The Picerne Collection of Arizona Landmark Art showcases paintings of the state’s vistas created over the last one hundred years by scores of different artists. The collection has the dual objective of creating a historical archive of those artists who painted Arizona and fostering an increased appreciation for the state’s natural gifts. Focusing primarily, but not exclusively, on early 20th-century landscape paintings, the collection includes works by a wide range of artists with diverse styles and backgrounds—some famous, some lesser known.
It is only appropriate that one of the world’s greatest natural wonders be the focal point of the Picerne collection’s first major solo exhibition. Given the historical component to the featured works, it is fitting that Kolb Studio located at the South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park, provides that venue.
Canyon Magic offers a visual experience of more than thirty artistic interpretations of the Grand Canyon, the great “Chasm of the Colorado.” Included here are paintings by artists from a number of schools and associations including the Taos Society, California impressionists, California watercolorists, the Desert Painters, Arizona women artists, and Santa Fe Railway artists. A variety of styles are represented including Realism, Tonalism, Expressionism, Impressionism, and Cubism.
As you will see, the painters were drawn to the canyon’s overwhelming beauty for a variety of reasons ranging from basic commercial considerations to responding to one of the ultimate artistic challenges. To some it was merely a stop en route to somewhere else. To others it was the primary reason for visiting the state. For several it was almost a second home, and for one it was home. Many created their most notable work while living in Arizona, while for others the canyon is the only known subject matter painted within the state’s boundaries. But regardless of background or purpose in visiting, every piece in Canyon Magic reflects the fascination this subject held for the painter and offers an inspired interpretation of the Grand Canyon of the Colorado. |
