The Magic of William Meyerowitz: Twentieth Century Master
Monday, October 3, 2016 – Friday, January 6, 2017
Heftler Visiting Artist Gallery
Thursday, Thursday, October 13
4:30 p.m. Gallery Talk in Spencer Presentation Gallery
5:00 – 6:30 p.m. Reception in the Carol Grillo Gallery
Free and Open to the Public – Handicap Accessible Building
Gallery Hours: Monday – Thursday: 9:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Friday: 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., Saturday + Sunday: 2:00 – 4:00 p.m.
Closed: October 10, November 19, 20, 23 – 27, December 23 – January 2
Special Hours: November 21 and 22, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
For artists and writers from New York and Europe, Cape Ann has been one of the two most popular and important destination retreat centers in the world, along with Provincetown. Among the hundreds of renowned artists making Gloucester their second home were William Meyerowitz and Theresa Bernstein, a creative couple whose works comprise the pillars of the Endicott College Collection - Walter J. Manninen Trust. A retrospective exhibition of Meyerowitz works, organized by Endicott College, is currently on view in the Heftler Visiting Artist Gallery through January 6, 2017. A gallery talk and reception will take place on Thursday, October 13 starting at 4:30 p.m.
For much of the 20th century, William Meyerowitz (1890-1981) was an important and influential figure in American art. He lived in New York City in the winter, and in Gloucester on Boston’s North Shore where he and his wife,Theresa Bernstein (1890 – 2002), summered for over 60 years. Born in Ekaterinoslav, Russia in 1887, William Meyerowitz’ interest focused on two areas that would define his life: art and music. By the time his family was driven from their homeland in 1908, young Meyerowitz was drawing and painting and had received voice training at the Imperial Conservatory.
In 1908 William came to New York with his father and the family soon followed. William attended the National Academy of Design from 1914 – 1918, where he won Honorable Mention from the prix de Rome, for his mural Drama as a Teacher. From 1915 – 1925 he made a series of etchings depicting people at work in factories, shops, market places, and open community spaces. Many of his favorite subjects were scenes of Gloucester and New York.
William Meyerowitz achieved recognition for his paintings, but he is best known for his development of an original technique for producing etchings in color. He demonstrated this process in an educational fiIm entitled The Magic Needle. This silent black and white film was produced by the Fox Film Corporation in 1926.
“Magical” aptly describes this survey of 46 works by William Meyerowitz, executed in five media spanning 52 years with subjects ranging from cityscapes to portraits to florals, and assembled from five collections. The global importance of this exhibition and the artist’s meaningful place in history furthers Endicott College’s commitment to the arts.
Several important works in this exhibit are on loan from the Cape Ann Museum, as well as from the private collections of Judy and Mark Carbrey, Walter Manninen, Donald and Christine Mosher, and Leonardo Parco. We appreciate the efforts of Theresa Bernstein (posthumously), Martha Oaks, Walter Manninen, and Mark Towner for contributing important text for this catalog and the exhibition.
Please join us on Thursday, October 13 at 4:30 p.m. for a gallery talk with special guests Martha Oaks, Curator at the Cape Ann Museum in Gloucester, and Walter J. Manninen, Art Collector and Patron of the Arts, with a light reception to follow. An exhibition booklet will be available to gallery guests who attend the reception.
If you have any questions regarding the The Magic of William Meyerowitz: 20th Century Master or the gallery talk and reception, or if you are interested in having a gallery talk for your group, please contact Kathleen Moore at 978-232-2655 or kmoore@endicott.edu.