Home Grown Art
Home-Grown Art,
a special exhibit celebrating former Coshocton artists will be
displayed at the Johnson-Humrickhouse Museum from August 16th
– October 11th. In the late 19th century
the advertising art industry sprouted in Coshocton, Ohio, and
then grew like corn in July. Locals claimed there were more
artists living in Coshocton than any other town, save New York
City. Children growing up in Coshocton saw art all around
them—on trays, signs and calendars, as well on the china
produced at the local Pope-Gosser China Company. Moreover, young
people saw that making art can also make money. Consequently,
Coshocton had more than its share of children who grew up to
pursue visual arts as vocation and avocation.
Home-Grown Art
presents over 100 works by more than 30 artists who at one time
called Coshocton home but who are now deceased. Some achieved
national fame such as Benton and Matt Clark
and Clarence H. White. The Clark brothers produced paintings and
illustrations for books, card and calendar companies, and
popular magazines, such as Saturday Evening Post,
Colliers and Cosmopolitan.
Photographer White, born in West
Carlisle in 1871, was a founding member of the
Photo-Secession movement, whose goal was to elevate
photography to an art form by creating impressionist-style
photographs. White is known for his romantic images of women and
children. Toward the end of his career he founded the Clarence
H. White School of Photography, which trained some of the most
well-known photographers of the twentieth century.
The exhibit also features work by
local favorites such as Orville Azbell, Helen Meredith, Dawna
Ramsour and Vivian Williams. Whether the artwork represents
local people and places or distant lands and times, visitors
will enjoy an array of creative and accomplished works. Imagine
a Coshocton County garden, glorious in its offering of colors,
fragrances and textures. Home-Grown Art offers just such
a sensual and experience.
