John Doyle
Aztec Echo from the Builders, The Great Human Race Series, 1982
Lithograph, edition 44/150
25 1/2 x 18 inches
Racine Art Museum, Gift of Dr. and Mrs. Russell Schwindt
Photography: Jarvis Lawson

Past Tense: Exploring Two Print Portfolios from RAM’s Collection

June 14 – August 5, 2023
at RAM’s Wustum Museum

Past Tense was inspired by RAM’s Twentieth Anniversary in 2023 and the concurrent Wustum exhibition, Futures Reimagined: RAM Community Art Show. Whether as a source for memories, inspiration, an accounting of events and people, or lessons learned, both an anniversary celebration and an exhibition with artists considering the future encourage looking at what has happened in the past.

RAM’s extensive works on paper collection includes two print portfolios that address time in different ways—each way connecting place to time and space. The Wisconsin Sesquicentennial Portfolio, commissioned in honor of the State’s 150th anniversary, combines the work of various contemporary artists—many of whom have or had connections to Wisconsin. Visually and thematically wide-ranging, the prints reflect artists’ responses to the history and character of the State of Wisconsin.

Selections from John Doyle’s The Builders, The Great Human Race, show how the artist looks at the past as a point on a continuum of civilizations. After intensely studying various societies across the globe, Doyle has visually linked architectural achievements of different eras and cultures to community building.

More About the Exhibition

Exhibition Notes (PDF)

Artists in the Exhibition

Andrew G. Balkin, Warrington Colescott, John Doyle, Michelle Grabner, Susan Hunt-Wulkowicz, Martin Levine, Munio Makuuchi, Frances Myers, Bruce Nauman, Gladys Nilsson, Ed Paschke, Fred Stonehouse, Tom Uttech, John Wilde, and William T. Wiley

Past Tense: Exploring Two Print Portfolios from RAM’s Collection

June 14 – August 5, 2023
at RAM’s Wustum Museum
John Doyle
Aztec Echo from the Builders, The Great Human Race Series, 1982
Lithograph, edition 44/150
25 1/2 x 18 inches
Racine Art Museum, Gift of Dr. and Mrs. Russell Schwindt
Photography: Jarvis Lawson

Past Tense was inspired by RAM’s Twentieth Anniversary in 2023 and the concurrent Wustum exhibition, Futures Reimagined: RAM Community Art Show. Whether as a source for memories, inspiration, an accounting of events and people, or lessons learned, both an anniversary celebration and an exhibition with artists considering the future encourage looking at what has happened in the past.

RAM’s extensive works on paper collection includes two print portfolios that address time in different ways—each way connecting place to time and space. The Wisconsin Sesquicentennial Portfolio, commissioned in honor of the State’s 150th anniversary, combines the work of various contemporary artists—many of whom have or had connections to Wisconsin. Visually and thematically wide-ranging, the prints reflect artists’ responses to the history and character of the State of Wisconsin.

Selections from John Doyle’s The Builders, The Great Human Race, show how the artist looks at the past as a point on a continuum of civilizations. After intensely studying various societies across the globe, Doyle has visually linked architectural achievements of different eras and cultures to community building.

More About the Exhibition

Exhibition Notes (PDF)

Artists in the Exhibition

Andrew G. Balkin, Warrington Colescott, John Doyle, Michelle Grabner, Susan Hunt-Wulkowicz, Martin Levine, Munio Makuuchi, Frances Myers, Bruce Nauman, Gladys Nilsson, Ed Paschke, Fred Stonehouse, Tom Uttech, John Wilde, and William T. Wiley

Sample of Work in the Exhibition

Click/tap an image for more information

Exhibitions at RAM are made possible by:

Platinum Sponsors

The Estate of Karen Johnson Boyd
David Charak
Judith and David Flegel Fund
Institute of Museum and Library Services
Ron and Judith Isaacs
Nicholas and Nancy Kurten
Rcf Logo 2021
Windgate Foundation

Diamond Sponsors

City of Racine’s Grow Racine Grant
Osborne and Scekic Family Foundation
Ruffo Family Foundation
Ruth Arts Foundation

Gold Sponsors

Anonymous
Tom and Irene Creecy
Richard and Patricia Ehlert
Herzfeld Foundation
Reliance Controls
Ruth Foundation for the Arts
Trio Foundation of St. Louis
W.T. Walker Group, Inc.
Wisconsin Arts Board

Silver Sponsors

Anonymous
Art Bridges
Baird
A.C. Buhler Family
Lucy G. Feller
Ben and Dawn Flegel
Jim Harris
Sharon and Tom Harty
Lise Iwon
J. Jeffers & Co.
Johnson Financial Group
Dorothy MacVicar
Jan Serr and John Shannon

Bronze Sponsors

Ellen and Joseph Albrecht
Andis Foundation
Susan Boland
Virginia Buhler
Butcher & Barrel/Amos Los Tacos
Educators Credit Union
Express Employment Professionals
Tony and Andrea Hauser
Bill and Debbie Keland
Susan Manalli
Jean and Alex Mandli, Jr.
The Prairie School
Cathy Stanghellin
Georgiana Treivush
Twin Disc, Inc.

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