David Bates, Oyster Bar, 1984, 72 x 90 inches

Valley House Gallery & Sculpture Garden will be having a garden party and reception tomorrow afternoon for the opening exhibition of America Works.

America Works features American 20th Century and Contemporary Paintings, Drawings, Fine Prints, Photographs, and Sculpture of Americans at Work and Their Accomplishments. The exhibition will continue through June 6, 2009. Get the preview tomorrow (4/26) from 12:30-3:30pm.

“More than 45 works in this exhibition are divided into two time frames. The earlier period begins with the 1927 painting “Elevators, New Paris, Ohio” by Lawrence McConaha, which was painted just before the Great Depression began. “Sorghum Mill,” a 1969 lithograph by Thomas Hart Benton, concludes this earlier period of work. Other works from this period (between 1927 and 1969) are by iconic artists James Allen, Thomas Hart Benton, Louis Lozowick, Guy Pene du Bois, and Grant Wood. There are also important works by lesser known artists such as Dorothy Dennison, Simon M. Wachtel, and Edmond F. Ward. Of special interest in this earlier period is a group of mural scale paintings by Dallas artist Olin Travis depicting the East Texas oil industry in 1939.

The later period includes works from 1980 through the present. A series of three dimensional paper constructions depicting baseball players titled “Sliding Series” by Kim MacConnel was produced in 1980. The most current work is a 2005 pastel of the Manhattan Lord and Taylor jewelry department titled “11 a.m.” by Brian Cobble. Other highlights include a large early painting of the S&D Oyster Bar by David Bates, a monumental drawing of a cattle drive by Woodrow Blagg, and a masterpiece of silkscreen printing titled “D Train” by Photorealist Richard Estes. There are also photographs by Bank Langmore, James W. Westerfield, and Laura Wilson.

In the uneasy economic times of the last year, these images take on a new and unexpected relevance. They serve not only to remind us of how we got through one of the most difficult economic times in America’s history, but that our nation, through hard work, was able to get the economy back on track and the country moving forward again.”

Valley House Gallery & Sculpture Garden is located at 6616 Spring Valley Road.

Hours: 10 to 5, Monday through Saturday
972.239.2441
[email protected]

Sources:
Pegasus News: Valley House Gallery presents: America Works