The Power of Observation

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Oct 7th 2005, 12:00am By queenseyes

Charles E. Burchfield possessed extraordinary powers of observation of the natural world that he translated into timeless artworks. While some serve as historic documents of early to mid-twentieth century American landscapes before the spread of urban and suburban development, others serve as universal confirmation of the awe-inspiring world that surrounds us.

This exhibition features Burchfieldis nature drawings, including some works acquired by the Burchfield-Penney during the past few years that have never been shown before as well as first public display of View from our Front Porch at Salem, Ohio, the jolting vision of a sunburst during a rain and snowstorm painted in 1917. Variations on Burchfieldis Dogwood wallpaper, which he designed for production by the M. H. Birge & Sons Company in Buffalo, demonstrates the extraordinary difference among patterns produced by shifts in color and texture. Hopefully the exhibition will inspire a new generation of artists to test their own powers of observation and follow Burchfieldis example by sketching and painting outdoors.

Inset: Charles E. Burchfield (1893-1967). View from Our Front Porch at Salem, Ohio,, 1917. Watercolor on paper. Collection of the Burchfield-Penney Art Center, Gift of a Friend, 2004. Show runs through October 23rd.

Burchfield-Penney Art Center / Buffalo State College / Rockwell Hall / Third Floor / 1300 Elmwood Avenue

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