Protecting Democracy, Preserving Art - Then and Now
/by Alaina Uva
The Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art, located in Hartford, is the oldest continuously-operating public art museum in the United States. Beginning in 1842, with only seventy-nine paintings and three sculptures, the museum now holds more than 50,000 pieces of both American and European art.
This July 4th holiday, I had the pleasure of celebrating America’s 250th Anniversary by experiencing the featured Framing American Democracy: Radical Roots and Contemporary Artists Reflect exhibits.
The Radical Roots exhibit begins with a portrait of Daniel Wadsworth, the founder of the museum, in his prime, but on the wall to the right, there is a painting of Daniel and his father, Jeremiah, in Europe after the Revolutionary War. It was John Trumbull who painted this portrait. His father, Johnathan Trumbull, served as Governor of Connecticut.
Jeremiah decided to take his young son, only 13 years old, to London with him. Daniel obtained great knowledge that was passed on to him. Following in his father’s footsteps, Daniel was able to achieve great things in establishing the museum. He paved the way for future American artists to find their inspiration here in the U.S. rather than constantly needing to travel to Europe to pursue their careers. This established the philosophy of the Wadsworth, founded in 1842: that is, to make great art accessible to anyone and everyone interested in learning.
The Radical Roots exhibit also features artwork by Frederic Edwin Church, a landscape painter born in Hartford, CT. He was a central figure in the Hudson River School of Arts and known for painting very large landscapes such as West Rock, New Haven, a piece that features three wanted Englishmen who hid out in Judges Cave from royal authorities. The locals supported the men in hiding by ensuring they had the essential resources like food and water as they remained in hiding. This portrait is one of many that depict the newfound independence in the young nation.
“While the exhibit not only shows artwork of monumental moments that served as the foundations of democracy, it also shows how artists express the need for democracy in our future. ”
Connecticut is known for its efforts in protecting democracy and relying on power that is derived from the consent of the governed, which remain key principles in our national government today. You can clearly see this in the legend of the famous Charter Oak Tree, where Connecticut officials sought to protect their state charter from the threat of tyranny carried by King James. In the exhibit, you can find remnants from the tree that sadly fell in a great summer storm of 1856. This exhibit is an excellent depiction of America’s “radical roots” that began right here in our home state of Connecticut. While the exhibit not only shows artwork of monumental moments that served as the foundations of democracy, it also shows how artists express the need for democracy in our future.
Moving on to the next part of the exhibit, titled Contemporary Artists Reflect, the exhibit shows how modern art continues to carry the same theme of democracy and freedom, and even goes further to demonstrate the variety of cultures that exist in our nation.
Modern art serves as a means of expression for all voices, while in the past, art signified great social status and was meant for certain people. Each individual artist conveys their own truth, and through the American value for freedom, artists continue to express what needs to be seen. The exhibit contains a quote from James Baldwin that states, “I love America more than any other country in the world and, exactly for this reason, I insist on the right to criticize her perpetually.”
I feel this quote is the heart of the exhibit as a whole. It suggests that America is truly a special nation because of its ability to change and grow, while also maintaining the values that make it the great nation it is today.
I highly suggest that you visit The Wadsworth to see these amazing pieces of art this summer to celebrate the 250th Anniversary of our nation, as this exhibit really shows us why our country is one worth celebrating. The Framing Democracy Radical Roots exhibit will close on September 27th, and the Contemporary Artists Reflect will close on September 13th.
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Alaina Uva will be beginning her junior year at Pomperaug High School in Southbury this fall, and has a growing interest in the intersection of art and history.
