Interpolations

Artworks from The Ringling and Monda Collection

By Ryan G. Van Cleave

The Ringling’s new Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art, Ola Wlusek, is excited about Interpolations, a new exhibition inside the Arthur F. Searing Wing at The Ringling which brings together artworks from Keith D. and Linda L. Monda’s private collection as well as complementary pieces from The Ringling’s permanent collection of modern and contemporary art. 

“Thematically,” she notes, “the exhibition will present artists who work historical narratives into those otherwise abstract artworks; present observations in nature, line, color, and geometry as personal and universal experiences; and it will bring together artists working in varied processes and materials such as printmaking, drawing, sculpting, and painting.”

Visitors to the exhibition will enjoy spectacular paintings by Yayoi Kusama and Teo González, as well as re-discover significant works by exciting artists, such as Beverly Pepper, Michele Oka Doner, Jackie Ferrara, Louise Nevelson, Helen Frankenthaler, Käthe Kollwitz, and others.

“It’s a great opportunity to reinforce the importance and relevance of contemporary art in our community,” explains Keith MONDA, who considers himself “a lifelong collector”—first with baseball cards, matchbook covers, and comics, and then developing a passion for art in his 30s. 

“I got interested in contemporary art because I wanted to go to a place that was inconsistent with the rest of my measured life. Contemporary art does that. No matter how much I learn about it, there’s always something new to discover. That’s really what motivates me. It’s always evolving and changing. It pushes your brain into new places of thinking that you might not otherwise go.”

When asked how he chooses whether to purchase a piece of art, Keith says that it’s simply whether a piece speaks to him or not. While some art collectors start at a certain level and then leverage themselves up by selling art to afford new pieces, he doesn’t do that. “I ask myself if it moves me enough that I won’t ever want to sell it.” And so, he had a wide range of options to share with The Ringling for this exhibition, four of which are now promised gifts to the museum.

He says, “The Ringling is a great organization. I often call it the Metropolitan Museum of Sarasota—the collection is so diverse. And they’re so committed to making sure that we have a permanent commitment to art in our community. At the end of the day, I would like to see my art collection appreciated by as many people as possible, and that means finding an institution that’s committed to both art AND education. There’s no better place for my art than The Ringling. It’ll be seen by thousands of people each year forever.”

When asked about which piece in the exhibition is his personal favorite, he notes, “There’s a large Kusama piece entitled Infinity Dots—it’s just spectacular. I bought it maybe 12 to 15 years ago, well before she became the rock star she is now.” Kusama, 89, is frequently considered among the top collectible living artists in the world, and without a doubt, she’s the top-selling female artist working today.

As to how the exhibition name came about, Keith explains that “The Ringling folks came up with it—I don’t want to steal their thunder. They’re the truly creative ones. The title kind of defines what it was we tried to do. There’s my art that I’m giving or loaning, and there’s their art from the archives. We matched it up to create an interpolation of what it might be. It’s fascinating to take two very diverse environments and create a single thing from them.”

Keith knows that many fellow collectors in this area come from larger northern cities where there’s an active contemporary and modern art scene. Interpolations is sure to please them and be on par with what they’ve experienced elsewhere, though Keith’s hope is that they’ll be more than just an appreciative audience. “My hope,” he admits, “is that they’ll see it as an opportunity to place some of their own art there.” Without a doubt, Ola would welcome loans and gifts to expand what The Ringling can showcase.

“It’s been a pleasure to work with Keith and Linda and to learn about their passion for the arts,” says Ola. “As a curator, I really appreciate their openness and flexibility to work with their wonderful collection of art. They’ve opened and made available their collection to myself and curator Christopher Jones to make selections which we believe will make a compelling statement together with the Museum’s artworks in the exhibition.”

For the highest level of experience, consider joining Christopher Jones and Ola Wlusek in a free gallery walk-and-talk conversation about Interpolations on April 25 at 10:30 a.m. and again at 6:00 p.m., though this fabulous exhibition is available for you to explore on your own from March 17th to September 8th. 

For more information about The Ringling, please visit www.Ringling.org or call 941.359.5700.