Exhibitions

Above: Tobi Kahn, Saphyr II, 2004

This exhibition will discuss the creation of sacred space in the 21st century, starting from Tobi Kahn's recent commission for Congregation Emanu-El B'ne Jeshrun in Milwaukee, which is conceived as a cohesive work of art composed of various elements (paintings, liturgical object, doors for the ark) helping define the space of the sanctuary. The exhibition, which will include other works by Kahn, will travel nationally after opening at MOBIA.

This exhibition discusses the last two centuries of medieval Spanish history in the Crown of Aragon (the Kingdom of Aragon, the Kingdom of Valencia, and the region of Catalonia) from the vantage point of religious art, and demonstrates the documented cooperative relationship that existed between Christians and Jews who worked either independently or together to create art both for the Church and the Jewish community. Religious art was not created solely by members of the faith community it was intended to serve, but its production in the multi-cultural society of late medieval Spain was more complicated. Jewish, Christian, and Muslim artists worked together in ateliers producing both retablos (large multi-paneled altarpieces) as well as Latin and Hebrew manuscripts. Jews and conversos (Jews who had converted to Christianity) were painters and framers of retablos, while Christians illuminated the pages of Hebrew manuscripts.

Above: Virgin and Child, Monastery of the Caves, Ukraine

This exhibition from the collection of the oldest monastery in Ukraine, the Kyiv-Pecherskaya Lavra (or Monastery of the Caves) will survey the history of Ukrainian icons and their stylistic evolution over the centuries. Ukrainian icons, unlike their Russian counterparts, incorporated noted influences from western art, particularly during the Renaissance and Baroque styles. The blending of East and West in their iconography and style is unique and needs to be better known in the US. Alongside icons the exhibition will display textiles, ceremonial and altar crosses, chalices and other liturgical objects. MOBIA will be the first venue in the United States.