The new Kohl Gallery, curated by Art and Art History Department Chair Dr. Donald McColl, is home to the one-of-a-kind, Washington College created exhibit called, “Second Nature: Masterpieces of 19th Landscape Painting.”
Putting together the show was a long process. Senior Riley Carbonneau, Erin Harrison ’09 and Colleen Kearins ’09 worked with McColl over the summer to create the exhibit and set up the gallery.
Carbonneau said she, Harrison, and Kearins were in the Museum Studies class last spring and helped McColl choose which pieces of art to bring to campus from a very large and private collection. She said they helped research the paintings and made sure they were authentic. They had to make sure the paintings were not Nazi looted through different websites and met with curators about the paintings. They also helped McColl pick out paint colors and the furniture for the gallery, said Carbonneau.
When asked why the theme was chosen, McColl said, “We really didn’t have a lot of time, because we weren’t sure the gallery would be finished. Normally it takes three to five years to plan something, but we did not have that time. We approached someone and asked if they would be willing to donate, and they said yes. We also thought that landscapes would be good in terms of teaching, and because we are very interested in the environment at WC. Many of the artists showcased were also interested in the environment and preserving it. Some of the paintings by Thomas Moran actually moved Congress to create our National Parks. I hope everyone comes to see this exhibit.”
Carbonneau said the arrival of the paintings was a secret and she helped unpack them and check for damages.
“It was definitely interesting being there unpacking them because you never get to touch them in museums,” said Carbonneau.
The 1,200 square foot gallery was funded by a generous gift from Benjamin and Judy Kohl, and is the temporary home of 23 rare paintings, including works by Claude Monet, Thomas Moran, and Peirre-Auguste Renoir, to name a few.
While the donator has chosen to remain anonymous, there have already been over 2,000 visitors to the gallery, the names of which can be found in a black guest book in the lobby.
“It’s really an exhibit that anyone can enjoy,” McColl said, “and there will not be another display like this for years. These are unique paintings that haven’t been seen in museums. You would have to go to a major center like New York, Baltimore, or Washington D.C. to see stuff like this.”
President Baird Tipson agrees. He said, “If you don’t go and later realize what you could have seen, you will kick yourself.”
Carbonneau thinks that, “Landscape is an approachable form of painting because you don’t have to know much about art in general or about paintings for it to be enjoyable, and there are a lot of different styles in the show, from naturalistic to impressionistic to boarding on abstract.”
Senior Laura Walter agreed. “There are some really gorgeous artworks. Anyone is blown away. It is a one-of-a-kind show.”
The exhibit will be on display in the Kohl Gallery, inside the Daniel Z. Gibson Center for the Arts, until Nov. 15. Operating hours are Tuesdays, 5 - 8 p.m., Wednesdays through Fridays, 2 - 5 p.m., and Saturdays 11 am – 4 p.m.. It is closed on Sundays and Mondays.
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