The work of renowned artist Charles E. Burchfield is well known throughout Buffalo and the United States. His watercolor paintings and drawings capture the atmosphere of nature, as well as America, during the 1920s-1940s.
The Burchfield Penney Art Center at Buffalo State College will present an exceptional retrospective exhibit, Heat Waves in a Swamp: The Paintings of Charles Burchfield, from March 7th to May 23rd. The exhibit initially opened in October in Los Angeles at the Hammer Museum, and was named one of the "Top Ten of 2009" by both The New Yorker and Los Angeles Times. After its run in Buffalo, the exhibit will debut at the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York City.
An abundance of Burchfield's paintings, journals, and other material already occupies the Burchfield Penney, but the upcoming exhibit features never-before-seen artwork paired with detailed background information.
Born in Ohio in 1893, Burchfield moved to Buffalo in 1925. He held a solo exhibit at the New York City Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in 1930. Burchfield's art dually functions as social commentary on his surroundings as well as a reflection of his intuitive understanding of the environment. His paintings, especially those of natural settings, include abstract elements meant to depict the intangible essence of nature.
The accomplished American sculptor Robert Gober will serve as curator for Heat Waves. His work has been shown in numerous museums, and he is famous for his remarkable interpretations of ordinary objects.
A noteworthy part of the exhibit is a recreation of Burchfield's original 1930 MoMA collection. Also, for those attending the exhibit, a hard cover, full-color catalog is available for purchase. The catalog, edited by Hammer Museum curator Cynthia Burlingham and Gober, includes essays by representatives at Burchfield Penney, as well as some classic Burchfield illustrations.
Burchfield Penney members receive free admission. On March 6th, a members-only preview will be held from 5:30PM-7:30PM. For general admission prices, special events and tour schedules, and other information, please visit the Burchfield exhibit website.
First Image: Charles E. Burchfield Archives at the Burchfield Penney Art Center
Second Image: Charles E. Burchfield (1893-1967), reproduced courtesy of the Charles E. Burchfield Foundation
This exhibition was recently on display at The Hammer Museum in LosAngeles. It was a major success that received a lot of publicity. There were many works on display that I hadn't seen previously and I'd encourage everyone who has an interest in Burchfield to see this exhibition when it opens in Buffalo.