The Springfield Art Association shows off part of its
outstanding collection of early-20th-century paintings at a special exhibit
that continues through March 19.
The show includes the first painting purchased by SAA,
“Sardine Boats, Brittany.” The work by C. Arnold Slade, an
internationally known artist at the time, was among several paintings
displayed in the association’s first exhibit, in 1914, a year after
the landmark Edwards Place was donated to the group.
Works by Springfield-born artists Ethel Mars
(1876-1956) and Clementine Stuve (dates unknown), Tallula-born Richard
Epperly (1891-1973), and Springfield High School art-department head Helen
Knudson, an active association member in 1916, also are part of the
exhibit. The oldest painting in the collection in the show is “The
Smugglers”by
George Morland (1764-1804). Probably the most famous artist in the gallery
is George Peter Alexander Healy, known worldwide for his painting of
Abraham Lincoln in which the 16th president is depicted with his chin
resting on his hand. Healy’s portraits of George and Lucy Judd are
among the paintings on display.
“These early American paintings are part of our
permanent collection,” says Amanda Lampert, curator of collections.
“We also have works on paper, the decorative-arts collection, the
Pearson toy collection, and a small African-art collection as well. Every
year we try to showcase part of it.”
The almost total absence of paintings of Springfield
scenes may be a surprise to visitors, but it shouldn’t be.
“During the turn of the century, even Springfield artists went to
work and study art in Europe,” Lampert says. “There was much
more patronage for artists there.”
The paintings were collected during the early life of
association when it was actively purchasing paintings and featuring
internationally known artists. The gallery, which originally comprised
several parlors in Edwards Place before the additions were constructed,
opened new exhibitions every three weeks or so. In 1945 the association
exhibited paintings by Monet and Picasso.
“Today’s SAA members are part of a very
different world today than in, say, 1930,” says Erika Fitzgerald, the
association’s executive director. “Today, members are
interested in our art classes. They also join to use our library and be
informed of our receptions. In 1930, everyone volunteered. Today we have a
professional staff and seven separate structures. One reason we don’t
collect today is that we don’t have space to expand our collection in
the climate-controlled rooms where it’s maintained. It is still our
major interest to bring art to the people.”
SAA Collects: An Exhibition of Paintings from the
Springfield Art Association Permanent Collection runs through March 19 at the Springfield Art Association
Gallery of Art at Edwards Place, 700 N. Fourth St.; 217-523-2631. Hours are
10 a.m.-5 p.m. Mon.-Fri. and 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Sat. Admission is free. At 2
p.m. Saturday, March 12, Amanda Lampert, curator of collections, delivers a
lecture on the collection. Admission to the exhibit, as well as the
lecture, is free.
This article appears in Feb 24 – Mar 2, 2005.
