The Art of It
Cambridge Valley , 1943 , Oil on pressed wood , 24 x 29 3 / 4 inches ; Museum purchase , funds provided by exchange from the Channing Hare-Mountfort Coolidge Collection , Anna Mary Robertson “ Grandma " Moses ( 1860-1961 ), © Grandma Moses Properties , New York .
Bennington Museum opens a new , permanent Grandma Moses gallery
Renowned for her self-taught artistry and her evocative depictions of rural life , Grandma Moses captivated the American public during the mid-20th century . Born Anna Mary Robertson in 1860 , Grandma Moses emerged as a quintessential figure in 20th-century American folk art . Over the past five decades , Bennington Museum has built the largest public collection of Grandma Moses artworks in the world , which encompasses dozens of paintings and thousands of personal artifacts , photographs , and documents . With the recent acquisition of 5 works by Moses , Bennington Museum is reimagining the artist ’ s legacy with a new permanent exhibition and gallery space .
“ We ’ re embracing the fact that people come from far and wide to see her work here at Bennington Museum with this exhibition ,” says Bennington Museum ’ s Executive Director Martin Mahoney , “ and we ’ re proud to be able to present it in this newly renovated space .”
Bennington Museum ’ s five recently acquired Grandma Moses paintings , Mt . Nebo in Winter , Cambridge Valley , Sugaring Off , Old Times , and The Great Fire ( The Burning of Troy in 1862 ) are housed in a gallery area that celebrates her life and artistry . The expanded exhibition space opened to the public on March 28 , 2024 . It connects Bennington Museum ’ s main gallery to the on-site Grandma Moses Schoolhouse through a hallway , and its walls are lined with her paintings , as well as historic archival materials . Highlights include her early needlework , an 18th-century table used as her painting surface , and a trove of pictures and documents . The exhibition was made possible through extensive community support , including a generous contribution by Lyman Orton , a passionate art collector .
“ The community has really come together with this exhibit ,” says Mahoney . “ The Moses name is well-known throughout popular culture , and she represents a pivotal era in the folk-art movement . She paved the way for others as a self-taught artist . Her story is inspiring , and it still resonates today .”
96 manchester life | manchesterlifemagazine . com