Paris 1874, Desert Forest

The Modern Art Notes Podcast

Episode No. 672 features curators Kimberly A. Jones and Mary Morton; and curators Sant Khalsa and Juniper Harrower.

Along with Sylvie Patry and Anne Robbins, Jones and Morton are the curators of "1874: The Impressionist Moment" at the National Gallery of Art. The exhibition examines the condition of Parisian art in 1874, both official standards exhibited at and effectively promoted via the official salon, and the renegade works exhibited at the first impressionist exhibition. Included are impressionist stalwarts such as Claude Monet and Camille Pissarro, and also salon lions such as William Bouguereau and Jean-Léon Gérôme. The smart, delightful catalogue was published by the Musee d'Orsay and the NGA. Amazon and Bookshop offer it for about $46-60. "1874" is on view through January 19, 2025.

Khalsa and Harrower are the curators of "Desert Forest: Life with Joshua Trees" at the Lancaster (Calif.) Museum of Art and History. Part of this year's sprawling Getty PST ART initiative, it's on view through December 29. "Desert Forest" examines how artists from Carleton Watkins to Cara Romero to Nancy Baker Cahill have presented Joshua trees and the fragile Mojave Desert ecosystem in their work. A fine catalogue was published by Inlandia Institute. It's available from MOAH.

Instagram: Mary Morton, Kimberly Jones, Sant Khalsa, Juniper Harrower, Tyler Green.