The works of one of the most compelling artists of the 20th Century is currently being shown at the Amon Carter Museum in Fort Worth, Texas. “AMERICAN EPICS: THOMAS HART BENTON AND HOLLYWOOD” highlights over 100 of the Missouri artist’s works. Besides some 30 paintings on display there are also murals, drawings, lithographs along with several movie posters and book illustrations.
According to lead curator Austen Barron Bailly, the George Putnam curator of American Art at the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem, Massachusetts, Benton wanted to find different avenues to tell the stories of America. Besides highlighting his work in Hollywood, the presentation of Benton’s work shows his point of view of American history, from the Indians watching the Europeans land in the New World, to the cruelty of slavery, the jazz age, Negro Soldiers in World War I and his series “Year of Peril” showcasing his creativity in the wake of the bombing of Pearl Harbor.
Thomas Hart Benton (1889-1975) was one of the most important American Artists of the last century and just as his work is being displayed in Fort Worth, one of his student’s work is currently being exhibited at the Dallas Museum of Art: JACKSON POLLOCK: Blind Spots.
This is the first retrospective of Benton’s work in 25 years and the Amon Carter Museum is the 3rd stop on a 4 venue tour. “AMERICAN EPICS: THOMAS HART BENTON AND HOLLYWOOD” runs through May 1, 2016. In concurrence with the exhibition, the Amon Carter Museum will be showing movies that are linked to Benton’s work. They are: March 13th-THE GRAPES OF WRATH & April 10th-THEY DIED WITH THEIR BOOTS ON (reservations open March 1st).
To find out more about this wonderful museum and all the exhibitions and activities going on go to: http://www.cartermuseum.org/.
Remember “thisisyourbestyear”.
This post was written by Carol Y. Cooper