Exploring Betye Saar’s Mysterious Dreamlike Artworks
**Drifting Into Twilight: Betye Saar’s Transformative Art at The Huntington**
SAN MARINO, Calif. — Inside the gallery of *Betye Saar: Drifting Toward Twilight*, visitors are enveloped in a cobalt blue ambiance, accentuated by the gentle hum of neon lights. The ethereal atmosphere, enriched by the coolness of the color and the soothing drone, creates an illusion of drifting weightlessly, like being underwater or gliding through space. This transformative environment is a testament to Saar’s ability to immerse her audience in a realm where the ordinary transcends into the mystical.
At the heart of the exhibition is a solitary canoe, stretching 17 feet across, poised atop a patchwork of branches and jagged wood. This intricate assemblage speaks to Saar’s fascination with found objects, a practice she has honed throughout her storied career. The phases of the moon, painted in a metallic silver hue, complement a poem by Saar that adorns the wall: “The moon keeps vigil as a lone canoe drifts into a sea of tranquility seeking serenity in the twilight.” Saar’s vision weaves together celestial motifs with earthly elements, inviting viewers to embark on a metaphorical journey towards serenity.
The installation’s centerpiece, the canoe, cradles bird cages entwined with antlers, perched delicately on chairs tiny enough for spirits rather than people. This evocative arrangement reflects Saar’s affinity for blending the industrial with the natural, a hallmark of her artistic journey. Encouraged by her early collecting habits and profoundly inspired by the socio-political upheavals of her time, including the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr., Saar forged meaningful narratives from objects that might otherwise be overlooked.
At the age of 98, Saar remains an iconic figure within the Los Angeles art scene. Her Pasadena roots connect her deeply to the Huntington, making this site-specific commission both a homecoming and an homage. In a video accompanying the exhibition, Saar reminisces about her youth spent exploring the lush grounds of the Huntington, joyfully recounting her early excursions with her family.
*Drifting Toward Twilight* evolves throughout the day, with gallery lighting transitioning from the brightness of noon to the soft glow of dusk. This dynamic environment offers a respite from the chaos of the world outside, inviting introspection and wonder. Much like walking through a living diorama in a natural history museum, visitors find themselves gently suspended between reality and fantasy, as time harmoniously glides them into the twilight.
Running through November 30, 2027, at the Virginia Steele Scott Galleries of American Art at the Huntington, the exhibition is a collaborative curation by Yinshi Lerman-Tan and Sola Saar Agustsson. For those seeking more than a passive visual encounter, Betye Saar’s work promises an immersion into a space where objects breathe new life as symbols of resilience and peace, encapsulating her lifelong pursuit of elegance within evanescence.