Linda Tomkins in front of Edward Redfield’s “The South Window” in the booth of Hollis Taggart, New York City.
The Charleston Renaissance Gallery, Charleston, S.C.
Tom Veilleux of Tom Veilleux Gallery, Farmington, Me.
By JMW Fletcher
PHILADELPHIA, PENN. – The Women’s Board of the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts presented its eleventh annual USArtists American Fine Art Show October 18-20. The 33rd Street Armory was the site for the gala event and featured 56 juried fine art galleries from 15 states across the country.
According to Nancy L. Guthrie (this year’s chair) the show is “the major fundraising event for the Pennsylvania Academy, the oldest continuing museum and art school in the country.” Mrs Meyer P. Potamkin, (one of the founders of the show) was honorary chair. Derek A. Gillman, president of PAFA stated, “The funds raised by the [Women’s] Board are directed to the educational agenda of the Pennsylvania Academy, helping our students at all levels.”
The dealers exhibiting in the show all specialized in American art. Hollis Taggert Galleries, one of 15 from New York City, prominently displayed an oil on canvas painting by Edward W. Redfield (1869-1965) entitled The South Window,” measuring 50 by 56 inches. This painting depicts the artist’s wife Elise gazing out from the studio window. A second Redfield measuring 32 by 39 inches, “Snow Storm,” was also featured. In addition there was a nude with robe by Quita Brodhead (1901-2002) and a Robert Spencer oil on canvas. The gallery is sponsoring the catalogue raisonné on Daniel Garber.
In one of the larger booths, Jim’s Antiques, Lambertville, N.J., also presented a plethora of Bucks County artists that included a Daniel Garber, charcoal and a Garber oil on canvas titled “Fisherman’s Hut.”
In the booth of Melissa Williams, Columbia, Mo., was a Gustave Wolff oil on board and a small Frederick de Haas oil on canvas. The Rosenfeld Gallery, Philadelphia, represents emerging American artists in all media, stressing diversity of approach. A good Walter E. Baum oil painting was shown in the McClees Gallery, Haverford, Penn.
During the Thursday evening gala Nancy Gutherie said, “These are dealers who come to us who have been absolutely picked; they are the crème de la crème. Actually the main person [who selected the dealers] is our dealer-coordinator Connie Kay.”
The Newman & Saunders Gallery, Wayne, Penn., offered a good Arthur Meltzer (1893-1989) oil on canvas still life. The “Delaware Valley” view by John Folinsbee (1892-1972) 16 by 20 inches, was well done.
Jane Egan of Cline Fine Art, Santa Fe, N.M., in discussing Cline’s gallery said, “We have made a lot of changes in the past year. We have opened a branch in Scottsdale, Ariz. We have both historical and contemporary works. We have done this show for the past seven years.”
Port ‘N Starboard offered a fine seascape detailing the racing yachts Reliance versus Shamrock III in the Americas Cup 1903, acrylic on canvas, 30 by 40 inches, by marine artist Richard Lane, circa 1954. They also had a watercolor by James M. Sessions (1882-1962).
An oil on canvas, 22 by 18 inches, by Theo Robinson titled “In the Orchard” was in the booth of six-time exhibitor Debra Force Fine Art, New York. Force also brought a great Rembrandt Peale (1778-1860), circa 1845, and a good William Glackens (1870-1938) plus a painting by Emmanuel Leutze (1816-1868) dated 1864 of Florence Nightingale.
David David Gallery, Philadelphia, has exhibited in eight of the last eleven shows. This year they had a fine large 30- by 40-inch Severn Rosen still life. A Martha Walter (1875-1976) baby in pink blanket, oil on canvas, 26 by 21 inches, was also on view in the booth of David David Gallery.
The Woodmere Art Museum, Germantown, Penn., is hosting an exhibit of 150 of Walter’s works through November 17. Many of the included works will be available for purchase, in the continuation of “Impressionist Jewels” at Jim’s Antiques Fine Art Gallery, Lambertville, N.J., starting November 22.
Gerald Peters Gallery, New York City, featured a fine and seldom seen Thomas Moran (1837-1926) oil on canvas titled “Entrance to the Grand Canal, Venice,” measuring 20 by 30 inches. Knoke Galleries of Atlanta brought a selection that included an Agnes Richmond (1870-1964) oil on canvas New England landscape, 20 by 24 inches. Knoke also brought a small eight- by ten-inch street scene by Henry Gasser (1909-1981). Also shown was a fine 12- by 16-inch William De La Montagne Cary oil painting of a hunting scene.
If one’s interest is works on paper, Ernest S. Kramer Fine Arts and Prints, Wellesley Hills, Mass., had a huge selection that included all the collectible Nineteenth and Twentieth Century artists, e.g. Arms, Benton, et al. Shown was a winter scene etching by Daniel Garber from an edition of 50.
A forest view by William L. Lathrop was displayed by the Spanierman Gallery of New York City.
