In conjunction with their latest exhibition, the Mitchell Gallery at St. John’s College, will be hosting a lecture by Eva Fognell, curator of the Eugene and Clare Thaw Collection of American Indian Art at the Fenimore Art Museum in Cooperstown, NY. The March 8th lecture will focus on From Old Masters to Native American Masters: The Thaw Collection of American Indian Art.
The Eugene and Clare Thaw Collection of American Indian Art, consists of more than 875 objects spanning 20 centuries from throughout North America, is the most significant American Indian Art collection donated to the American public since the depression era, and was stunningly and quickly formed by Eugene and Clare Thaw over the course of a few short years.
At the collection’s core is an unwavering philosophy; that in any culture a small percentage of things stand out as masterpieces by virtue of their superb craftsmanship, visual power, historical associations, and cultural meanings. Gene Thaw put it this way: “I want to stress that I look at Indian material culture as art,” he states. “To me, it is co-equal to any of my own highest experiences in pursuing the arts of many nations both as dealer and collector. It stands rightfully with ancient art, with masterpieces of Asia and Europe, as their equivalent, and I wish it would be looked at this way.”
The lecture is free, but reservations are required.
Register online for the Eva Fognell lecture.
Learn more about the Mitchell Gallery by having a listen to our podcast with Hydee Schaller and Lucinda Edinberg from the Gallery.
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