Cook, Melville, Gauguin. Art & artifacts to make the Three Voyages to Paradise Exhibit

Due to the high demand, the world class exhibit with original works by Paul Gauguin will be extended through July 31, 2012 to accommodate all the interest from visitors. Due to the sensitive nature of some of the Gauguin pieces, exhibit hours will only be from 11am-3pm daily. The exhibit, Three Voyages to Paradise; Cook, Melville and Gauguin chronicles the voyages of Captain Cook to Tahiti with 51 pieces by Paul Gauguin as well as other artists. Admission to the exhibit is included with museum admission; however, visitors must arrive by 2pm to see all the items in the exhibit due to the shortened hours.

Paintings, Sculptures and Artifacts in an exclusive, once in a Lifetime World Class Exhibit, including original works drawn from one of the most comprehensive Paul Gauguin collections in the United States.

Imagine what treasures one would have seen exploring the Pacific islands in centuries past? The Three Voyages to Paradise exhibit is inspired by those very visions as seen through the eyes of Captain James Cook, author Herman Melville and impressionist painter Paul Gauguin.

Highlighting this extraordinary exhibit are original paintings created by the official expedition artists (William Hodges and John Webber), on James Cook’s second and third Voyages of Discovery. Scientific and navigation instruments from Cook’s time as well as personal effects and Cook memorabilia will also be displayed along with Charts and Pacific artifacts from the period. Paintings, engravings and whaling artifacts representative of Herman Melville’s episodic adventure in the South Seas will be interpreted using select examples of his writings.

Central to the exhibition will be a comprehensive collection of original oil and watercolor paintings, woodblock prints, engravings and sculpture by Paul Gauguin. This exhibit will comprise the largest display of three-dimensional Gauguin masterpieces currently seen anywhere in the world, including a newly discovered Gauguin wood carving on display for the first time in America.