Owsley Museum To Feature Centennial Exhibition On Hoosier Impressionist Couple

Summertime, 1890, John Ottis Adams, American (1851-1927), oil on canvas, David Owsley Museum of Art; Frank C. Ball Collection, gift of the Ball Brothers Foundation, 1995.035.041Summertime, 1890, John Ottis Adams, American (1851-1927), oil on canvas, David Owsley Museum of Art; Frank C. Ball Collection, gift of the Ball Brothers Foundation, 1995.035.041

By: Rachel Buckmaster—

Muncie, IN — The David Owsley Museum of Art (DOMA) presents a special opportunity to view more than 90 works of art by Muncie’s most important Impressionist painters. “Impressions of Love: J. Ottis and Winifred Brady Adams, a Ball State University Centennial Exhibition” is on view from January 24 through May 19, 2019.

Commemorating Ball State’s Centennial with this unique exhibition, “Impressions of Love” celebrates the art and marriage of the noted painters, whose art was fostered and collected by the Ball family. Curated by Shaun Dingwerth, executive director of the Richmond Art Museum, the exhibition is the largest showcase of either artist’s work in more than 90 years. A catalogue published by the museum this Spring will accompany the exhibition.

While J. Ottis Adams (1851-1927) has been the subject of numerous exhibitions, “Impressions of Love” is the first to emphasize Winifred Brady Adams’ (1871-1955) career and talent as an academically-trained still-life painter. It features the greatest quantity of her works ever displayed — many of which have been seldom seen by the public. A large number of paintings and drawings by both artists has been assembled from significant regional institutions and private collections, including the Birmingham Museum of Art, the Indianapolis Museum of Art at Newfields, the Indiana State Museum, the Swope Museum, the Fort Wayne Art Museum, the Haan Museum, the Dailey Family Memorial Collection at Indiana University, Minnetrista, and more.

“This genial pair of artists encouraged the foundation of an art museum in Muncie about a century ago,” said Robert La France, director of DOMA. “They were also related to the Ball family, making them an ideal choice for celebrating Ball State University’s 100th anniversary. We are proud to reacquaint regional visitors with these foundational figures and their radiant Impressionist paintings, and hope that the accompanying exhibition catalogue will introduce a wider audience to the artists’ accomplishments.”

The exhibition at DOMA is free and open to the public, and the museum serves as the sole venue offering this rare glimpse into the artistic lives of the Hoosier couple.

DOMA is open seven days a week, and admission is always free. See bsu.edu/DOMA for hours and programs, including events for children and adults. Upcoming public programs related to “Impressions of Love” include:

February 14, 6 p.m.: Music in the Museum (a 5 p.m. reception precedes the performance of love songs and the exhibition will remain open until 8 p.m.)

February 16, 1:30–4:30 p.m.: Couples Painting Workshop ($30 per person or $25 for Ball State affiliate, $20 for DOMA Friends member. Space is limited, and registration required.)

March 17, 1:30–4:30 p.m.: Youth Painting Workshop (for ages 10–15. $30 or $25 for Ball State affiliate, $20 for DOMA Friends member. Space is limited, and registration required.)

April 11, 5–8 p.m.: Petty Memorial Lecture: Curator Shaun Dingwerth on “Impressions of Love.”

April 13, 1:30–4:30 p.m.: Adult Painting Workshop (Three CEUs available for K-12 teachers. $30 or $25 for Ball State affiliates, $20 for DOMA Friends members; no charge for Muncie Community Schools teachers. Space is limited, and registration required.)

April 27, 2:30 p.m.: Docent’s Choice Tour of “Impressions of Love” (free and open to the public; no registration required).

May 17-19: Art in Bloom 2019 will take place over the closing weekend of “Impressions of Love.” A Friday night ticketed reception is a museum fundraiser, and the floral designs will remain on view during open hours Saturday and Sunday.

Exhibition Support: This special exhibition is made possible by major support from the George and Frances Ball Foundation.

 

About the David Owsley Museum of Art at Ball State University
2021 W. Riverside Avenue, Muncie, Indiana

Free and open to the public, the David Owsley Museum of Art at Ball State University houses a world art collection with over 11,000 works from Africa, Asia, the Pacific Islands, Europe, and the Americas. DOMA cultivates lifelong learning and recreation in the visual arts through exciting interdisciplinary art exhibitions with engaging displays of the permanent collection in an educational environment that serves both the university and the East Central Indiana region. Website: bsu.edu/DOMA

Visitor hours are Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Saturday-Sunday, 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Free tours are available for groups. Parking is available at the McKinley Parking Garage and MITS bus stops are nearby. DOMA is located in the Fine Arts Building on the northern side of Ball State University’s Quad. For more information, call the museum at 765-285-5242 or email artmuseum@bsu.edu.

About Ball State University

Founded in 1918 and located in Muncie, Ball State is one of Indiana’s signature universities and an economic driver for the state. Ball State’s nearly 22,000 students come from all over Indiana, the nation, and the world, and its 780-acre campus is large enough to accommodate premier facilities and 19 NCAA Division I sports but small enough to ensure the friendliness, personal attention, and access that are the hallmarks of the University.