ReFocus: Art of the '60s

Museum of Contemporary Art, Jacksonville

Jacksonville | Florida | USA

Jan 28, 2012 - Apr 08, 2012

In 2012, MOCA Jacksonville will revisit three decades of contemporary art and its relevancy in the 21st century with a series of accessible and scholarly exhibitions — perfect for newcomers and aficionados alike. Each of these featured exhibitions will provide a detailed overview of the major figures and movements within that particular decade. In addition to offering historical context, they will show how the themes and techniques employed during those time periods continue to influence artist working today.

ReFocus: Art of the 1960s delves into one of the seminal and radical periods of contemporary art. The arts—literature, art, dance, and theater—went through a fascinating period of growth and change during the 1960s. New, experimental art forms like pop art and happenings drew new public attention to artistic expression. Trends in the arts reflected both the turbulent social and political trends of the time and the influence of artists and writers of an earlier generation. By the 1960s, America had been involved in some sort of military conflict for nearly three decades, and it affected how artists saw the world. The civil rights movement and the sexual revolution helped to expand participation in the arts, and these new participants brought fresh insights to the art they practiced. Join MOCA as it explores major movements of the decade: Pop Art, Op Art, Performance Art, Minimalism, Color Field Painting, Action Painting and Post-Painterly Abstraction. Experience master works by artists that defined a generation: Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein, Willem de Kooning, Mark Rothko, Jasper Johns, and Robert Rauschenberg.

Take your exhibition experience beyond the art through a special partnership with the Jacksonville Public Library. From books by Tom Wolfe to music by James Brown, plus films and other materials, the art, artists and culture from each decade come to life.