Release Date: March 21, 2007

RELATED ACTIVITIES FOR “CELEBRATING THE LEGACY OF PAUL MELLON AT THE NATIONAL GALLERY OF ART”

Washington, DC—The National Gallery of Art will offer a comprehensive program of exhibitions, lectures, gallery talks, concerts, and a new documentary to celebrate the centenary of the birth of philanthropist, art collector, and Gallery benefactor Paul Mellon. All programs are free and open to the public. For more information, call (202) 737-4215, visit the Web site at www.nga.gov, or inquire at the Art Information Desks at each entrance to the Gallery. To learn more about Paul Mellon, visit www.nga.gov/xio/mellonchrn_1.htm.

CURRENT EXHIBITION
Eugène Boudin at the National Gallery of Art
March 25–August 5, 2007
First American exhibition in 30 years to focus on works by Eugène Boudin.
The exhibition is made possible by the generous support of Altria Group, Inc.

UPCOMING EXHIBITION
J.M.W. Turner
October 1, 2007–January 6, 2008
Largest and most comprehensive retrospective of art by J.M.W. Turner ever in the United States.
The exhibition in Washington is made possible in part through the generous support of Access Industries.

UPCOMING INSTALLATION
Paul Mellon and the National Gallery of Art
May 19–September 10, 2007
An archival display of documents and photographs will commemorate Paul Mellon’s legacy as a leader and benefactor of the National Gallery of Art.

FILM
Paul Mellon: In His Own Words
June 9 at 1:00 pm
June 10 at 5:00 pm
East Building Auditorium

PBS-TV – throughout summer 2007
iTunes – available for download beginning June 11, 2007

This one-hour biographical film celebrating the spirit and philosophy of Paul Mellon premieres on June 9. The narration draws on archival footage of the Mellon family, interviews, speeches, and a variety of writings in which Mellon describes his passions, pursuits, and such interests as family, art, collecting, horses, and racing.

SUNDAY LECTURES
2:00 pm
East Building Auditorium
Seating is first-come, first-served

To celebrate the centenary of the birth of Paul Mellon, the department of adult programs has organized a series of lectures highlighting the impact of Mellon and other major benefactors of the National Gallery of Art.

A Splendid Legacy: The Creation and Development of America’s National Gallery of Art
July 8

Chester Dale
July 15

An Open Window to the Whitney Collection
July 22:

The Wideners of Philadelphia: Lynnewood Hall Comes to the National Gallery
July 29

Minor Medici: Lesser-Known Benefactors of the National Gallery
August 5

Auguste Rodin and Mrs. Simpson: Artist, Collector, Friends
August 12

Paul Mellon and The East Building
August 19

Medici of the Modern: Robert and Jane Meyerhoff
August 26

GALLERY TALKS
Paul Mellon Collects: “Dad’s Coming” by Winslow Homer
May 1, 2, 3, 6, and 18 at 1:00 pm
East Building Art Information Desk

Paul Mellon Collects: “Calm Sea” by Gustave Courbet
May 7, 8, and 10 at 12:00 pm
May 9 at 2:00 pm
East Building Art Information Desk

Paul Mellon Collects: “Breton Girls Dancing, Pont-Aven” by Paul Gauguin
May 24, 25, and 29 at 1:00 pm
West Building Rotunda

Paul Mellon Collects: The Art of George Bellows
May 15 and 22 at 12:00 pm
May 19 and June 27 at 1:00 pm
East Building Art Information Desk

Paul Mellon Collects: Small French Paintings
May 17, 20, and 30 at 12:00 pm
June 14 at 1:00 pm
East Building Art Information Desk

Paul Mellon Collects: “The Artist’s Father, Reading L’Événement” by Paul Cézanne
May 21, 23, and 24 at 12:00pm
West Building Rotunda

Paul Mellon Collects: “Young Girl Reading” by Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot
June 1 and 7 at 12:00 pm
June 5 at 11:00 am
June 6 at 2:00 pm
East Building Art Information Desk

Paul Mellon Collects: “Plum Brandy” by Edouard Manet
June 7, 13, 23, and 24 at 1:00 pm
West Building Rotunda

CONCERTS
Pianist Thomas Hrynkiw; music by J. S. Bach, Beethoven, Chopin, Prester, and Revutsky
May 2 at 12:10 pm
East Building Auditorium

Pianist Tao Lin; music by Balakirev, Chopin, Haydn, and Schubert
May 9 at 12:10 pm
East Building Auditorium

Pianist Marta Felcman; music by Chopin, Guastavino, Ravel, and Scarlatti
May 16 at 12:10 pm
East Building Auditorium

Pianist Brian Ganz; music by Chopin, Debussy, Griffes, Liszt, Lennon, and MacDowell
May 23 at 12:10 pm
East Building Auditorium

Pianist Stephen Prustman; music by J.S. Bach, Prustman, and Ravel
May 30 at 12:10 pm
East Building Auditorium

Pianist Ney Salgado; music by Chopin, Liszt, Mozart, Ravel, Schubert, and Villa-Lobos
June 6 at 12:10 pm
East Building Auditorium

Eddie Daniels and Ensemble; Benny Goodman-style jazz concert
June 10 at 3:00 pm
East Building Atrium

General Information

The National Gallery of Art and its Sculpture Garden are at all times free to the public. They are located on the National Mall between 3rd and 9th Streets at Constitution Avenue NW, and are open Monday through Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Sunday from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. The Gallery is closed on December 25 and January 1. For information call (202) 737-4215 or the Telecommunications Device for the Deaf (TDD) at (202) 842-6176, or visit the Gallery's Web site at www.nga.gov.

Visitors will be asked to present all carried items for inspection upon entering the East and West Buildings. Checkrooms are free of charge and located at each entrance. Luggage and other oversized bags must be presented at the 4th Street entrances to the East or West Building to permit x-ray screening and must be deposited in the checkrooms at those entrances. For the safety of visitors and the works of art, nothing may be carried into the Gallery on a visitor's back. Any bag or other items that cannot be carried reasonably and safely in some other manner must be left in the checkrooms. Items larger than 17 x 26 inches cannot be accepted by the Gallery or its checkrooms.

For additional press information please call or send inquiries to:

Press Office
National Gallery of Art
2000B South Club Drive
Landover, MD 20785
phone: (202) 842-6353 e-mail: pressinfo@nga.gov

Deborah Ziska
Chief of Press and Public Information
(202) 842-6353
ds-ziska@nga.gov

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