On view September 13, 2018 through March 3, 2019

Bullet Piercing an Apple
Harold Edgerton (American, 1903–1990). .30 Bullet Piercing an Apple, 1964. Dye transfer print.

Drawn entirely from the Mead’s permanent collection, this exhibition presents artworks that visualize concepts of time: linear and cyclical, absolute and relative. It questions the role of time in memory and the many factors that have influenced human perception of the past, present, and future, including seasons, geography, and technology. Ideas of time told through historical and visual narratives have overlapping meanings and far-reaching significance for the sciences and humanities. Timing Is Everything juxtaposes some of the Mead’s masterworks, such as Thomas Cole's The Past and Present, with works by contemporary artists Lorna Simpson, Shuli Sadé, and Motoda Hisaharu.

The works in the show present a small fraction of the ways humans imagine and make tangible notions of temporality. We have therefore created a space within the exhibition for members of the community to share personal and cultural reflections regarding time. We invite everyone to save time for our response wall.

Organized by Mila Hruba, Study Room Manager & European-Print Specialist with Vanja Molloy, Curator of American Art.

Related Events

These events take place at the Mead Art Museum. All are FREE and open to the public.

Opening Reception
Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018 | 5–7 pm
5–5:30 pm | Director’s welcome followed by curatorial remarks by Curator of American Art Vanja Malloy and European Print Specialist and Study Room Manager Mila Hruba
5:30–7 pm | Reception featuring DJ Quills

Gallery Talk with Vanja Malloy
Thursday, Sept. 20, 2018 | Noon–1 pm
Join Curator of American Art Curator Vanja Malloy to learn more about this exhibition.

Keeping Time: Improvisation with Stephen Nachmanovitch
Tuesday, Sept. 25, 2018 | 11:30 am–12:50 pm
The Mead is teaming up with the first-year seminar Thinking Through Improvisation, taught by Darryl Harper, visiting professor of music, to bring Stephen Nachmanovitch to campus. Nachmanovitch, author of Free Play: Improvisation in Life and Art, argues that improvisation and creativity are important tools for everyone. Join us for a talk by Nachmanovitch about the connection between time and improvisation.

Timing Is Everything with Andrew W. Mellon Curator of Academic Programs Emily Potter-Ndiaye
Friday, Sept. 28, 2018 | Noon–1 pm
Meet the Mead’s new Head of Education, Emily Potter-Ndiaye, and explore Timing Is Everything. Potter-Ndiaye’s education philosophy is two-directional and participatory—come ready to share your thoughts and learn about art in a fun and exciting way. No experience in the arts necessary, but curiosity is a must.

Keeping Time: Sleep at the Mead
Tuesday, Oct. 2, 2018 | 6 pm–Midnight
Andy Warhol’s Sleep (1963) marks the artist’s foray into durational film and captures John Giorno, Warhol’s lover at the time, as he sleeps. Join us for an immersive screening of Sleep (4 hours, 45 minutes), with introductory remarks by Josh Guilford, assistant professor of English in Film and Media Studies. Popcorn will be served!

Keeping Time: Queering Time
Thursday, Oct. 11, 2018 | Noon–1 pm
Curious about how our identities impact the way we experience time? Join us for an interactive tour of the Mead’s exhibition, Timing Is Everything, followed by a conversation with Queer Resource Center Director Jxhn Martin on chrononormativity and the notion of queering time. This program is in honor of National Coming Out Day and offered in collaboration with the Queer Resource Center. 

Keeping Time: Community Fall Back!
Saturday, Nov. 3, 2018 | 1–3 pm
This year’s Community Day will prepare us for the end of Daylight Saving Time. Learn how farmers have responded to turning the clock back while enjoying veggies from Book and Plow Farm, and participate in a movement workshop to ask how we appreciate the present with Dante Brown, Visiting Assistant Professor of Theater and Dance, and students in the course “Ensemble: Dancing in Community.” This program is offered in collaboration with the Arts at Amherst Initiative and Book and Plow Farm.

Keeping Time: Musical Selections on Time Presented by the Amherst College Choral Society
Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2018 | 7–8 pm
Enjoy a live concert by the Amherst College Choral Society. The performers will present musical selections related to the theme of time. No tickets necessary. Seating is first come, first served.