In 1934 Max Ernst covered a wall in a Zurich nightclub with gorgeous yellow and red petal images out of which rises a bright blue bird-like image. The surreal mural by one of the centuryยs most significant artists is playful, charming and gorgeous. And itยs the only existing fully intact mural that Ernst created. Happily, it has been restored and is now the lively centerpiece of the new show ยIn the Garden of Nymph Ancolieย at The Menil Collection, featuring 75 rarely exhibited works by the artist created during the war-torn era of the ย30s and ย40s. The seductively surreal images of dense foliage colliding with culture and technology capture the anxiety of a decade and show us the way art responds to violence and political upheaval. Preview the exhibit at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, October 31. After that, regular viewing hours are 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesdays through Sundays. Through February 15. 1515 Sul Ross. For information, call 713-525-9400 or visit www.menil.org. Free.
Wednesdays-Sundays, 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Starts: Oct. 23. Continues through Feb. 15, 2008
This article appears in Nov 6-12, 2008.