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Jane Wilson (American, 1924 – 2015) Trees at Mecox, 1958, Oil on linen, 17 1/8 x 12 inches. Parrish Art Museum, Water Mill, N.Y., Gift of Jane Freilicher.[/caption]
The Parrish Art Museum in Water Mill has announced it has been awarded a $100,000 grant from The Robert D.L. Gardiner Foundation in support of “Jane Freilicher and Jane Wilson: Seen and Unseen,” the first museum exhibition that will bring together paintings and works on paper by two notable figures in American art who lived and worked on the East End of Long Island for 50 years.
The Gardiner Foundation provides support for projects that make the greatest possible impact on promoting the appreciation of Suffolk County cultural heritage. “Seen and Unseen,” on view at the museum from October 25 through January 18, 2016, reveals how the region’s verdant natural surroundings influenced and inspired Ms. Freilicher and Ms. Wilson, who were drawn to the vibrant artist community in the late 1950s. The two groundbreaking artists emphatically claimed their mature artistic territory on the East End, where, after decades-long careers, they left enduring legacies.
“By establishing a presence on the East End of Long Island, Jane Freilicher and Jane Wilson continued the region’s profound artistic tradition that spans two centuries and encompasses the most significant movements in American art from Impressionism to Abstract Expressionism to Pop Art and beyond,” says Parrish Art Museum Director Terrie Sultan. “Through its generous grant for Seen and Unseen, the Gardiner Foundation supports the Museum’s effort to communicate the impact of these world-renowned artists to regional, national, and international audiences.”
“The Parrish Art Museum has a proven dedication to the cultural growth of this region and has shown a commitment to recognize the artistic heritage of Long Island,” said Kathryn M. Curran, Executive Director of the Gardiner Foundation. “This exhibition creates shared links with our local community by identifying and celebrating its talents and assets. The Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation is pleased to be part of this experience.”
“Seen and Unseen,” organized by Alicia G. Longwell, Lewis B. and Dorothy Cullman Chief Curator, Art and Education, illuminates this focus. Ms. Freilicher and Ms. Wilson were introduced to the region by fellow artists Fairfield Porter and Larry Rivers, who were already painting on the East End. By 1960, both women had established permanent homes in the hamlet of Water Mill, where they lived and worked within a mile of one another. The exhibition shows how the storied light and natural beauty of the region became a primary focus of, and major influence on, the work of Ms. Freilicher and Ms. Wilson, close friends whose professional and personal lives converged and diverged over the course of the next five decades.
“Seen and Unseen” will be accompanied by a fully illustrated 130-page catalogue featuring more than 50 full-color illustrations, highlighting the most important paintings created by the artists over the course of their careers. The central essay, authored by Ms. Longwell, explores the parallels and divergences in the artists’ work over five decades. An introduction by Ms. Sultan places the exhibition in the overall context of the Museum’s role in the creative legacy of Long Island’s East End
