UnNatural History: Photographs by Diane Fox (McGregor Gallery)

Mar 20-Jul 11, 2021

Tennessee artist Diane Fox captures the perceived reality posed by dioramas in this series of photographs taken in natural history museums around the country and abroad. Traditionally, dioramas allow museum visitors to experience wildlife firsthand using staged animals and painted backgrounds to create realistic fabrications. Fox’s photographs, however, work to break the illusion of these constructed scenes and ask the viewer to reexamine their relationship with nature.

Fox is a Distinguished Lecturer Emerita in the College of Architecture and Design at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville where she taught photography and graphic design for over 20 years. She has a Master of Fine Arts from The University of Tennessee, Knoxville and a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Middle Tennessee State University. Her work has been shown in dozens of exhibitions both nationally and internationally including solo exhibitions at the Los Angeles Center for Digital Art in California and Santa Reparata Gallery in Florence, Italy.

Who Tells Your Story? (Chakeres Gallery)

Feb 3–June 6, 2021

Who Tells Your Story? is the guiding question for a new exhibition in the Chakeres interactive gallery at the Springfield Museum of Art. Many people in our community, and across the nation, are asking questions about whose stories get told and who does the telling. Also, at this time of year many school children are studying early American History and current events. The gallery provides a thinking space for all ages to reflect on history, images, and personal stories by asking, Who Tells Your Story? The exhibition showcases 23 objects from the Permanent Collection, several of which are making their public debut.

…Does the Dream Dream the Dreamer? Unseen Works of David Catrow (McGregor Gallery)

Oct 31, 2020 – Feb 28, 2021

Showcasing never-before-seen work of Springfield resident, David Catrow, this exhibition reveals Catrow’s vision in a series of larger than life paintings and works on paper. Catrow is a New York Times bestselling children’s book author/illustrator and animator for films including Horton Hears a Who and Despicable Me. Additionally, he is an editorial cartoonist whose work has been published across the US and Canada. Catrow’s exhibited works reference his well-known illustrations but go further to reveal new and previously unimagined worlds that words can’t begin to describe.

Gary Birch: Paintings and Sculpture (Deer Gallery)

Nov 28. 2020-May 2, 2021

Milford, Ohio artist Gary Birch identifies as a Southwest Ohio painter and sculptor. His work seeks balance between disparate themes, especially those concerning domestic life, industry, and nature. This exhibit will feature both his expressive collage paintings and unconventional mixed media sculptures.

The Art of Watercolor – 46th Western Ohio Watercolor Society Exhibition (Halley & Klein Galleries)

Dec 19, 2020-Apr 11, 2021

The Springfield Museum of Art is excited to host the Western Ohio Watercolor Society’s 46th Annual Members’ show this winter. For nearly half a century, WOWS has engaged artists in our region through exhibitions and workshops. This juried exhibition will highlight an array of experienced, local artists working in a variety of watercolor techniques. Patrick Mauk of Lima, Ohio is this year’s juror. Mauk is a graduate of the University of Cincinnati where he received his Master of Fine Arts degree in 1999.

The Western Ohio Watercolor Society was founded in 1974 for the purpose of furthering interest in, and adding stature to, the use of watercolor as a fine art medium, as well as to encourage public interest in the medium.

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Kusama’s Pumpkin

through Nov 1, 2020

The Springfield Museum of Art is pleased to present a major work of art by internationally acclaimed artist Yayoi Kusama. Pumpkin, a large bronze sculpture by Kusama is on loan to the Museum through the beginning of November from the collection of Angela and Scott Crabill.

Kusama, widely considered one of the most popular and important artists of our time, is known for her extensive use of polka-dots, Instagrammable mirrored infinity rooms, and her fascination of pumpkins. Pumpkin is on display as part of a larger installation of work titled Celebrating Women. This exhibition, celebrating the centennial of women’s suffrage, features both favorite and rarely seen objects from the Museum’s collection created by female artists.

74th Annual Juried Members’ Exhibition

Saturday, Aug 15-Oct 11, 2020

The Annual Juried Members’ Exhibition has been a fixture of the Museum’s programming since its inception in 1946. Each year, participation in the exhibition is open to all members of the Museum, and the show includes both highly accomplished, professional artists and emerging talents alike. Through this annual experience, we celebrate our community’s creative spirit and gain inspiration from regional artists.

This year’s Exhibition features over 100 pieces of work selected by juror Mary Gray, who also chose Best of Show, Second and Third place and Honorable Mentions. The People’s Choice award this year goes to Brian Willams, for “Persephone.”

What Makes Me Feel Safe? (Chakeres Gallery)

Aug 1, 2020 – Jan 3, 2021

We know life has been challenging the past few months. We also recognize art has the capacity to provide respite, beauty, and can calm our anxieties. Explore what makes you feel safe in the revamped Art Lab. This space has been updated to provide a low touch, safe space for engagement for visitors of all ages. Along with art featured from our collection will be minds-on activities designed to support conversation and inspire the observation of emotions. Consumable packets of materials will be provided to support your exploration of the question: what makes me feel safe?

Vision 2020: Dayton/Kyoto Print Exchange 10th Exhibition (Beach Gallery)

Jul 15-Oct 4, 2020

Since the early 2000s, the Dayton Printmakers’ Cooperative and Kyoto, Japan’s Gen Studio Group have shared artwork as part of an international print exchange. The show highlights a range of printmaking processes including etching, intaglio, silkscreen, and wood block relief.

Beneath the Smokestacks: Paintings by David Knapp (Halley & Klein Galleries)

Jul 15-Nov 29, 2020

David Knapp thoughtfully depicts scenes of labor in foundries through this series of colorful paintings. A foundryman and artist, he intimately understands the processes, machinery, and physical skills required of metalcasting. In his art, Knapp chooses to highlight the people who work in foundries recognizing that the buildings and machinery are stagnant without their dedicated labor. Beneath the Smokestacks seeks to shed light on efforts of the laborers while preserving the rich, industrial history of foundries. Each piece depicts a foundry from around the country including Cast-Fab Technologies in Cincinnati, Ohio and Springfield’s own, O.S. Kelly Company.

David is a 1959 graduate BSME from Lehigh University. In 1962, he began his foundry career in Pittsburgh, mastering the mechanics of manufacturing some of the largest steel castings in the world. After decades in shop operations, Knapp settled into business development and spent 18 years with a family-owned iron foundry in Calera, Alabama. Well beyond traditional retirement, David traveled much of North America on company business and combined his passions for foundry history and large industrial paintings. Since last Fall, he has retired but continues to pursue his passions full time.