UNE presents the art work of John Calvin Stevens
The University of New England’s Portland Art Gallery will present an exhibition of the paintings and other art work of John Calvin Stevens from April 21, 2015 to July 19, 2015.
While John Calvin Stevens’ architectural career, which stretched from 1880 to 1940, is renowned, less well known is his art making. From 1900 to 1920, he created hundreds of paintings with the Brush’uns, a talented group of plein air painters who frequented Cape Elizabeth, Capisic, Stroudwater and the Casco Bay Islands each weekend to capture the changing seasons of nature on their canvases.
This exhibition is the first comprehensive retrospective of John Calvin Stevens’ artistic career since his death in 1940 and represents the full range of his art work, including oil paintings, water colors, architectural renderings, and pen and ink sketches, along with photographs of the artist at work and such personal memorabilia as his paint box.
Drawn from the collections of family members, private collectors, and institutions, this exhibit offers a special opportunity to explore the art of one of the most creative figures in the state’s cultural life of a century ago. Project directors of the exhibition are Earle Shettleworth, Maine State historian; Paul Stevens, architect and John Calvin Stevens’ great grandson; Hilary Bassett, executive director of Greater Portland Landmarks; and Anne B. Zill, director of the UNE Art Gallery, Portland Campus.
A beautiful catalogue will be available for sale and related educational programs are listed below. Generous support for this exhibition and programs has been provided by the Quimby Family Foundation and the Rines-Thompson Fund of the Maine Community Foundation.
Educational Programs:
April 29, 2015, 4:30-7 p.m.: Art Gallery reception, followed at 6 p.m. by a Lecture with Earle Shettleworth and Paul Stevens in UNE’s Ludcke Auditorium.
May 28, 2015 23, 5 p.m.: Walking Tour with Friends of Evergreen Cemetery featuring the last resting place of John Calvin Stevens and other prominent artists in the Brush’uns group. For reservations, go to: www.portlandlandmarks.org
June 20, 2015, 7-10 p.m.: Historic House Gala at the lovely Forbes-Webber House (1857) on Stevens Avenue, with an opportunity to see the exhibition at the Gallery. For tickets, go to: www.portlandlandmarks.org
July 10-12, 2015: Plein Air Painting Workshop with Cooper Dragonette, features an introduction in the gallery and painting in Cape Elizabeth and Portland, co-sponsored with MECA Continuing Studies. For information and to enroll, go to: www.meca.edu
The exhibition, reception and lecture are free and open to the public.
The UNE Art Gallery is located on UNE's Portland Campus at 716 Stevens Avenue, Portland, Maine 04103. Art Gallery Hours are Wed, Fri, Sat & Sun, 1-4 p.m., Thurs until 7 p.m. and by appointment. It is open to the public and free of charge.
For information and directions, visit the Art Gallery or contact Anne Zill by email or phone (207-221-4499).