Winter 2011 - Museum of Art and Archaeology - University of Missouri

A Midwestern ViewThe ArT isT s of T h esTe. Genevieve ArT ColonyJanuary 29 – May 15, 2011From 1932 until 1941, several like-minded artists gathered every summer tocreate art in Ste. Genevieve, the oldest town in Missouri. The time the artistsspent at the Colony was often one of experimentation. While in many such coloniesartists frequently worked in a similar style, the artists at Ste. Genevieve showed theirindividualism and wide-ranging artistic knowledge as they worked in numerousmanners. This exhibition explores the diversity of these artists and the richness of theirart, as well as the important role of Missouri in Midwestern art.Located only 65 miles south of St. Louis on the west bank of the Mississippi River,Ste. Genevieve was a peaceful refuge, which still provided access to a major urbancenter with talented artists who could serve as faculty. In addition, the area provideda bountiful supply of local art students as well as audiences for group exhibitions.The numerous examples of picturesque French Colonial architecture and the town’sproximity to the river, farmlands, and lime industry promised a variegated landscapewith differing qualities of light and air.2