Houdini: Art and Magic
February 11–May 13, 2012
Harry Houdini (1874–1926), the renowned magician and escape artist, was one of the twentieth century’s most famous performers. His gripping theatrical presentations and heart-stopping outdoor spectacles attracted unprecedented crowds, and his talent for self-promotion and provocation captured headlines on both sides of the Atlantic.
Organized by The Jewish Museum, New York, Houdini: Art and Magic is the first major art museum exhibition to examine Houdini’s life, legend, and enduring cultural influence. The exhibition includes works in a variety of media by such contemporary artists as Matthew Barney, Jane Hammond, Vik Muniz, and Raymond Pettibon--each of whom has been inspired by Houdini--as well as historic photographs; dramatic Art Nouveau-era posters and broadsides; theater ephemera; and archival and silent films illuminating Houdini’s role as a world-famous celebrity who commanded a mass audience in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Magic apparatus--rarely exhibited together--handcuffs, shackles, straitjacket, a milk can and a packing trunk are showcased in the context of their original presentation.
Houdini: Art and Magic will be on view in the museum’s main galleries.
Prior to its appearance at the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art, the exhibition was on view at The Jewish Museum from October 29, 2010, through March 27, 2011, before traveling to the Skirball Cultural Center, Los Angeles, CA (April 28–September 4, 2011); and the Contemporary Jewish Museum, San Francisco, CA (September 30, 2011–January 16, 2012).
Houdini: Art and Magic is organized by The Jewish Museum, New York, and made possible by Jane and James Stern, the Skirball Fund for American Jewish Life Exhibitions, and other generous donors.
The lead corporate sponsor for the Wisconsin presentation of Houdini: Art and Magic is BMO Harris Bank. more »
Harry Houdini, c. 1920, gelatin silver print. The National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C.