Missoula Art Museum
335 North Pattee Missoula, MT 59802
T: 406.728.0447
F: 406.543.8691 Contact the MAM
MAM is overjoyed to report the acquisition into our
permanent collection of thirty works by adored
Bozeman
artist and grande dame of
Montana's
modernist movement, Gennie DeWeese. (Below left: Gennie DeWeese, Totem Period, No Date)
Born in
Indianapolis,
IN in 1921, Gennie received her BFA from
Ohio
State
University in 1942 and a teaching certificate from
the
University of
Michigan in 1943. She and
her husband, the late Bob DeWeese, a beloved artist and professor at Montana
State University, moved to Bozeman in 1949 and raised five, creative children.
Gracefully combining domestic life with an uninterrupted artistic career
spanning over 60 years, Gennie made a lasting contribution as a painter and
printmaker, teacher and mentor, as well as curator and advocate for the arts.
Formal, playful, and displaying sparkling wit, these works
span every era of Gennie's lengthy career, from a simple still life dated 1940,
to painterly non-objective works of the 50's and 60's, to deeply personal works
completed shortly before here passing. The MAM is privileged to be caretakers
of these wonderful paintings which include works in oil and cattle marker on masonite
and paper, as well as several of her famous "scroll paintings."
Last August, MAM was invited to Gennie's studio in
Bozeman by her children
(and fine artists in their own right) Tina and Josh DeWeese to select artworks.
Planning on choosing no more than 15 works, but leaving with 30, MAM was
honored by both the opportunity to acquire these works as well as sharing a
summer's afternoon of exchanging heart warming stories about Gennie with Tina
and Josh.
The Missoula Art Museum collects, preserves, exhibits and researches art that is relevant to the culture of the American West with an emphasis on contemporary Montana artists.
MAM is responsible for nearly 1,000 objects representing the best of this region's contemporary art. The growing significance of the MAM Collection was a major factor in the museum's decision to expand in size and professional capabilities. With increased gallery space, MAM made a commitment to always having an exhibition with rotating collection exhibition on view. Check out our current exhibitions to see what's showing now.