Folk arts sparkle
At The Westmoreland, an exhibit of works from 1800 to 1925
A painting of an immigrant house of worship set afire by a mob has a disturbingly contemporary ring. But “Burning the Old South Church” was painted circa 1854 and depicts the torching of an Irish Catholic church in Bath, Maine, by the Know Nothings, a secret society active at the time.
It’s among more than 60 works in the exhibition “A Shared Legacy: Folk Art in America” at The Westmoreland Museum of American Art. Exhibited objects were made by self- or minimally trained individuals in the eastern United States between 1800 and 1925. They range from functional items such as corner cupboards and family records embellished with carved or painted designs, to whimsies like John Scholl’s “Snowflake Table” and Wilhelm Schimmel’s bright red “Squirrel.”
Many of the artists and craftsmen didn’t sign their work. The Scholl and Schimmel carvings are labeled as “attributed” even though stylistically they are arguably the work of the highly collectible Pennsylvania German artists. Edward Hicks is credited with the painting “The Peaceable Kingdom With the Leopard of Serenity,” a subject synonymous with his name.
Barbara L. Gordon, whose collection is being circulated throughout the country by Art Services International of Alexandria, Va., spoke during a visit to The Westmoreland.
“To get a Schimmel carving was my desire, and I had to have the icon of American folk art [Hicks] in my collection,” she said.
Ms. Gordon began her collecting casually. As the number of objects grew, she realized she was getting serious and consulted with an expert in the field. She was taken aback, she said, when he advised her to sell everything she’d accumulated. But she did sell at auction, then began a more discerning pursuit that still reflects personal interests and taste.
Portraiture is well represented and includes members of the Josiah Quincy Lamb family exhibited near the actual coral necklace and brooch worn in the paintings by mother and daughter.
The burning church is among three exhibited paintings attributed to John Hilling. The others show the church pristine and the looting of the church before the
fire. Mr. Hilling was among artists who recognized early on the importance of documenting news events, in this instance “the xenophobia toward Irish Catholics who came to the United States during the potato famine,” Ms. Gordon said.
“Shared Legacy” continues through Oct. 16 at 221 N. Main St., Greensburg. Hours are 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday and until 7 p.m. Wednesday. Information: http://thewestmoreland.org or 724-837-1500.
Vermeer talk
Pittsburgher Ken Kaszak, who traveled to 11 countries to personally see all 37 paintings attributed to Dutch Master Johannes Vermeer (1632-1675), will speak about his quest and his obsession at 4:30 p.m. Saturday at Michael Hertrich Art & Frame, 2008 E. Carson St., South Side.