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Wyeth Day

INFORMATIONAL LETTER NO: 109
POLICY CODE: IHAF

 

TO: Superintendent of Schools, Curriculum Leaders, Visual Arts Teachers
FROM: Susan A. Gendron, Commissioner
DATE: June 11, 2009
RE: Wyeth Day

The Legislature passed and the Governor has signed An Act To Designate July 12th as Wyeth Day in recognition of the birthday of Andrew Wyeth, one of America’s great artists.

The annual observance on July 12th is established to honor Andrew Wyeth who passed away on January 16, 2009, and who had long and lasting ties with this State. Andrew Wyeth would have been 92 on July 12th. The Wyeth family has made strong contributions to the State’s artistic and cultural heritage. Along with Andrew, the family includes Andrew’s father N.C. who died in 1945 and son Jamie who lives and works in Maine.

Andrew Wyeth is a Maine treasure and known throughout the world. In 2007 he received the National Medal of Arts from George W. Bush.

It was at the Olson farm in Cushing, Maine that Andrew painted his most famous image, Christina’s World, in 1948, and he continued over the next 50 years to paint Maine people and places. Many of the works of art are part of the Farnsworth Art Museum collection in Rockland where a 19th century church has been transformed into the Wyeth Center.

In accordance with the legislation the Department of Education is making information available to the people and the schools of Maine. Resources are included at the Department’s arts education webpage at http://www.maine.gov/education/lres/vpa/standards.html

The following activities are planned for July 12th at the Farnsworth, the Olson House and the Strand Theater in Rockland:

  • 11:00 AM: Walk-in tours of Andrew Wyeth’s work and world at Farnsworth’s Hadlock and Wyeth Study Center galleries.
  • 1:00 PM: Author of the book ”The Art of Andrew Wyeth”, Professor Wanda Corn will discuss a selection of paintings from the artist’s career in an illustrated interview with Farnsworth Director of Education Roger Dell. FMI http://www.rocklandstrand.com/detail.html?id=494
  • 3:00 PM: Olson House docents will share the story of Wyeth’s soulful connection to this isolated saltwater farm. FMI http://www.farnsworthmuseum.org/

If you have questions, please contact Argy Nestor, Visual and Performing Arts Specialist, Department of Education @ argy.nestor@maine.gov .