The Waterworks exhibition brings masterpieces of modern, contemporary art to Salisbury
Published on Sunday, August 25, 2024, 00:05
SALISBURY – The wait is almost over as Waterworks Visual Arts Center prepares for a year-long exhibition of paintings and sculptures from the private collection of the late New York philanthropists Julian and Josie Robertson.
“Never seen…Modern Masterpieces” includes 40 works by 28 leading European modernists, including greats such as Kandinsky, Monet, Picasso and de Kooning. The exhibition spans more than a century of art history and introduces visitors to several key movements from French Impressionism to Abstract Expressionism.
Julian and Josie Robertson began collecting art in the 1980s after Julian founded the hedge fund Tiger Management. His success with Tiger not only allowed the couple to build their collection, but also made them two of the country’s biggest philanthropists. Together, the Robertsons supported a variety of causes, including medicine, education, the environment and the arts, as well as organizations that fight poverty.
Although many of these initiatives had a national or even global focus, the Robertsons never forgot Salisbury, the city where Julian was born and raised. Here he learned the importance of community from his parents, Blanche and Julian Robertson, who were both active members of the church and the city’s social life. Blanche was also instrumental in establishing Waterworks as a regionally recognized organization in the late 1970s.
“Salisbury was a wonderful place to grow up,” Julian, who attended Frank B. John School and Boyden High School (now Salisbury High), said in an interview before his death. In 1997, Julian and Josie Robertson founded the Blanche and Julian Robertson Family Foundation to support local causes in memory of Julian’s parents. Since its inception, the Foundation has awarded millions of dollars in grants to over 150 agencies and organizations dealing with adult and family affairs, education, community health issues, performing and visual arts, tutoring and child care, history and historic preservation, capital improvement, and youth activities.
The exhibition is the latest evidence of the Robertsons’ commitment to this special city.
“Dad would be so proud to have these works of art, his ‘painted children’, on display at Waterworks for the people of Salisbury to admire and reflect on and inspire future generations,” said Alexander Robertson, chairman of the Robertson Foundation. “Now it’s up to all of us to make sure everyone takes advantage of this amazing and unique opportunity.”
This exhibition honors the Robertsons by combining two of their greatest passions: art and philanthropy. To honor the couple’s legacy and commitment to education, Waterworks Visual Arts Center and the Robertson Foundation have partnered to ensure that every child in Rowan County – approximately 19,000 students – can view the exhibition.
The exhibition, which opens to the public on September 17, coincides with the 65th anniversary of the Waterworks Visual Arts Center.
“How fitting and exciting to celebrate this milestone with such an extraordinary exhibition of modern and contemporary artwork,” said Executive Director Anne Scott Clement.
Waterworks Visual Arts Center is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums, and its programs are made possible through the generous support of its members, corporate sponsors, private foundations, the City of Salisbury, Rowan County, and the North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources.
In preparation for the new exhibition, the galleries will be closed to the public from September 5 to 16. Waterworks’ new opening hours will begin on September 17.
Gallery opening hours: Tuesday – Saturday, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Self-guided tours are available during gallery hours, and reservations are recommended. Groups may schedule a guided tour of the exhibitions by calling 704-636-1882 or emailing [email protected] at least four weeks in advance of the desired tour. For more information, visit www.waterworks.org.
Due to the nature of these pieces, photography is not permitted in the galleries.
