The Crary Art Gallery is hosting events over the next two weekends which investigate some tragedies and heroics concerning art and artists in the wake of Nazi oppression and occupation.
Virtually every war is accompanied by plunder. But during World War II the appetite of the German high command for famous paintings was unprecedented. Systematically stealing the very best works they could locate, their efforts became a crime of immense proportion.
After the Allies triumphed, Charles Parkhurst, an art historian and museum director, was appointed by President Franklin Roosevelt to be the deputy chief of what became known as the Monuments Men. The Monuments Men was a group tasked with locating caches of art stolen by the Nazis.
Bruce Parkhurst, Charles' daughter, will offer some memories and insights as she introduces the video about the plundering of Europe. Her talk is titled "Doing Right: Lessons from the Monuments Men."
This video will screen at 7 p.m. Saturday, July 21, and the doors will open at 6:45 p.m Anyone wanting to know the title of the video, please ask at the gallery or visit the website at CraryGallery.org. The video is an award-winning, fascinating peek into one of the most shameful chapters of recent history. Both the talk and the video is open to the public and offered free of charge.
The following weekend at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, July 27 Dr. Herman Grishaver will present a powerpoint talk about the exhibition of prints and personal effects that closes the next day at the Crary. The artwork are a suite of prints by famous artists owned by Dr. Grishaver. They were created to commemorate the rescue of artists and others from persecution or near-certain death in World War II.
He and his family had a parallel experience in war-time Europe, and his presentation is far-ranging and moving. This is a repeat of the standing-room-only talk he gave at the opening reception, and will be given in response to others who were hoping to have a chance to see it after an article in the Times Observer mentioned it following the talk. This event is also free and open to the public, with doors opening at 6:15 p.m.
The Crary Art Gallery is located in downtown Warren at the intersection of 6th and Market Streets. Website: crarygallery.org.