: "Point of View: American Folk Art from the William and Ann
Oppenhimer Collection," an exhibition featuring more than 85
works of art by 50 artists - including Howard Finster, Bessie
Harvey and Noah Kinney - collected over 30 years by William and
Ann Oppenhimer of Richmond, Va., will be on view at the Morris
Museum of Art, May 28-August 15.
The Oppenhimers began collecting folk art after a visit with
Miles Carpenter in Waverly, Va. Ann Oppenhimer recalls, "I
discovered a wonderful person creating wonderful art, and this
was the beginning of many visits to meet other artists and to see
the art we came to know as folk art."
In 1982 the Oppenhimers met and befriended Howard Finster,
perhaps the best-known American folk artist, at his home in
Summerville, Ga. Ann Oppenhimer remarked, "With our car full of
Finster's small cutouts, scrap art, gourds and mirrored boxes, we
drove away, and our lives have never been the same." The
Oppenhimers remained close friends with the artist until his
death in 2001.
Founders of the Folk Art Society of American (and publisher and
editor of its journal, Folk Art Messenger), the
Oppenhimers attribute their decision to share their enthusiasm
with other like-minded collectors to Finster. Their decision to
start the Folk Art Society resulted from the success of a Howard
Finster festival organized by Ann Oppenhimer at the University of
Richmond in 1984. In 1987, the society was formed as a nationwide
organization hosting annual conferences and publishing articles
by fellow scholars and collectors in its journal.
Organized by the Marsh Art Gallery, University of Richmond
Museums, Virginia, "Point of View" has toured continuously since
2002, appearing at the Longwood Center for the Visual Arts,
Farmville, Va.; Terrace Gallery of the City of Orlando, Fla.; and
the Art Museum of Western Virginia, Roanoke, Va., among other
venues. A 72-page catalog published by University of Richmond
Museums accompanies the exhibition.
Docent tours at 2 pm will be offered on Sunday, May 30 and August
15.
On Thursday, June 10, at 7 pm, the lecture "Good, Better, Best:
Connoisseurship in Self-Taught Art" will be presented by Brooke
Davis Anderson, director and curator, Contemporary Center, Museum
of American Folk Art, New York City.
On Thursday, August 12, "Folk Art: A Collector's Perspective will
be discussed by Dr Everette James.
On Saturday, August 21 the museum will offer a trip to Atlanta's
Folk Fest 2004 where 90 galleries and dealers will sell
self-taught art, outsider art, antique and contemporary folk art
and Southern folk pottery.
For trip information, contact 706-724-7501.
