Charles E. Burchfield possessed extraordinary powers of observation of the natural world that he translated into timeless artworks. While some serve as historic documents of early to mid-twentieth century American landscapes before the spread of urban and suburban development, others serve as universal confirmation of the awe-inspiring world that surrounds us. It also provided the occasion for the first public display of View from our Front Porch at Salem, Ohio, the jolting vision of a sunburst during a rain and snow storm painted in 1917. This fine example of Burchfield’s more expressive and experimental “Golden Year” style was donated at year’s end by an anonymous donor.
Works from the Spiro Family Collection and from the collection of S. Jay and Kathryn Ferrari were kindly lent for inclusion to help illustrate the range of Burchfield’s approaches to his subjects and how he faithfully articulated nature’s details, but also exaggerated certain characteristics for maximum effect. The exhibition aspired to encourage a new generation of artists to test their own powers of observation and follow Burchfield’s example by sketching and painting outdoors.