Winslow Homer: The Nature and Rhythm of Life is a new exhibition at the Arkell Museum at Canajoharie. It will be on display through January 4, 2015.
Bartlett Arkell, the founder and first president of the Beech-Nut Packaging Company, brought Homer’s paintings and watercolors to his hometown of Canajoharie for the enjoyment of its citizens.
Considered one of America’s greatest artists, Homer began exhibiting oil paintings in 1863, the year Arkell was born. Homer died in 1910, some twenty years before Arkell started collecting his work. Over a fourteen- year period, from 1931 to 1945, Arkell purchased 20 Homers for the art gallery he had founded, at that time called the Canajoharie Library and Art Gallery. These works along with 2 others watercolors Arkell kept for his personal collection make up the exhibition Winslow Homer: The Nature and Rhythm of Life.
Here to tell us more are Diane Forsberg, Director & Chief Curator at The Arkell Museum at Canajoharie and Leslie Paisley, Paper Conservator/Department Head at the Williamstown Art Conservation Center. Leslie’s work provided insight into Homer's working methods and she offered crucial advice to The Arkell about light exposure and encouraged the museum to develop ways to keep light from damaging these works on paper over time.
