The Mission Church by Kenneth Miller Adams (1897-1966)
This is a rather pastoral view of a Mission Church in New Mexico, painted before 1925. Kenneth Miller Adams, the artist was the last of the Taos painters, the art colony that flourished in Taos, New Mexico in the early 20th Century.
Adams, was born in Topeka, Kansas in 1897. He studied at the Art Institute of Chicago and the Art Students League in New York, and was considered a modernist. He admired the Taos Indians and used many of them as subjects for his art.
After teaching at the University of New Mexico in Taos, he earned a tenured professorship and a membership in the National Academy of Design. At one time he worked for the Federal Art Project where he was able to earn $42.50 per week, more than he could make as an art professor, never able to make a living from his art alone.
Modernism in art used ideas and methods which were very different from those used in the past, challenging the idea that art must be realistic and experimented with use of color, new techniques and mediums.
If you look at this painting, you can see that shapes are what stand out, the trees are realistic but the church and bright green color used in front are leaning toward the abstract.
This is an oral interview where Mr. Adams talks about his work for the Federal Art Project.
http://www.aaa.si.edu/collections/interviews/oral-history-interview-kenneth-m-adams-11704
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Adams, was born in Topeka, Kansas in 1897. He studied at the Art Institute of Chicago and the Art Students League in New York, and was considered a modernist. He admired the Taos Indians and used many of them as subjects for his art.
After teaching at the University of New Mexico in Taos, he earned a tenured professorship and a membership in the National Academy of Design. At one time he worked for the Federal Art Project where he was able to earn $42.50 per week, more than he could make as an art professor, never able to make a living from his art alone.
Modernism in art used ideas and methods which were very different from those used in the past, challenging the idea that art must be realistic and experimented with use of color, new techniques and mediums.
If you look at this painting, you can see that shapes are what stand out, the trees are realistic but the church and bright green color used in front are leaning toward the abstract.
This is an oral interview where Mr. Adams talks about his work for the Federal Art Project.
http://www.aaa.si.edu/collections/interviews/oral-history-interview-kenneth-m-adams-11704
This painting has a very relaxing feel which I like. Interesting about the art movement too.
ReplyDeleteThere are such contrasting paintings, not all peaceful, but this fit the "A" category. Indians, bad guys and good guys coming up!
DeleteI agree with Nick that this painting is very relaxing - you can feel the peace and quiet and the sunlight against your skin. An artist I had never heard of but very interesting to hear his story. So lovely to get back in touch through the A to Z challenge :)
ReplyDeleteGlad to see you back. Have fun with the challenge.
ReplyDeleteThe Taos movement was new to me, until I picked up a magazine Cowboys and Ranches. What amazing art.
ReplyDeleteOver from the A2Z!
I will have to check out that magazine. Oh, so much to learn! Thanks Susan.
DeleteI do not know much about art, but this is indeed a beautiful painting. Good luck with the A to Z challenge !
ReplyDeleteThank you for stopping by. I think we all know what we like, not all of us agree, but art is subjective.
ReplyDeleteHi Nat - so pleased you're doing art again .. so interesting to appreciate more through your eyes. I am becoming more aware of art .. and watched an interesting tv programme last night on art in the Welsh Mining Valleys - very raw .. reminded me of the Quarry Men art I posted today for my A for art ...
ReplyDeleteCheers and looking forward to more of these - Hilary
I saw the painting, tells so much. Art is so subjective and I am learning every day doing this blog as well as reading others.
DeleteThat's a wonderful painting. I live in southern New Mexico and truly appreciate the state's beauty.
ReplyDeleteLucky you. I wish I could live part of the time in New Mexico. Am planning to go to Santa Fe this summer, sadly only a few days.
DeleteVery pretty painting. I don't generally think of NM having a lot of greenery.
ReplyDeleteIt doesn't seem to, does it. But I think in certain seasons it shows more green.
ReplyDeleteThe colors are beautiful.
ReplyDeleteI have tried to "copy" what I think are easy paintings and I find that they are not. Trying to match colors is one challenge.
DeleteRelaxed is a good description. It's a very pleasant picture, restful. It certainly conjures up the ideas one has of the area.
ReplyDeleteI think we all need a restful place, at times, perhaps in our mind.
DeleteAnd the scene in Taos New Mexico looks almost exactly the same as then.
ReplyDeleteSo true, when I am there things look timeless, at least to me.
ReplyDeleteI could just stare and easily relax with this painting :)
ReplyDeleteI'm reading more about Taos now. It's my first time to learn about this place.
I like this style of painting, and the colors too. I know nothing about Taos, so I've learned something from your post! New Mexico was one of those places I passed through on my way somewhere else. A friend of mine used to live in Albuquerque but we've lost touch.
ReplyDeleteI think with your art background you would enjoy Santa Fe. It's only 6 driving hours away from our home in Colorado, but you feel you are in a different place (not quite like Paris though).
DeleteA beautiful painting to sit and get absorbed in. I don't know anything about painting, but would love to take the time some day to learn about the nuances that make it such a fascinating subject.
ReplyDeleteThe painting shows the quiet side of the Southwest, historically though, not so quiet. Thanks for stopping by.
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