Extended to July 26, 2020
Plant life blooms early this spring in paintings by James Brewer at the Bone Creek Museum of Agrarian Art. A new exhibition, Garden Symphonies, opened Wednesday Feb. 19 and planned to run through April 19, but has been extended to July 26. The museum’s south gallery will be filled with huge blossoms of color.
James Brewer of Heartwell, Nebr. has quietly been making art in his home studio for decades. After serving in the military, he earned a BFA from Miami University, Oxford, Ohio in 1975 and an MFA from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 1980. Between those degrees he studied at the Art Students League in New York City. Despite these professional degrees, Brewer has worked outside of fine art conventions. Brewer made his living in blue collar positions to leave time and space to paint. Since retirement in 2011, activity has blossomed, inspired by the garden surrounding Brewer’s studio.
Bone Creek has curated this collection of vibrant Midwestern perennials: zinnias, sunflowers, iris and daylilies that cover all edges of the canvas. The fragrance is almost palpable. Some paintings are treated with a greater attention to realism than others. While Brewer may consider some of his best work to be abstract, he has the heart of an agrarian artist.
Brewer is humble about his talents. As his artist statement reveals, Brewer paints simply because he loves it. “It is my hope that you get as much of a kick from the pictures as I,” writes Brewer.
Bone Creek Museum has persistently promoted its mission to connect people to the land through art for more than a decade. The most notable artist in the permanent collection is David City native Dale Nichols, whose artworks form the heart of the collection. Through exhibitions and educational programming, the museum celebrates rural heritage and educates visitors of all ages about historic and current agrarian issues worldwide. “Bone Creek is delighted to host this vibrant exhibition alongside its esteemed agrarian art collection and to give an early welcome to the long-anticipated spring season,” said Gabrielle Comte, gallery and collections manager.
Limited edition greeting cards in two of Brewer’s images are available in the online museum shop.
