Churchill, Johnson Collection exhibitions extended at Wofford

Exhibitions of paintings by Sir Winston Churchill and works by various artists of the Carolina mountains from The Johnson Collection at Wofford College have been extended through Sunday, Sept. 24. The exhibits, on display in the Richardson Family Art Museum in the Rosalind Sallenger Richardson Center for the Arts, were scheduled to end this weekend.

“The extension of the exhibitions allows visitors to Wofford’s campus for our annual Family Weekend, Sept. 22 through Sept. 24, to view these important works,” says Youmi Efurd, curator and cultural events coordinator at Wofford. “We are very excited to be able to have these exhibitions here for an extended period of time so that more visitors may see these excellent paintings and artifacts.”

Hours for Saturday, Sept. 23, will be extended, with the museum being open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and hours for Sunday, Sept. 24, will be from 1 to 5 p.m.The museum usually is closed on Sunday. Other than these two exceptions, the hours for the museum remain the same: Tuesday through Saturday, 1 to 5 p.m., with extended hours on Thursday to 9 p.m.; closed Sunday and Monday.

Admission is free.

“Passion for Painting: The Art of Sir Winston,” on display on the lower level of the museum, offers a unique opportunity to view paintings rarely seen in North America. Bringing together 10 paintings from the esteemed collection of the family of the late Julian Sandys, grandson of Churchill, and from the collection of the National Churchill Museum, the exhibition surveys both Churchill’s landscapes and seascapes, the artist-statesman’s favorite subjects. Beginning with his work from the 1920s, the paintings on view represent four of the five decades in which Churchill pursued what was for him the greatest of hobbies.

The exhibition is a collaboration between the National Churchill Museum at Westminster College in Fulton, Missouri, and Wofford College. It also includes several objects from the permanent collection of the National Churchill Museum, including a cigar humidor given to Churchill by the people and government of Cuba (1946); a top hat signed by Churchill, President Roosevelt and Joseph Stalin (1945); and a rare dispatch box from Churchill’s time as chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (1915). Also on view will be several items from Churchill’s visit to Westminster College, where he delivered his most significant post-war speech, the “Sinews of Peace,” commonly known as the “Iron Curtain Speech” on March 5, 1946.

Timothy Riley, curator for the National Churchill Museum, will present a lecture at 6 tonight (Friday, Sept. 15) at a reception in the Jerome Johnson Richardson Theatre in the Rosalind Sallenger Richardson Center for the Arts. The reception and lecture are free and open to the public.

“The Mountains Are Calling: High Seasons in the Carolinas from the Johnson Collection,” on the upper level of the museum, features works as varied as their makers – from the majestic, highly detailed 19th century panoramas by William Frerichs and Andrew Melrose to the ethereal, impressionistic views by Lawrence Mazzanovich and Margaret Law.

In sweeping scenes atop iconic peaks to vignettes of secluded woodland streams, both native-born and visiting artists expressed their reverence for the Appalachian’ Southern province. The ephemerality of nature offered additional possibilities for creative exploration by considering seasonal changes. Vibrant fall foliage gives way to snow-covered summits before bursting with lively flora and humid haze – all transient conditions rendered permanent by the artist’s brush.

The Johnson Collection offers an extensive survey of artistic activity in the American South from the late 18th century to the present day. The Johnson family is committed to creating a collection that captures and illuminates the rich history and diverse cultures of the region. By making masterworks from its holdings available for critical exhibitions and academic research, the collection hopes to advance interest in the dynamic role that the art of the South plays in the larger context of American art and to contribute to the canon of art historical literature. The collection also seeks to enrich its local community by inviting the public to interact with these inspiring works of art. Wofford College and the Johnson Collection enjoy a partnership that includes opportunities for students to serve as visiting curators of exhibits from the collection.

Wofford College, established in 1854, is a four-year, residential liberal arts college located in Spartanburg, S.C. It offers 25 major fields of study to a student body of 1,650 undergraduates. Nationally known for the strength of its academic program, outstanding faculty, study abroad participation and successful graduates, Wofford is home to one of the nation’s 283 Phi Beta Kappa chapters. The college community enjoys Greek Life as well as 19 NCAA Division I athletics teams.