1913 Armory Show.

1913 Armory Show xroads.Virginia.edu/~MUSEUM/Armory/armoryshow.html

The International Exhibition of Modern Art (The Armory Show) occupied New York's 69th Regiment Armory from February 17 to March 15, 1913, exhibiting approximately 1250 works of art by over 300 European and American artists, including paintings, sculptures, and decorative arts. It was an exciting and controversial event that affected American artists and the American public, but it also resonated with early twentieth-century political, social, and commercial movements. This site allows you to "Tour the Armory" through its eighteen galleries, individual works of art, information about the artists, criticisms, and commentaries. An introductory essay, "As Avant-Garde as the Rest of Them" discusses the impact of the show on the art world. But it doesn't stop there.

"The Part Played by Women: The Gender of Modernism at the Armory Show" examines the role of women artists and patrons. "I Prefer the Navajo Rug: Locating an American Primitive" links the Armory Show to a new interest in pre-Columbian and Native American art, as well as children's art. "Marketing Modern Art in America: From the Armory Show to the Department Store" explores the relationship between the press and the Armory Show. (Especially interesting is the cartoon that lampoons Nude Descending a Staircase and the department store Cubist-inspired window displays.) All the essays are long, but thought-provoking and well-written, and they include illustrations and links to additional information. While a younger art class might simply take the gallery tour and discuss the artists, the essays provide a great connection between art and American history for high school classes. The searchable site also includes a bibliography.