DOYLESTOWN, PA.- The James A. Michener Art Museum is presenting George Sotter: Light and Shadow, the largest-ever survey of the work of George Sotter (1879-1953), a Bucks County-based artist best known for his winter nocturnes. In addition to a significant investigation of Sotters nocturnal landscapes, the exhibition features tranquil marines and sunlit landscapes he produced throughout his career, and introduces his work as a stained-glass artist. The exhibition will be on view through December 31, 2017.
George Sotter is one of the most revered artists from the New Hope art colony, and this landmark survey of his work is a powerful reminder of the importance of the Pennsylvania Impressionist movement in the history of American art, said Lisa Tremper Hanover, director and CEO of the Michener Art Museum. We are looking forward to welcoming many new and returning visitors to our galleries for this opportunity to see many striking works that are rarely, if ever, on public view.
In 1902, while studying at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, George Sotter discovered Bucks County. He spent that summer studying under Edward Redfield, who became a lifelong friend. After returning to his hometown of Pittsburgh to work in the stained glass studio of Horace Rudy and to teach at Carnegie Tech (now Carnegie Mellon University) for nearly ten years, Sotter moved to Bucks County permanently. There, he redirected his energy towards painting, frequently rendering sweeping panoramic vistas of Bucks County hills.
The exhibition is organized by guest curator Valerie Ann Leeds, Ph.D., and will be complemented by curator talks and a guest lecture. A catalogue accompanies the exhibition and is available for purchase ($19.95) in the Museum Shop.