The Wichita Art Museum (WAM) to host "The Wyeths: Three Generations"

Written by Wayne Rollo Monday, 07 February 2011 00:07

Wichita, Kansas -  The Wichita Art Museum is the first museum in the Midwest to host The Wyeths: Three Generations . The exhibition, which includes paintings and drawings provided by the Bank of America Art in Our Communities Program, will be on view from September 27, 2009, through January 10, 2010 in the Beren and Graves Galleries. Public programs and publicity are made possible by the Downing Foundation and by the late E.W. and Mrs. Armstrong. The Wyeths: Three Generations consists of more than 60 paintings and drawings by three generations of the Wyeth family of artists: N. C. (Newell Convers) Wyeth, his son Andrew Wyeth, and his grandson Jamie Wyeth. The works—from the early 1900s to the present—reveal the breadth of the Wyeth family’s creative output and illustrate both common themes within their vision, as well as each artist’s individual style.

Intense devotion to Realism characterizes the Wyeths’ work in this exhibition. It provides an introduction to their ideas and legacies, and invites us to look further at the many other compelling images made by this famous family. For generations, the Wyeths have created art that captures the imagination and admiration of a wide audience by connecting the viewer to these images of American life.

N. C. Wyeth (1882–1945) has long been considered one of the nation’s leading illustrators. The exhibition includes illustrations for books by Robert Louis Stevenson and Washington Irving as well as historical scenes, seascapes and landscapes.   Andrew Wyeth (1917–2009) was one of the United States’ most popular artists, and his paintings follow the American Realist tradition. The exhibition includes important works from the 1970s to the present.   Jamie Wyeth (b. 1946), like his father and grandfather, paints subjects of everyday life. He focuses in particular on the landscape, animals, and people of Pennsylvania and Maine.

“We are extremely grateful to Bank of America for lending this important exhibition to the Wichita Art Museum,” said Wichita Art Museum Executive Director Charles K. Steiner.

As part of Bank of America’s Art in Our Communities Program, The Wichita Art Museum has been chosen as the second stop for The Wyeths: Three Generations. The exhibition began its tour at the Montclair Art Museum in New Jersey and, after its stop at the Wichita Art Museum, will then open in London’s Dulwich Picture Gallery in June 2010.

“Bank of America is committed to strengthening artistic institutions and in turn, the communities we serve,” said Shawn Lancelot, Wichita Market President, Bank of America.   “Sharing our collection with the public through partners such as the Wichita Art Museum not only makes business sense for the bank, but also helps support the state’s largest museum, one of Wichita’s cultural anchors.”

Through its Art in Our Communities Program, Bank of America has made its corporate art collection a unique community resource from which museums and nonprofit galleries may borrow complete or customized exhibitions. By providing these exhibitions and the support required to host them, this program helps sustain community engagement and generate vital revenue for the nonprofits, creating stability in local communities. From 2008-2010, Bank of America will have loaned more than 30 exhibitions to museums nationwide.

The Wichita Art Museum opened in 1935. It is home to The Roland P. Murdock Collection, one of the premier collections of American Art in the country. The Museum is proud to be supported through public and private funds, owned by the City of Wichita and managed by a private entity, Wichita Art Museum, Inc.   Located at 1400 West Museum Boulevard. Visit www.wichitaartmuseum.org