John Steuart Curry, “Tornado Over Kansas”
Every Thursday Muskegon Museum of Art has free admission. When I saw a fb blurb that they had this exhibition going on, I took advantage of it. The time and effort they put into gathering works from across the US and how they were arranged, with giant posters explaining parts of Steuart’s life, were impressive. There were also cases of correspondence, publications, etc. as documentation of history. The photos I took are a drop in the bucket to all of what has been gathered for the exhibit. Please take a walk with me through it. This greets you as you enter:
The first three are drawings that captured my attention. I think the woman one looks a lot like Curry himself.
Curry spent some time traveling with the circus.
There were also some paintings included in this section by Reginald Marsh. I gather Curry and Marsh were connected by the circus but I didn’t take time to find out what that connection was.
Next was a lengthy section of various Americana scenes painted by Curry.
Next was the BIG 3 in the limelight from Curry. I was very blessed to come upon a gathering of docents discussing these paintings and they welcomed me into the conversation. In the painting of the baptism, I noticed two doves either rising or falling from heaven. One was white and one was grey. I asked them what they thought the symbolism meant and their responses were evocative. Isn’t that what art is all about — the viewer becoming part of the circuitry of meaning?
I was looking for a video on Curry and came across this interesting one that is talking about a mural he did in Kansas.
Here is an interview with an actor depicting Curry, using his own words. It’s fascinating!
Tao Talk 
A wonderful exhibition to visit, Lisa. USA history is similar to SA history is some ways, especially when it comes to the pioneers.
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Thanks much, Robbie. Curry needs to be taught in history class.
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😆👍
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All those paintings tell a story. The John Brown image has been used on album covers from the band ‘Kansas’ (appropriately enough).
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Oh wow, Glyn, I had no idea about the album cover. Agreed on each pic telling a story! At one point Kansas legislators barred Curry from finishing the murals. Brown was a pariah in KS at the time because the state was up in the air as to whether it would be a slave state or a free state, and he’d moved to KS as a strong abolitionist, to persuade people to do the right thing.
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I love museums and history! Great pics and videos of the exhibition, Lisa. The woman does look like Curry. Happy Sunday to you! 😍
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:)
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John Brown on the Tragic Prelude Mural. CB and I were talking about him the other day on a post I had… love the paintings.
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I read CB’s comment about his currently reading a book on him. Hope he sees this post. Happy you like the paintings. Part of what I learned about him is that many people wanted him to paint only idealized images of Kansas, but he refused. He chose to paint it as he saw it. I admire a person like that.
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I like the integrity of him. I had forgot that it was the cover of Kansas’s first album.
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I had never heard of him (which isn’t saying much). Thank you for the introduction. I think I would love to see his work up close.
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Glad to introduce you to his work, Dale.
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You’re wonderful at introducing me to all sorts of good stuff!
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Happy to hear you feel that way, Dale. Being retired has given me time to be introduced to a lot of good stuff.
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That’s great!! And yes, I do feel that way
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