garden design.
For more information visit harn.ufl.edu/films/performances.
Poetry Readings by Harn Poets-in-Residence
Saturday, May 4, 3 p.m.
Harn Poets-in-Residence Debora Greger, Danny Duffy and Corinne Titus will share the results of their explorations of the objects on view in the exhibition. The poets will read original compositions inspired by works of art such as the Yayoi Kusama painting, Hiroshi Sugimoto photograph, and the Lee Leenam video.
Museum Nights: Innovate + Create
Thursday, July 11, 6 – 9 p.m.
Visitors may explore the exhibition through Art Blast tours, and dare to join in activities challenging feats of divergent thinking. Performances will take place by guest choreographers and students from the UF School of Theatre and Dance presenting excerpts from Swamp Dance Fest! 2019. Artists and innovators will also lead art-making activities to take home. Museum Nights is an ongoing program made possible by University of Florida Student Government and the Office of the Provost.
Tours
Saturdays and Sundays, 2 p.m.
Docent tour guides share highlights from across the museum, or feature a theme or an exhibition—such as Divergent Convergence. No registration required. Groups of 10 or more may schedule a tour three weeks in advance by contacting tours@harn.ufl.edu.
Released March 26, 2019
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