24th Anniversary Celebration
ROGER BROWN – Chicago Imagist Continues through June 1st
The Midwest Museum of American Art celebrates its 24th Anniversary with the continuation of the exhibition of the late Chicago artist, Roger Brown (1941-1997), curated from the holdings of the Roger Brown Study Collection of The School of the Art Institute of Chicago.
This important and concise survey of an internationally recognized Midwestern artist has been undertaken to extend the interset in the work of the Chicago Imagist artists which have been a critical part of the Midwest Museum of American Art’s permanent collection since 1982. On Sunday, May 4, Lisa Stone, Curator from the Roger Brown Study Collection will deliver a Special Lecture at 2:00pm about the artist and his arrangements to give his entire estate to The School of the Art Institute. Members and guests are invited to attend and enjoy this cake and champagne celebration.
The Midwest Museum Staff and Trustees wish to thank the GENESIS Program for the partial funding of this exhibition. The Midwest Museum will present a special opportunity to purchase unique items(for a reaasonable price) donated by various artists and members over the past twenty-four years. This “spring cleaning” fundraiser benefits the MMAA Acquisition Fundand the Eva Cole Memorial Educational Fund.
The Artist’s Attic is a temporary event to be held on the newly renovated second floor area overlooking Main Street. It will be held for four days only beginning Thursday and Friday, May 1 & 2 from 11:00am to 3:00; and continue on Saturday and Sunday, May 3 & 4 from 1:00 to 4:00pm.
WILLIAM GROPPER and the American Scene Open on Friday, June 6th
The exhibition “WILLIAM GROPPER and The American Scene” is curated with the coooperation of the heritage Gallery, Pacific Palisades, California, Gene Gropper (the late artist’s son) and The Gropper Estate. It opens on Friday, June 6 and continues through Sunday, July 13. The exhibit features some of Gropper’s most important lithographs of politicians which the artist took great joy in lampooning in his overly characterized depictions created in the 1930s and 1940s. In addition, the exhibit features drawings and watercolors of this period of American Folk heros, laborers, factory workers, military figures, and Jewish villagers. Called “the American Daumier”, Gropper emerged as a Social Realist painter during the Great Depression.
The Midwest Museum of American Art has heen a collector of American artist William Gropper(1897-1977) since 1984 when Dr. Gilbert Erlechman of Pepper Pike, Ohio donated 21 lithographs to the museum. Among thes works were two major suites – “The American Folk Heros” (series) and “The Caprichos” (a series done by the artist as an homage to Spanish artist Francisco Goya.) Gropper considered “The Caprichos” to be his most important works and they are considered quite rare. Louis Lozowick’s 1983 book on the artist states, “They were created in reaction to the McCarthy episode and served as an outlet for his (Gropper’s) frustrations, hurts, and disappointments at the same time that they formed an indictment of a society in which the phenomenon of a McCarthy can arise.” They Midwest Museum’s collection of lithographs by Wialliam Gropper have not been shown for nearly 20 years and have earned a reprisal due to growing national interest in the artist’s work.
“WILLIAM GROPPER and The American Scene” is partially funded by The Genesis Program of The City of Elkhart.
MAJOR GRANTS
The Midwest Museum of American Art has received two major grants. The Genesis Program of the City of Elkhart awarded the museum $20,000 to support the exhibition and educational programs offered throughout the year. The Martin Foundation awarded a grant of $10,000 for the Midwest Museum’s FAMILY FREE DAY every Sunday of the year. Our sincere thanks to the Martin Foundation and the City of Elkhart for their tradition of support.
The Muse of Music
The Midwest Museum is pleased to showcase a major work by area artist Harold “Tuck” Langland during the summer of 2003. The Muse of Music is a 400 pound bronze head of a woman over eight feet in height on its pedestal. Its serene gaze echos the first line of W.H. Auden’s poem, “O Muse of Music Appaear in visions to all musicians.” The bronze has a commanding presence in the Main Gallery and is a “must see” for all Elkhartans during the Elkhart Jazz Fesitval and throughout the summer.
In May Tuck Langland will officially retire after 32 years of teaching the art of bronze casting at Indiana University at South Bend. Author of two books on the subject (with a third underway), Langland and his public sculpture enjoy international acclaim. The artist has been featured in over 100 exhibitions during his career. Locally his larger monuments include Dance of Creation and Resting Dancer in Dowagiac, Michigan; Educators in Mishawaka; Violin Woman in South Bend; Legacy in Goshen; and the newly installed large outdoor work, Crossroads Foundation on the IUSB campus.