Chadds Ford, PA -- An exhibition at the Brandywine Museum of Art in Chadds Ford, PA brings together the works of Andrew Wyeth centering on his time spent painting at the Kuerner Farm.
Kuerner Farm, now a National Historic Landmark, was just steps away from Wyeth's painting studio in Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania. He spent decades of his life getting to know the Kuerner family at the farm and he eventually incorporated Karl and Anna into his iconic works of art.
He painted landscapes of the area, interiors of the farmhouse and portraits of the people at the farm going about their daily life. The farm is now steeped in art history and for avid Andrew Wyeth fans, it's like stepping into the paintings themselves.
Susan Malikowski is taking the plein air class. She says, "It's widely known to some as one of Andrew Wyeth's favorite places to come paint. And I think you kind of capture some of the echoes of what inspired him. And a lot of that has to do with Karl and his retelling of stories."
The Kuerner family along with the Brandywine Conservancy helped preserve the farm as a landmark in art history and a space for the public. It looks very similar to when Andrew Wyeth painted here.
Plein air classes taught by Karl's grandson, Karl J. Kuerner, bring a further opportunity for art historians to paint exactly what Andrew Wyeth saw and experienced.
Karl J. Kuerner who teaches the students and gives them guidance throughout the multi-week course says, "It's exciting to see what other people other than Andrew Wyeth can bring to the table. It makes me feel really special that they have the respect to come here. And have the respect for Andy."
The exhibit at the museum features close to 50 works from public and private collections. As art fans poured into the exhibit area, curator William Coleman explains how unique this collection really is.
He says, "Some of these preliminary drawings have never seen the light of the day. And you see a young, ambitious artist finding his way, building toward some of the things that have become absolutely iconic in the history of art."
The exhibit runs through September 28th at Brandywine Museum of Art then travels to Florida.
For more information about the museum and to check out upcoming exhibitions you can visit them at https://www.brandywine.org.