Symphony in Black and White: 100 Etchings and Lithographs by James McNeill Whistler

One can hardly recall the name James McNeill Whistler without thinking that he was a bit of a mama’s boy. In a fate similar to that of Norman Bates, Whistler the Artist has almost been overshadowed by Whistler the Painting, popularly known as “Whistler’s Mother” but officially titled “Arrangement in Grey and Black.” Whistler rarely named his works other than by color; he was hoping to force the art community to consider printmaking and etching as art forms in their own right rather than mere reproductions. A hundred years after his death, this exhibit celebrates his success as the most influential printmaker in art history and credits him for his lasting influence on later generations, including American painter John Singer Sargeant. Whistler’s colorful personality and turbulent life can be traced through these hundred works. They are taken from the institute’s permanent collection, and include a series of gritty etchings known as the Thames Set along with his Venetian prints, the swan song of a career in which a high regard for printmaking is fully realized. Move over, mama! MIA, 2400 Third Ave. S., (612) 870-3131, www.artsmia.org