TAM Docents: Brooklyn Crucifixion

Hello Docents-

I leave for a week and your email has peace. I return and you get inundated!

Below is more information about Brooklyn Crucifixion as shared by Karin Morris.

Thanks for being such great sources of information!

-Jana

 

Jana Wennstrom | TACOMA ART MUSEUM

Manager of Public and Volunteer Programs

T: 253.272.4258 x3030

 

embrace art in everyday life ♥ Folk Treasures of Mexico ♥ October 29 - February 19

 

 

Jana, here is some info on the new addition in the Seafirst exhibit.

 

The new picture by Bo Bartlett in the New Aquisitions exhibit "Brooklyn Crucifixion" was inspired by Chaim Potok's book " My name is Asher Lev". This book deals with the tensions of a Hassidic jew in Brooklyn who finds that he has an innate talent for painting - he is happiest when he paints - and the rejection of his father and his Jewish community of his talent and thus of him. The struggle of  trying to reconcile his talent and thus his own identity with the traditions of his Jewish faith is at the core of this book. "Brooklyn Crucifixion" is Bo Bartlett's visual interpretation of this struggle. Perhaps the crucified woman might represent Asher's mother to whom he was close but who also suffered under the father's strictness. 

 

Bo Bartlett keeps one residence on Vashon Island, others in Maine and the Midwest. He is a realist painter who focuses on peopled landscapes often with psychological themes.

Besides getting formal training he studied with Andrew Wyeth who was his mentor. He is also highly influenced by Winslow Homer and Eakins.

His works are in major national collections and exhibitions.