"Wild West" comes to Athens

by Megan Kortemeyer
FOR THE POST

John McGann/The Post

Ohio University professor Art Werger of the School of Fine Arts demonstrates different printmaking techniques at a gallery talk for the opening of The Intimate Collaboration: Prints from the Teaberry Press at the Kennedy Museum of Art at The Ridges. The show, which features prints from several different artists, is on display until Feb. 4. The Walter Kuhn exhibit, also at the museum, will be on display until Jan. 28.

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There are many stories about the American West.

Tales of cowboys, bar room brawls and showdowns on deserted streets are etched into culture through movies, literature and art. A perfect example of this is now at the Kennedy Museum of Art in Lin Hall at The Ridges.

Walt Kuhn: An Imaginary History of the West includes 30 paintings by New York native Kuhn, whose fascination with the West began after a trip to San Francisco in 1900. The Kennedy Museum exhibit is a series of abstract figure paintings done between 1918 and 1920. Kuhn, like other modern artists, did not draw in dimensions but showed a strong interest in color.

Kuhn's paintings cover almost every aspect of Western life. Many of his paintings include Native Americans, cowboys, brothels and saloons.

His works entitled Wild West no. 1 and Wild West no. 2 are good examples of this. The paintings are simple, showing fights between Native Americans and cowboys. None of the figures' faces are drawn in detail, a style that is seen in several of his other works as well, but the outlines of the bodies are painted.

Combat utilizes the same technique of outlining figures and vivid background colors.

Kuhn's consistent use of color is effective when reds and oranges make the desert come to life.

While several of Kuhn's medium-sized paintings don't show much detail, his smaller works are just the opposite. Both Pequod and Warrior are portraits of Native Americans. Despite their physical size, they show a significant amount of detail.

The only negative aspect of Kuhn's works is his stereotypical portrayal of Native Americans. In some of his pieces, violent Native Americans are attacking white women. Although inaccurate, this portrayal was most likely typical in the time period.

Before becoming an artist, Kuhn held a variety of jobs ranging from tap dancer to professional bicycle racer. He entered into the art world as a cartoonist in New York. Despite the importance of his West paintings, he is almost exclusively identified with his portraits of circus and vaudeville performers.

Walt Kuhn: An Imaginary History of the Wes** will be on display at the Kennedy Museum of Art, Lin Hall, The Ridges through Jan. 28. Regular gallery hours are Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday 12-5 p.m.; Thursday 12-8 p.m.; and Saturday and Sunday 1-5 p.m. Admission and parking are free to the public. The Bobcat Express stops at The Ridges every half-hour daily through 5 p.m.