In its century-long history, the Dayton Art Institute (DAI) has made a name for itself by bringing art from around the world to enthusiasts in the Miami Valley. Japanese woodblock prints, renaissance-era sketches, and even the moody maestros of the Dutch Golden Age have all adorned the halls of 456 Belmonte Park. A recent exhibition would see artists from the American Southwest join the longlist of illustrious works that have made their way to the Gem City.
New Beginnings: An American Story of Romantics and Modernists offered visitors a close look at the artistic vision of two huge creative communities in New Mexico. In a state well-known for its natural beauty and crafts, Santa Fe and the Taos Valley seems to have always had a spellbinding effect on residents and tourists alike. The artwork on display celebrates the Mesa and diverse communities in those two places during the late 19th century, showing exactly why so many creatives would go on to call the Land of Enchantment home.
With the pieces on loan from the acclaimed Tia Collection, the exhibition ranged from colonial works by resident artists such as Jose Rafael Aragon to the lifelike depictions of indigenous tribes from the brush of E. Irving Couse. More than a simple peek at the landscapes and people that inspired so many artists, the exhibition also shared the tender stories of the men and women behind the canvas.
One of those given a chance to shine from the cream-colored walls of the gallery was Ernest Blumenschein, a Daytonian who would gain fame for his depiction of indigenous Americans. The English peer Dorothy Brett would join legendary writer D.H. Lawrence in Taos and leave behind beautiful canvas works such as a stunning oil painting from the 1930s. The pair are just a few of the great artists immortalized in the Tia Collection and celebrated here in Dayton.
For more information about the DAI’s exciting exhibitions, head to: https://www.daytonartinstitute.org/
Ismael David
Staff Writer