Barton Myer, Beltz and Bollywood

The fall exhibitions at the Art, Design & Architecture Museum at UC Santa Barbara will feature pieces drawn from the museum’s Architecture and Design Collection and selections from the Fine Art Collection, including newly acquire Bollywood film posters, and an installation with UCSB lecturer and alumnus Eric Beltz.

The exhibitions open on Friday, Sept. 12 and unless otherwise noted continue through Dec. 12.

“Barton Myers: Works of Architecture and Urbanism” commemorates Myer’s donation of his papers to the Architecture and Design Collection in 2002. The archive covers Myer’s work from 1968 through 2014 and includes sketches and computer drawings; watercolor renderings; images by well-known photographers; detailed study models; and research notes, correspondence, teaching materials and writings.

The exhibition begins with student designs and early works and covers a wide variety of architecture and planning by Myers as part of the firm A.J. Diamond and Barton Myers in Toronto (1967-75) and working independently in his own offices, Barton Myers Associates (1975-present) in Toronto, Los Angeles and Santa Barbara. Works dating from 1964 through 2014 will be shown in drawings, photographs and models.

In addition, the museum is publishing a catalogue in conjunction with the exhibition that will include essays by historians and architects.

As the 2014 Artist-in-Residence, Eric Beltz will present an ambitious ne project, “The Cave Treasures.” It’s a dramatic departure for the artist who is known for his intimately scaled, highly detailed graphite drawings. The title refers to three recurring themes in Beltz’s work that are commonly understood as harmful —Medusa, poison oak and the swastika — and is rooted in his scholarly research into legends, tragedies, misinterpretations and evolutions of iconography surrounding mythological figures, plants and symbols.

“The Cave Treasures” continues through May 1.

“Bollywood 101: The Visual Culture of Bollywood Film Posters” will explore the history of Bollywood posters and their influence on popular culture, religion and art. A Bollywood film screening and a symposium will take place in conjunction with the exhibition.

Other exhibitions include “Surface: The Handcrafted Object,” which brings together handcrafted sculptures that highlight the enduring appeal of objects that emphasize process and materials; and “Observations: Travel Sketches from the Architecture and Design Collection,” which complements the Barton Myers exhibit and offers a glimpse into the creative minds of architects through their personal drawings documenting famous and obscure regional architecture.

A number of events will take place in conjunction with the exhibitions, including an artist walkthrough, exhibition tours, Bollywood Movie Night, and the symposium “Bollywood 101: The Visual Culture of Popular Indian Cinema.”

More information, including a complete schedule of events is available at http://www.museum.ucsb.edu/exhibitions.