This summer, the Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University presents new art installations, gallery talks, make-and-take craft sessions and a free Thursday night series that features guest chefs, live music, "Art Scrabble" and foodie films."Our summer programs offer inspiration for everyone, and we are pleased to present works by some of the best known and most accomplished modern and contemporary artists of our time," said Kimerly Rorschach, Mary D.B.T. and James H. Semans Director of the Nasher Museum. "All of our programs and exhibitions encourage visitors to make personal connections with art." The museum will devote one gallery to a walk-in installation by Olafur Eliasson, known for his large-scale sculptures that entice visitors to interact and react. "The Uncertain Museum," opening July 19, is a circular, translucent room that invites visitors to step inside and cast patterns of projected light and shadows from hanging, mirrored discs. Outside the installation, visitors can watch silhouettes of people moving about inside."The Uncertain Museum" will be complemented by a program co-sponsored by the American Dance Festival (ADF) on July 26, starting at 6:45 p.m. New York dancer and choreographer Gwen Welliver, an ADF faculty member, and her composition lab students will present three informal showings of work inspired by the installation.With "Romare Bearden: 20th Century American Master," the museum celebrates the 100th anniversary of the American artist's birth with works of art from the permanent collection and private loans. The exhibition juxtaposes Bearden's work with artists of his generation, revealing how they influenced one another. It is on view through Aug. 26."Mark Bradford" presents four works by the artist, a rising star in the contemporary art world known for making large-scale collages and installations from signage and salvaged materials, often taken from the streets of South Central Los Angeles where he lives. The exhibition is on view Aug. 11 through Jan. 9, 2013.The series "Summer Days, Nasher Nights" takes place every Thursday night with rotating events: Art Scrabble in the museum cafe, live music, food-themed free films and guest chefs from area restaurants.Three important modern sculptures will arrive in late July in the Nasher Museum’s Great Hall, on loan from the Nasher Sculpture Center in Dallas. A 1974 work by John Chamberlain (1927-2011) is a prime example of his use of twisted, welded and compressed scrap metal from cars. A bronze sculpture by Henri Laurens (1885-1954), one of the original members of the French Cubist group, was likely inspired by the reclining figures of his friend Henri Matisse. And a work by Welsh sculptor Richard Deacon (born 1949), "Like a Bird," made in 1984, is a large, dynamic sculpture of soaring, interlocking curves made of thin, laminated wood.For more information, go to nasher.duke.edu.- - - -The Nasher Museum, at 2001 Campus Drive at Anderson Street on the Duke campus, is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday; 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Thursday; and noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday. The museum is closed Mondays. Admission is $5 for adults, $4 for seniors and members of the Duke Alumni Association, $3 for non-Duke students with identification and free for children 15 and younger. Admission is free to all on Thursday nights. Admission is free to Duke students, faculty and staff with Duke Cards. Admission is also free to Nasher Museum members.
