Friday, August 17, 2007 11:53 PM CDT
Tarble Arts Center showcases recent acquisitions
By the JG/T-C
features@jg-tc.com
An exhibition of art recently acquired by the Tarble Arts Center, Eastern Illinois University, will be on display through Sept. 16 in the Tarble’s Brainard Gallery.
The exhibition features paintings by Paul T. Sargent, an unusual “blueprint” photo quilt, books of woodcuts by Charles Turzak, Native American beadwork, and contemporary art.
The largest grouping in the exhibition is a selection of oil landscape paintings by Charleston native and EIU alumnus Paul T. Sargent (1880-1946).
Included are fall landscapes, for which Sargent is probably best known, and summer and winter views. A group of four small paintings was donated to the Tarble by Rosemary King in memory of her mother, Ora Todd King.
Other Sargents were donated by Susan O’Brien from the estate of Eleanor and Richard Freeman, by Judy Jorgensen from the estate of Mildred and A. Glen Hesler, and by the late Mary Hamel.
Dating from about the same time period are two books by one of Illinois’ best-known American Scene-style artists, Charles Turzak (1899-1986). The books are a draft copy of “Abraham Lincoln — A Biography in Woodcuts,” circa 1933, and a signed, first edition of “Benjamin Franklin — A Biography in Woodcuts, 1935.”
The books were donated to the Tarble by the artists’ daughter, Joan Turzak Van Hees. Van Hees has made a number of other donations of Turzak’s art to the Tarble’s American Scene collection.
Perhaps the most unusual work in the exhibition is a log cabin style quilt made up of cyanotype photographs on fabric. The “blueprint” photographic images were taken by Leighton Charlton of people living in Stevenson Township, Marion Co., Ill., from around 1883 to 1886. The photographs were pieced into the log cabin quilt top by the photographer’s wife, Alice, and a friend, Elizabeth Huff Brasel.
The quilting was done by the women of the neighborhood during quilting bees. The quilt was donated to the Tarble’s folk arts collection by Mark Stoner in memory of Sue B. Stoner, his mother. Sue Stoner served for many years on the EIU Psychology Department faculty, and the quilt was passed down through her family.
Another addition to the folk arts collection on exhibition is an inlaid wooden cane by Hurst Hughes of Marshall County, Ill.
Donated to the Tarble’s study collection are two Native American Indian beaded bags given by Mary McElwee Coutant. Both date from around 1900. Exhibited is a Plains culture small beaded leather bag with geometric designs and an Iroquois beaded “whimsy” cloth bag.
Contemporary art is also included in the exhibition. There are two drawings by retired Eastern art faculty member Carl Wilen, donated by David and Susanna Buchanan.
Works on show by Illinois artists that were acquired as purchase awards through the Tarble’s Drawing/Watercolor: Illinois biennial exhibition include drawings by Melinda McIntosh (Champaign), Akiko Matsuoka-Thorson (Kempton), Dwain Naragon (Charleston), Walter Fydryck (Chicago), and watercolors by Tom David (Mattoon) and Judy Jones (Urbana).
Completing the exhibition is a music box titled “Tinsel,” a gift of Peter Norton. Designed by artist Christian Marclay, the music box was created in a limited edition for Norton.
For more than 10 years software entrepreneur and contemporary art collector Peter Norton has annually commissioned artists to design works for limited editions, and then gives the works as Christmas gifts to galleries and museums around the United States.
Created by emerging artists, the work is always very conceptually based, and often deals with issues of social conditions, ethnicity, or gender.
For more information about the exhibition or to arrange a group tour, contact the Tarble at 581-ARTS (-2787) or mwatts@eiu.edu. Admission is free and the public is invited.
The Tarble is located on Ninth Street at Cleveland Avenue on the EIU campus in Charleston. Open hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday; closed Mondays.
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