ROANOKE, Va. (Aug. 10, 2016) — The Taubman Museum of Art is pleased to present Art & Sole: Fantasy Shoes from the Jane Gershon Weitzman Collection, Sept. 3-Dec. 31, 2016.
The exhibition features more than 70 inventive examples of fantasy art shoes chosen from the Jane Gershon Weitzman collection, remarkable for their imaginative construction and elaborate adornment.
Weitzman, who served as executive vice president of Stuart Weitzman and first vice president of Stuart Weitzman Retail, invited hundreds of artists over two decades to make these shoes for window displays in the company’s flagship boutique on Madison Avenue in New York City. They later inspired her book, Art & Sole, which features nearly 150 of the shoes.
Each delicate shoe is constructed from unexpected materials such as bronze, ceramic, wire, Plexiglas and corrugated cardboard. Other shoes are noteworthy for their surfaces, embellished with feathers, gems, and even cake frosting.
“I tried to find artists who worked in as many different materials and styles as possible,” said Weitzman. “I looked at the [store’s] windows as variations on a theme.”
Notable artists whose work will be on view at the Taubman include Joan Klimo, who designed shoes for Christian Dior; Sharon von Senden, who designed and constructed more than 18,000 square feet of mosaics for the City Museum in St. Louis, Mo.; and Danielle Pollitz, who is known for her resin work and was commissioned by the G&P Foundation for Cancer Research to sculpt an award presented to President Bill Clinton.
“While delighting the eye, the shoes on view at the Taubman Museum of Art will provide our visitors wonderful opportunities to see notable artists transforming functional objects into whimsical and humorous art. No pair is alike, and each one sparks the imagination,” said Amy G. Moorefield, deputy director of exhibitions and collections for the Museum.
Weitzman will headline the Taubman Museum of Art 2016 Women’s Luncheon Monday, Oct. 24. The event is an annual fundraiser celebrating women, art and education. Proceeds benefit the Museum’s dynamic roster of exhibitions and programming. In addition to Weitzman’s talk, the event also will feature a live auction.
At the luncheon, the Museum annually honors a woman for her vision, commitment and support of the arts, education and quality of life in the community with the Ann Fralin Award. This year’s honoree is Jenny Taubman, a longtime friend and benefactor of the Museum who is known throughout the country for her advocacy and philanthropy in the arts. She is also the wife of Nicholas Taubman, founder of Advance Auto and former U.S. ambassador to Romania.
The Museum also will honor Roanoke City Vice Mayor Anita Price with the annual Art Venture Award, which recognizes a woman for her outstanding leadership in arts education and for her volunteerism in partnership with the Taubman Museum of Art.
The Museum is located at 110 Salem Ave. SE. Museum hours are Wednesday through Saturday 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sunday 12-5 p.m. Additional hours include every First Friday and Third Thursday when the Museum is open until 9 p.m.
About Jane Gershon Weitzman
Jane Gershon Weitzman was the Executive Vice President of Stuart Weitzman and the first Vice President of Stuart Weitzman Retail. She spearheaded philanthropy for the company by generating funds to support breast and ovarian cancer research and awareness. Her efforts were brought to life through innovative charity events on the brand’s website, such as the Stuart Weitzman Celebrity Breast Cancer Shoe Auction, and its retail stores. She serves on the Trust Board of the Boston Children’s Hospital.
