Release Date: September 3, 2012

Wide Array of Related Activities Offered In Conjunction with Roy Lichtenstein: A Retrospective

Washington, DC—The National Gallery of Art plans several public programs to honor Roy Lichtenstein: A Retrospective, the first major exhibition of the artist's work since his death in 1997. On view in the East Building from October 14, 2012, through January 13, 2013, the exhibition is complemented by the world premiere of an original one-act children's play, a family guide, two lectures, a concert, a teacher workshop, as well as film screenings, gallery talks, podcasts, an audio tour, and a variety of offerings in the Gallery shops.

All programs are free of charge in the East Building Auditorium unless otherwise noted. Seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Family Programs

Framed!
Saturday, November 3, 10:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.
Sunday, November 4, 11:30 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.
Ages 6 and up
The Gallery presents the premiere of the play Framed!, written and directed by Mary Hall Surface. Inspired by the art of Roy Lichtenstein, Framed! introduces audiences to the ideas behind pop art through an engaging story of two characters exploring the language of art. With live jazz music, this dynamic show will delight children and adults. Surface, a Helen Hayes Award recipient, is an internationally recognized playwright and director specializing in theater for families. She wrote and directed the play Who's in the Hopper? An Art Mystery Adventure, performed at the Gallery in honor of the 2007–2008 exhibition Edward Hopper. Approximately 60 minutes. Seating is offered on a first-come, first-served basis; doors will open 30 minutes before each performance. The auditorium seats 450 people.

Family Guide

Explore the exhibition Roy Lichtenstein: A Retrospective with a free family guide available at the East Building Information Desk. The Roy Lichtenstein Family Guide is made possible by the generous support of Melvin Henderson-Rubio.

Lectures

Roy Lichtenstein: Reading between the Dots
October 14, 2:00 p.m.
Harry Cooper, curator of modern and contemporary art, National Gallery of Art
Book signing of Roy Lichtenstein: A Retrospective follows.

Roy Lichtenstein In His Studio
Sunday, December 9, noon
Harry Cooper, curator and head, department of modern art, National Gallery of Art, in conversation with Laurie Lambrecht, artist

Roy Lichtenstein: Voices from the Archives
December 16, 2:00 p.m.
Avis Berman, writer, art historian, and consultant for oral history, Roy Lichtenstein Foundation

Concert

Washington Saxophone Quartet
"The Saxophone in America"
November 18, 6:30 p.m.
West Building, West Garden Court

Teacher Workshop

J. Carter Brown Memorial Evening with Educators: Roy Lichtenstein: A Retrospective
Wednesday, November 14, 4:00 – 7:00 p.m.
East Building Concourse, Education Studio
Based on the exhibition Roy Lichtenstein: A Retrospective, this evening event focuses on the artistic legacy of this celebrated pop artist. More than 130 objects provide an overview of his career and include his classic popular romance and cartoon paintings, as well as those referencing such historical artistic styles as cubism, surrealism, and German expressionism. Options for the evening include viewing the exhibition (on view from October 14, 2012, to January 13, 2013), enjoying food, wine, and conversation with colleagues, and seeing a one-act play inspired by Lichtenstein's art.
Fee: $10

Registration required; please visit www.nga.gov/education/teacher.shtm#register
The fee is waived for first-time participants and for past participants registering with a K–12 teacher new to Gallery programs.

Film Events

Several documentaries about the artist made throughout the course of his career, including director Michael Blackwood's classic 1970s monograph Roy Lichtenstein, will screen during the final weeks of the exhibition.

Gallery Talks

Roy Lichtenstein: A Retrospective
Diane Arkin
October 16–18, 22–24, 2:00 p.m.
November 26–29, 2:00 p.m.
December 5, 2:00 p.m.
East Building Information Desk
50 mins.

Podcasts

Roy Lichtenstein
Roy Lichtenstein in conversation with Jack Cowart, curator of 20th-century art, National Gallery of Art; introduction by Ruth Fine, curator of the department of graphic arts, National Gallery of Art

On January 27, 1985, Roy Lichtenstein appeared in conversation with curator Jack Cowart to celebrate the exhibition Gemini G.E.L.: Art and Collaboration, on view at the National Gallery of Art from November 18, 1984, to February 24, 1985. In this recording, Lichtenstein discusses some of his 134 prints in the Gemini G.E.L. collection. Gemini G.E.L. (Graphic Edition Limited) is an artists' workshop and publisher of hand-printed limited-edition lithographs. Gemini G.E.L. played a pivotal role in the formation of the Gallery's contemporary collection when Sidney B. Felsen and Stanley Grinstein, owners of Gemini, donated 256 prints and sculpture editions by 22 contemporary American artists working at Gemini G.E.L. of Los Angeles. The archive collection now has more than 1,200 works, establishing the Gallery as a primary research center in the field of contemporary graphic art and edition sculpture. http://www.nga.gov/podcasts/conversations/index.htm

Roy Lichtenstein and Robert Rosenblum
Roy Lichtenstein in conversation with Robert Rosenblum, professor of art history, Institute of Fine Arts, New York University, and the Stephen and Nan Swid Curator of 20th-Century Art, Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York

On October 26, 1994, Roy Lichtenstein appeared in conversation with art historian and curator Robert Rosenblum at the National Gallery of Art. In this podcast Lichtenstein discusses his career and life as an artist, and the impact that his art has had on popular culture. This program coincided with the traveling exhibition The Prints of Roy Lichtenstein, the first comprehensive survey of the artist's prints in more than two decades, which was on view at the Gallery from October 30, 1994 through January 8, 1995. http://www.nga.gov/podcasts/elson/index.htm

Podcasts to be Released in 2012

Roy Lichtenstein: Reading between the Dots
Harry Cooper, curator of modern and contemporary art, National Gallery of Art
(Original program date: October 14, 2012; release date: October 16, 2012)

Audio Tour

Narrated by director Earl A. Powell III, this tour includes commentary by exhibition curators James Rondeau, chair and curator of contemporary art, The Art Institute of Chicago, and Harry Cooper, department head and curator of modern and contemporary art, National Gallery of Art, along with archival audio of the artist. Rental at the entrance of the exhibition: $5

Gallery Shops

Visitors will find a number of products featuring Lichtenstein's classic early pop style and comic-book treatments of war and romance. A poster of Little Big Painting (1965) has been specially designed in limited quantities and is available framed or unframed. In addition to the full-color exhibition catalogue, Roy Lichtenstein: A Retrospective, the Gallery Shops will feature a wide selection of scholarly titles and an eclectic mix of illustrated books. Other items will include a postcard book with 30 images from the exhibition, DVD films about Lichtenstein produced by the Checkerboard Film Foundation, a striking pop-art silk scarf and tie, calendars, coasters, glassware, and framed prints. Children's offerings will include an entertaining selection of books about Lichtenstein, including a biography and a counting book for young readers.