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2 3LANA STATE HISTORIC SITE OLANA STATE HISTOR
Frederic Church was Americas mostimportant painter during the
middle yearso the 19th century. While amous or hisscenes o the
Arctic, South America, andthe Near East, his landscapes o Mainewere
central to his career or over ourdecades. Tis exhibition explores
rst hisearly mastery o the conventions o arthistory, the
expressions o national historyduring his maturity, and nally the
poi-gnant refections o personal history in hislater years. Guest
curated by John Wilm-erding, the Christopher Binyon SaromProessor o
American art, emeritus, atPrinceton University.
Maine Sublime includes 10 oiland 13 pencil sketches rom the
Olanacollection that celebrate the glories oMaine scenery. Many
will be on public
view or the rst time, including the vi-brant plein-air sketch
Wood Interior nearMount Katahdin, c. 1877.
HISTORY OF OLANA
ederic Church, impressed by the archi-cture he saw in cities
like Beirut, Jerusa-
m and Damascus, envisioned a home atana that incorporated Middle
Eastern
ements and designs. Drawings by Rich-d Morris Hunt document that
Churchnsiderd using him as an architect, buttimately decided on
Calvert Vaux.
In the all o 1872, Church and Is-el and their growing amily o
childrenoved into the second story o the newuse while Church
continued to decoratee ground foor. He designed stencils andose the
colors with which to decoratee walls and ceilings. Eclectic
urnish-gs soon lled the house, gathered romYC and abroad, and
eventually, rome Church amily home in Hartord,onnecticut. Frederic
even designed a eweces o urniture. Te couple lled theuse with
thousands o objects meant to
rect the attention to the great civiliza-ons o the past.
Church continued to work on theuse or much o the rest o his lie.
In85 he began a campaign to repair and
mprove the house, and in 1888, begane studio wing, with guest
rooms and aassed- in observation room in the tower.y 1891, the
house was essentially com-ete, looking much as it does today.
EXHIBITIONS
Te artist rst journeyed toMaine in the summer o 1850 spendingsix
weeks on Mount Desert exploringthe coast, its rocky Islands, and
peaceulharbors. In 1852 he trekked inlandocusing on the area o
MountKatahdin. Over the next decadesChurch continued to visit
Mainecapturing sensational sunsets,robust crashing waves,
impressivepeaks, and an abundance owilderness.
MAINE SUBLIME:FREDERIC CHURCHSLANDSCAPES OF MOUNTDESERT AND
MOUNTKATAHDINJune 9 - October 27, 2013
Millinery ConfectionsJoin historian Sue McLane, dressed
inantique period clothing, as she describesthe purposes o a variety
o hats wornby ladies and gentlemen during the 19thCentury. See a
vintage display o originalhats rom 1850 to 1950. Learn about
theproper way to wear a hat, which is becom-ing a lost art.
Saturday, April 27 2:00 - 3:00pmWagon House Education Center
Spring Migratory Bird Walk withAudubon NYJoin Audubon NY
Education CoordinatorLarry Federman on a bird walk duringone o the
most exciting times o the yearto observe birds. Mid-May is the
height omigration and we have the possibility oseeing many
neotropical migrants as they
return or pass through or the breedingseason. Bring a pair o
binoculars andsturdy walking shoes. Pre-registrationrequired.
Tursday, May 16 7:30amWagon House Education Center
UPCOMING EVENTS
Frederic EdwinChurch AwardGalaJoin us as we honortwo
outstandingindividuals whoeach are transorm-ing the perceptiono
American art -Betsy Broun andStephen Hannock.
Tursday, May 237:00 - 11:00 PMNew York PublicLibrary, New York
City
