Steeped in a rich history, the Providence Art Club has long been a place for artists and art patrons to congregate, create, display and circulate works of art. Since its founding in 1880, the Club continues its tradition of sponsoring and supporting the visual arts in Providence and throughout Rhode Island. To ensure that the tradition continued, the Art Club began a series of building renovations designed to take the organization into the next century. The multi-million dollar renovation is finally complete, marking a milestone in Art Club history. The Club’s distinguished features retain their elegance, while the new architectural additions succeed in capturing the charm of their established counterparts. The completion of the project ensures that this venerable institution will remain a fixture in the art community for many years to come.
Maxwell Mays – Untitled, mixed media 1949 Courtesy Providence Art Club
To celebrate this historic event, the Club will host an exhibition featuring the iconic work of two of its celebrated and renowned artist members, Maxwell Mays and Thomas Sgouros. This retrospective exhibition will showcase an impressive collection of multi-media works, some never before seen by the public. The synthesis of new and established architecture, and the display of works by two prolific artists, makes “Great Expectations – A Tale of Two Artists,” an exhibition not to be missed.
Noted artist, conservationist and philanthropist, Maxwell Mays’ passion for the past is reflected in his detailed, historic scenes of Rhode Island. In folk-art style, the artist portrays Rhode Island landmarks and historic buildings, making his pieces a coveted commodity of collectors far and wide. His whimsical works are the products of months of research, in which he portrays the state as it once was, with a few creative liberties. In describing his works, Mays once remarked, “Mine is not historical documentation. Mine is to entertain and tell the spirit of the times.”
His fanciful, richly detailed style has earned him publication in many well-known sources. His works have graced the cover of more than two-dozen Yankee magazines, and have appeared in Cosmopolitan and Collier’s. Infused with a lively sense of color, the popular scenes of villages and towns adorn many public and private collections. A native Rhode Islander, Mays graduated from the Rhode Island School of Design. Following graduation, he entered into the Army Air Corps and served as part of a mapping and intelligence unit during World War II. His experience during this time is reflected in the unique aerial perspective present in many of his works.
Following the war, Mays worked for many years in the family business, Mays Manufacturing Company. The company became well established, owing much of its success to the pen clip, a useful commodity invented by Mays’ father. Mays eventually went on to head the enterprise as president. During this time he continued to create art.
Upon the sale of the company, Mays pursued his passion and became a full-time artist. He has served as president of the Providence Art Club and is also the namesake for one of the Club’s gallery spaces. For many years, Mays occupied an artist’s studio in the Club’s Fleur de Lys building. Designed by artist Sydney Burleigh, the structure was built in 1885, and was deeded to the Art Club in 1939 to be used as a space for artists’ studios. The building continues to house artists today. The ground level studio, originally occupied by Burleigh, was also used as a workspace by Mays and is currently the studio of artist Thomas Sgouros. Throughout the years, Mays has donated many of his works to raise money for numerous charitable organizations. His works are true treasures that offer a glimpse into the state’s past and serve as a testament to the talent of Rhode Island’s renowned resident artist.
Thomas Sgouros is an internationally renowned artist with an impressive career in illustration. He is particularly known for his accomplished watercolor work. An influential professor in the illustration department at the Rhode Island School of Design for decades, he was appointed Helen M. Danforth Distinguished Professor in 1991 in honor of his teaching efforts. He was elected to the National Academy in 1992 and in 1991 received a CFS Medal from the American Watercolor Society, of which he has been a signature member since 1954. In 2001, Sgouros received the Claibourne Pell Award for lifetime achievement. His work is in numerous corporate and private collections, including museums in Rhode Island, Maine, Alaska, Florida and Ohio.
Sgouros’ September exhibition at the Providence Art Club will include recent paintings from his current body of work, the Remembered Landscapes, in conjunction with rarely exhibited earlier work. Sgouros first became known for a finely tuned, observant eye that recorded still life and landscape with equal sensitivity. He has long been fascinated with repetitive series and, when talking about Sgouros’ work, critics often cite an obsessive return to the same subject matter akin to the work of Georgio Morandi. His Thomas’ Trumpets series features bicycle horns hung against the cement walls of his garage while the Steeple Street Still Lives nestled oil and vinegar cruets, sugar bowls and favored fine art postcards on mirrors. In both series, Sgouros elevates the quotidian objects in his still lives, compelling the viewer with his honest and masterful rendering.
Exhibition dates are September 13 through October 2, 2009. Opening reception is September 13 from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. Gallery hours are Monday – Friday 12-4 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, please contact Kristin at the Providence Art Club at (401) 331-1114. All exhibitions are free and open to the public. Kristin Grimm, Gallery Coordinator . [email protected]
www.providenceartclub.org
