The Annual Berks County Art Show

September 22, 2015

The annual Berks County Art Show will be held at Greshville Antiques and Fine Art on Sunday, Oct. 4, through Sunday, Oct. 11. Promoting the works by Berks County artists from 1850-1950, it's the only show of its kind. This annual show is held for only eight days and averages an attendance of 2,500-3,000 art enthusiasts. Greshville Antiques and Fine Art is located at 1041 Reading Ave. (Route 562) in Boyertown, Pa.
Owners Kurt and Valerie Malmberg have specialized in the school of Berks County artists for over 30 years. Their research and documentation piloted a national interest in this regional art and led to the publication of several articles and books. Their continuing effort to purchase and document Berks County art from across the country affirms their commitment to the local heritage of Berks County, Pa.
Featured in this year's show will be approximately 100 museum quality paintings. Oil paintings, watercolors, and prints will be exhibited at this show, with all works available for purchase and guaranteed as represented.
Included will be several works by Ben Austrian (1870-1921), Berks County's most noted artist. These will include tonal landscapes and his famous renderings of chicks. Austrian gained national recognition in the early 1900s as the originator of the Bon Ami chick logo, a single chick and broken egg shell with the phrase, "Hasn't scratched yet." A prime example of his popular work is the rendition of chicks in a fancy slipper titled "Watch Us Grow." Found in a house in New England, this oil-on-canvas was painted by Austrian in 1903 and retains its original frame. The back of the painting retains original paperwork of the Brown & Bigelow Publishing Company, who chose this piece to be reproduced into a color print. Brown & Bigelow, seven years in business at this time, printed other images of Austrian's work and eventually grew into a leading publishing company of the 20th century, utilizing artwork from Norman Rockwell, Maxfield Parrish, pinup artist Alfred Buell, and others.
Christopher H. Shearer (1846-1926) was the most prolific of the artists of Berks County, primarily painting landscapes. Included in the exhibition for sale is a one-owner collection of paintings by Shearer that had been purchased directly from the artist himself and involves works of all types and sizes. From miniature pencil and ink drawings to larger canvases of landscapes, this group of works is comprehensive. Of particular interest is a highly detailed farm scene, atypical of Shearer's work. Only recently acquired, time has not permitted adequate research to identify the location, but it would appear that the artist had an attachment to this homestead. This is one of several landscapes by Shearer to be exhibited at this show.
Another alluring painting is an early 20th-century oil-on-board signed “Lew Bloom.” Small in size, it depicts sheep on a dirt road on their journey home, accompanied by a sunset. Being unfamiliar with Bloom, research was in order, and a fascinating story emerged, again "beyond the paint." Bloom (1859-1929) was a Vaudeville performer, art collector, art dealer, and painter. The remarkable tale of his life includes his infamous involvement in the fraudulent Mary Todd Lincoln portrait.
There are several other paintings representing not only the 19th century countryside of Berks County, but also its bridges, buildings, and waterways. These include works by Frederick Spang, Mary B. Leisz,, E. S. Reeser, V. Shearer and John H. Raser.
Wildlife paintings by local artists are also included in this year's show, with works by Earl Poole, Conrad Roland, and Randy Rowe.
The Greshville Antiques and Fine Art gallery is located in an 18th century Pennsylvania German stone barn that was renovated several years ago by the Malmbergs. The Malmbergs also specialize in 19th and 20th century American and European art and quality American clocks and furniture. They are members of several local and national antiques and historical organizations and participate in local lectures, shows, and charity appraisal days.
For more information, call Valerie Malmberg at 610-367-0076 or visit www.greshvilleantiques.com.

 

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