BY THE LIGHT OF THE MOON
in the Marley Gallery
Through July 23rd, 2017
Study the Horseman by Michael O. UntiedtFor centuries artists have displayed their technical virtuosity by composing scenes in which light penetrates the darkness, i.e. nocturnal light - a natural source of illumination from the moon, stars or firelight. And from March 4th through July 23rd, 2017, the Phippen Museum will proudly present By the Light of the Moon, a very special exhibition featuring artwork that captures the mysterious light and shadow cast in an ever changing night sky.
In particular, this exhibition demonstrates in fascinating detail how artists represent light to convey a wide range of moods: from the poetic and serene to the dark and ominous. Artists have depicted beams of silvery moonlight shimmering across clouds, rivers and trees, and, in creating these moonlit scenes, have also explored the landscape's potential for drama and mystery through both vivid and stark contrasts of light and dark.
Along with the much appreciated cooperation of various artists and collectors in the creation of this unique exhibition, the museum is especially proud to have the thoughtful collaboration of The Eddie Basha Collection, which has provided numerous pieces of outstanding western art.
OLAF WIEGHORST'S WEST
in the James Gallery
June 25th - August 27th, 2017
Olaf Wieghorst was a painter of the American West in the same vein as Frederic Remington and Charles Russell and this outstanding exhibition of his incredible artwork is comprised of pieces on loan from private collectors and etchings, drawings and paintings that have been generously donated to the museum's Permanent Collection by the Estate of Gladys Tuttle.
He was born in Viborg, Denmark, and by the age of nine was skilled in horseback acrobatics and performed as a stunt rider for the Danish Circus. In 1918 he immigrated to the United States and his working career was spent on mounted patrol with the U.S. Cavalry (as part of a campaign that chased Pancho Villa back across the border) and the New York City Police Department Mounted Division. He also had occasional interludes as a wrangler on ranches in the western states. But everywhere he went, Wieghorst sketched and painted the Western culture he loved so much, often selling his work as calendar and magazine illustrations.
In 1945, Wieghorst settled in El Cajon, California, where he spent the rest of his life working on his art. During his notable career, he would learn to master oil and watercolor painting, as well as numerous other art mediums. However, it was his deep love for horses that made them the major theme in many of his paintings.