AMHERST, MA.- The Mead Art Museum presents the exhibit George Bellows: A Ringside SEAT through December 10. Born in Columbus, Ohio, George Bellows was part of the Ashcan School of painters who sought to paint life as they saw it, without embellishment or pretension. His paintings display a vibrant palette and lively brushwork, and capture the world he inhabited. He is known for his lush landscapes, poignant portraits of family and friends, and incisive scenes of life in the urban tenement. Bellows was a proficient draftsman and printmaker, and his drawings and prints offer passionate vignettes that investigate life in the boxing ring, as well as social injustices, the agonies of war, and other socio-political issues. Amherst College and the Mead Art Museum are fortunate to have a rich collection of works by George Bellows, as well as his personal papers and memorabilia. Using works from the permanent collection and Frost Special Collections, the exhibition will examine four themes that Bellows repeatedly explored during his short life: his family, sports (particularly life in the boxing ring), social and political injustice, and his immediate environment.