“The Art of Film” Stewart Smith Describes Pop Culture Through the Perspective of Film Tyler Museum of Art

“The Art of Film”

Stewart Smith Describes Pop Culture Through the Perspective of Film

            (TYLER, TX) May 18, 2011 – Enjoy a delightful collision of film, history and pop culture during the final installment of the Tyler Museum of Art’s Spring Lecture Series featuring special guest speaker Stewart Smith, Arts and Entertainment Editor for the Tyler Morning Telegraph, on Tuesday, May 24. “Let’s Go to the Movies: The Art of Film and Progression of Pop Culture” will begin at 5:30 p.m. in the Jean Browne Theatre located on the Tyler Junior College Campus. The lecture is free for TMA Members, $7 for adults, and $5 for students and seniors.

            Mr. Smith will take a cue from the Museum’s current exhibition Remember When: Marvels & Memories from the Collection of Dr. James Clark which includes over 500 examples of vintage movie posters and memorabilia, historical items, and sports collectibles. Originally from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Mr. Smith earned his degree in Journalism from Sam Houston State University and came to work for the Tyler Morning Telegraph in 2007. Since 2009, Smith has worked as Arts and Entertainment Editor for the newspaper, and he writes and edits the weekly Marquee.

            “When we began planning this exhibition, we immediately thought of Mr. Smith because of his expertise in the area of film,” said Ken Tomio, TMA Head of Education. “Vintage movie posters and memorabilia form the core of this exhibition, and so his talk is going to take a very interesting look at the narrative inherent within Dr. Clark’s collection.”

            Smith says his lecture will focus on the evolution of film from the 1940s and 50s, which is the focus of the exhibition, and today’s blockbuster hits. “It's fascinating to me to be able to examine the various ways that our entertainment industry has evolved and, by extension, the ways that the popular culture has responded to that evolution,” said Smith. “What I want to do with this talk is to highlight some of the specific ways in which the film industry has responded to and reflected the changing times.” Smith will compare and contrast films represented in Remember When like Sergeant York with current films like The Green Zone in order to demonstrate cultural shifts in perception of war and military action.

 “I love the sense of history that is present within the exhibition. It is a veritable time capsule that captures a wonderful, bygone spirit of cinema that will likely never exist again.” Tickets may be purchased prior to the lecture from the Visitor Services desk at the Museum, or at the door by cash or check only.

Remember When: Marvels & Memories from the Collection of Dr. James Clark is on view at the Tyler Museum of Art from May 8 through August 14, 2011 and is the sixth exhibition in the “Tyler Collects” series, organized by the Museum to showcase private collections belonging to residents of Tyler. The exhibition comprises over 500 objects ranging from vintage movie posters to historic memorabilia collected by Dr. Clark, who is a reconstructive plastic surgeon in Tyler. This exhibition was organized by the Tyler Museum of Art, and admission is free.

Exhibition support has been generously provided by Lead Sponsor, Harold and Rosemary Beaird. Supporting Sponsors are Grant, Catharine, Clark and Sara Faulconer; Joe and Betty McMahan; Cecil and Bernie Ward, and Sherilyn and Patrick Willis. Sponsors are Citizens 1st Bank; James and Donna Culver; Susan and Ron Donaldson; Betsy and Elmer Ellis; Verna and George Hall; Tom and June Lowery; Gail and Harry Wallace, and Sam and Carrie Wolf. Collectors’ Circle Sponsors are Byars Foundation and Sheryl Rogers Palmer. Corporate Member Sponsor is Southside Bank. Media Sponsor is Tyler Morning Telegraph.

The Tyler Museum of Art, accredited by the American Association of Museums, is located at 1300 S. Mahon Ave., adjacent to the Tyler Junior College campus off East Fifth Street. Regular hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, and 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday. (The Museum is closed Mondays and major holidays.) Lunch is available in the Museum Café from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, and the TMA Gift Shop is open during Museum hours. For more information, call (903) 595-1001 or visit www.tylermuseum.org.