"Winter" at the Hood

Visitors and art and architecture critics have been flocking to the College's new Hood Museum of Art ever since its opening last September. During its first six months, well over 60,000 visitors - far exceeding expectations - came to see the building that is drawing acclaim from architecture critics around the world, as well as the museum's inaugural loan exhibition, "Winter."

The design of the Hood has appeared on covers and in color spreads in some of the top magazines of the architecture world, including Architecture, The Architectural Record, and Progressive Architecture, as well as in publications in five European countries. Word of the Hood's eminence was spread far and wide when New York Times architecture critic Paul Goldberger previewed the opening of Dartmouth's museum, and two others, in a story headlined "Three Museums of National Importance Will Open This Fall."

What's hanging on the walls has also received considerable attention. With nearly 100 masterpieces portraying a season Hanoverians know well, "Winter" was a popular draw during winter term. The exhibition, organized by the Hood staff, featured works from the 15th century to the present, including paintings, drawings, prints, and photographs by such renowned artists as Claude Monet, Vincent van Gogh, Winslow Homer, and Grant Wood. Some were from the Hood's permanent collection and others were on loan. Like the Hood itself, the exhibition has received widespread - and flattering - media coverage. The feature essay in the exhibition catalog - a discourse on the satisfactions of a New Hampshire winter by poet Donald Hall - appeared in shorter form in the February issue of Harper's magazine. "Winter" was also covered on National Public Radio's "All Things Considered." In fact, it even inspired spirited debate between host Susan Stamberg and her listeners on the pleasures and shortcomings of the North Country's longest season.

The exhibition catalog, with Hall's essay and reproductions of works in the show, is available in both paperback and hardcover editions from the Hood.

The poster for the Hood's recent exhibition celebrating winter was designed by J. Clemente Orozco III '85.