Matt Foss, director
Often, the Woodson Art Museum makes the decision not to honor a Master Wildlife Artist during anniversary years, putting the focus on the entirety of the exhibition and the artists comprising it. For the 50th edition of Birds in Art, shining the focus on the exhibition itself, including the 41 Past Master Wildlife Artists, was the right call.
With no Master Wildlife artist, the slot for the guest talk that typically occupies Saturday morning during the public opening of the exhibition was wide open. However, once we knew the Museum’s permanent collection galleries would feature Cultivating Beauty: 25 Years of Nancy Woodson Spire Acquisitions, which includes seven of the Museum’s artworks from the Wyeth family, the choice was clear.
Since the age of 14, Victoria Wyeth, niece of Jamie Wyeth, granddaughter of Andrew Wyeth, and great-granddaughter of N.C. Wyeth, has been chronicling her family’s history and legacy, providing lectures across the country on how her family has captivated decades of art lovers around the world. Fortunately for us, Victoria was available and excited about coming to the Museum to speak about her family’s multi-generational fascination with birds, often using them as subjects in their artwork.
On Saturday, Victoria captivated audiences with a lecture on how her family members went about making their work, and what truly inspired them (and continues to inspire her uncle Jamie). It was a powerful experience to hear about what it was like growing up in such a fascinating and creative family. Her childhood was by no means traditional, but defined who she is today, and sets the stage for why she continues to preserve and protect her family’s legacy.
For many of us who love and appreciate art, N.C., Andrew, and Jamie Wyeth remain luminaries, guiding a style and aesthetic that has been admired, sometimes criticized, and frequently copied for decades.
For Victoria, it’s not Andrew and Jamie Wyeth, but Andy and Uncle Jamie. The love she carries for both was evident, bringing them within reach of those in the crowd. In one transfixing hour, we too were brought into Victoria’s world, a place that will live in memories for those in attendance. We’re grateful to her for sharing it with us.
