The current exhibition at Queens College’s Godwin-Ternbach Museum, “Fitz Maurice: Common Ground,” examines the fall of the Berlin Wall in a variety of pieces that tell the story before, during and after.
The exhibit features paintings, drawings and prints by Maurice that were first shown in Germany to mark the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall. Museum director and curator Amy Winter said that she was asked to bring the exhibit to Godwin-Ternbach because of a movement in Queens “related to the concept of tolerance.”
“It’s related to the need for everybody to be more open – and especially in a place that has such diversity,” Winter said.
Maurice, a winner of the Jackson Pollock-Lee Krasner Award, was in Germany when the Berlin Wall fell.
“She is a talented artist who has received a lot of international attention,” Winter said.
Winter said there are several strengths to the show, such as that half of the show is very documentary. She also said that it “has some very iconic paintings.”
“They are all very powerful paintings – expressive in form and color, as well as symbolism,” Winter said. “I also think the strength of this show is its accessibility for viewers – it is not difficult to understand what the artist was representing – and, additionally, she is very articulate and offered a very detailed narrative for each work, both in labels in the exhibition and in catalogue.”
The responsive from those who have seen the exhibition so far has been very good, Winter said. She said that she has heard people say that they remember where they were when they heard the new the wall had fallen.
“I hope that people will recognize how art and social issues do not have to be seen as exclusive of each other and that artists can convey ideas and emotions about important issues in a unique way that no other medium can,” Winter said.
Another goal of Winter’s for “Common Ground” is that it will show people how Queens College is involved in encouraging tolerance.
“I also hope that they will recognize that the museum and the college are dedicated to the promotion of tolerance and understanding through offerings like this and that it can help to establish or reinforce a common ground among the very diverse cultures that live in the borough and in the New York City area,” Winter said.
“Fitz Maurice: Common Ground” will be on display through Saturday, December 19.
The Godwin-Ternbach Museum is located at 405 Klapper Hall, 65-30 Kissena Boulevard in Flushing. It is open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday to Thursday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays.
For more information, visit www.qc.cuny.edu/godwin_ternbach, or call 718-997-4747.
