Museum of Art autumn exhibits in final days

Two important exhibitions at the Bates College Museum of Art are in their last days.

Tale Spinning explores different conceptions of the act of storytelling in media from video to sculpture to watercolor by six renowned artists: Enrique Chagoya, Lesley Dill, Brad Kahlhamer, Shirin Neshat, Nicky Nodjoumi and Alison Saar.

25: Selections from the Permanent Collection, an exhibition marking the art museum’s 25th anniversary with an in-depth exploration of the museum’s holdings, includes work by Paul Cezanne, Mary Cassatt and noted Maine artist Charlie Hewitt, among many others.

Saturday, Dec. 17, is the last day for the exhibitions.

Tale Spinning, explains museum director Dan Mills, is “essentially an exhibition of artists who, in very different ways, have a strong narrative component in their work. They come from diverse backgrounds, and they tell tales incorporating aspects of their personal and cultural stories, of history and their imaginations. “It is a group of extraordinary artists who spin tales worth seeing.”

Each employs different aesthetic, conceptual and narrative strategies, resulting in imagery and stories that take many forms.

25 ranges widely through media and historical periods, from historic prints and pre-Columbian ceramics to contemporary painting and photography. It highlights significant gifts to the museum, as well as acquisitions reflecting the museum’s role in Bates’ academic mission.

The museum is open to the public at no cost from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and till 7 p.m. on Wednesdays. For more information, please contact 207-786-6158 or museum@bates.edu.