'Frolic' and paint at the Brandywine on closing day of The Way Back: The Paintings of George A. Weymouth Exhibition, June 3
Enjoy free all-day admission and a day of family fun on closing day of Weymouth exhibitionChadds Ford, PA, May 29, 2018 — Don’t miss the last chance to view the first comprehensive exhibition of George A. “Frolic” Weymouth’s artistic career at the Brandywine River Museum of Art. Closing on June 3, The Way Back: The Paintings of George A. Weymouth features sixty-five of Weymouth’s best works of art in various media and reveals the breadth of his visual investigations over six decades—from the loose energetic style and monochromatic palette of his early oils in the 1950s to the luminous, highly detailed temperas of his later career.
In tandem with the final day of the exhibition, enjoy free all-day admission and family fun activities on Sunday, June 3, during “First Sundays for Families: Frolic and Paint Party.” From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., grab a brush and celebrate the tradition of painting outdoors—en plein air—with demonstrations by members of the Philadelphia Water Color Society, and participate in hands-on art activities. Guests can also enjoy a creative circus performance and tightwire crossing over the Brandywine River by the Funicular Circus, and watch a pop-up dance performance by BalletX, Philadelphia’s premier contemporary ballet company.
Frolic Weymouth (1936–2016) was perhaps best known for his philanthropic endeavors, in particular as one of the founders and long-time chairman of the Brandywine Conservancy & Museum of Art. He was also a remarkable artist. The Way Back: The Paintings of George A. Weymouth reveals Weymouth’s impressive contribution to American painting. Mentored by his friend Andrew Wyeth later in his career, Weymouth worked in both watercolor and egg tempera to create insightful portraits and haunting, hushed landscapes that spoke eloquently of his passionate love of nature. In these paintings, Weymouth created a rich atmosphere demonstrating his skill in capturing varying effects of light. The exhibition also includes a number of pencil and watercolor studies Weymouth did in preparation for his tempera paintings. These rarely seen works provide a rich understanding of Weymouth’s keen eye and his artistic process.
The exhibition is accompanied by a fully-illustrated catalogue—the most comprehensive publication to date on the artist—published by the Brandywine River Museum of Art and Rizzoli/Skira. An introduction by Joseph Rishel, Curator Emeritis of the Philadelphia Museum of Art and a friend of the artist, provides a personal account of Weymouth’s larger-than-life personality and remarkable achievements as an artist, philanthropist and leader in conservation. A major essay by Annette Blaugrund, noted art historian and former director of the National Academy of Design, considers Weymouth’s work in the context of the American realist canon and provides insight into his personal artistic vision and his connection to the Brandywine tradition.
About the Brandywine River Museum of Art:
The Brandywine River Museum of Art features an outstanding collection of American art housed in a 19th-century mill building with a dramatic steel and glass addition overlooking the banks of the Brandywine. The Museum is open daily from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. (except Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day), and is located on Route 1 in Chadds Ford, PA. Admission is $18 for adults, $15 for seniors ages 65 and over, $6 for students and children ages 6 and up; free for children 5 and younger and Brandywine Conservancy & Museum of Art members. Guided tours of the Andrew Wyeth Studio, N. C. Wyeth House & Studio, and the Kuerner Farm—all National Historic Landmarks—are available daily (for an additional fee) from April 4 through November 18; advance reservations are recommended. For more information, call 610.388.2700 or visit brandywinemuseum.org. The Museum is one of the two programs of the Brandywine Conservancy & Museum of Art.
About the Brandywine Conservancy:
The Brandywine Conservancy protects water, conserves land, and engages communities. The Conservancy uses a multi-faceted approach to conservation. Staff work with private landowners who wish to see their lands protected forever, and provide innovative community planning services to municipalities and other governmental agencies. The Conservancy currently holds 483 conservation and agricultural easements and has facilitated the permanent preservation of more than 64,500 acres of land. The Conservancy is a program of the Brandywine Conservancy & Museum of Art.
About the Brandywine Conservancy & Museum of Art:
The Brandywine Conservancy & Museum of Art preserves and promotes the natural and cultural connections between the area’s beautiful landscape, historic sites, and important artists. The Conservancy protects the lands throughout the Brandywine Valley, developing new conservation approaches and assuring access to majestic open spaces and dependable water supplies for generations to come. The Museum of Art presents and collects historic and contemporary works of American art, engaging and exciting visitors of all ages through an array of exhibitions and programs. The Brandywine unites the inspiring experiences of art and nature, enhancing the quality of life in its community and among its diverse audiences.
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Presenting Wyeth & American Art