Clark Looks at 'Cowboys and Indians'
WILLIAMSTOWN - Susannah Maurer, assistant curator at the University of Arizona Museum of Art, will explore how Frederic Remington understood the peoples of the American West in "Cowboys and Indians: Remington's Characters" on Sunday, March 9, at 2 p.m.The lecture, held at the Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute, is free.
The Clark's current exhibit, "Remington Looking West," explores how Remington shaped America's vision of the West. Maurer will investigate this through a close look at the various "characters" that the artist used throughout his career.
She will examine how Remington portrayed people as individuals or as types and whether his depictions of various groups differed in notable ways. While Remington's work is inhabited by cowboys, Indians, soldiers, and scouts, the absence of other important participants in the history of Western expansion is worthy of consideration, particularly in the context of 19th-century notions of identity and typing. In addition, Maurer will consider how the artist's portrayals of people changed during his career, especially in the transition from commercial illustration to fine art.
While at the UAMA, Maurer has curated "Louise Serpa: American Rodeo Pictures" and "Goya's Mastery in Prints: Los Caprichos," and is currently working on an exhibition of American portraiture. Past projects include working on the Clark's fall 2005 exhibition "Winslow Homer: Making Art, Making History." She holds an master's degree in art history from Williams College and a bachelor's degree from Dartmouth College.
"Remington Looking West" is on view through May 4.
The Clark is at 225 South St. The galleries are open Tuesday through Sunday from 10 to 5; admission is free through May. For more information, call 413-458-2303 or visit www.clarkart.edu
