MSU professor to speak about history of modernism in Montana art

Dr. Michele Corriel, an Assistant Teaching Professor at MSU-Bozeman, will present a virtual lecture at 2pm on Saturday, September 24 at the Blaine County Museum in Chinook. Corriel will describe the work of artist Jessie Wilbur who produced the 20 prints of Blackfeet tipis currently on display at the museum and describe Wilbur's role in introducing modernism to artists in Montana during the 1940's. The presenter will also discuss her new book "The Montana Modernists: Shifting Perspectives on Western Art." The new book will be available from the Washington State University Press this fall.

Dr. Corriel is the author of six earlier books. Her 45-minute lecture will begin at 2pm in the documentary theater at the county museum. The lecture will be followed by a short period for live questions and answers with the presenter. For those who cannot attend in person, the lecture will be available remotely via Zoom (Zoom connection will be posted on the museum's Facebook page closer to the actual event).

Modernism's influence on art in the nation and Montana

Modernism as an artistic and cultural movement began to affect work by American artists at the turn of the 20th century. It was a way of doing art that better represented reality in a more industrialized world. Modernism marked the increased use of cubism in landscapes, still-life and portraits. Brighter colors were used by painters and paintings took a more "non-objective" turn. Modernist painting shined a light on the emotional and psychic states of the audience rather than capturing how a place or subject actually appeared.

Museum Director Sam French said she was surprised when the introductory panel accompanying the current Blackfeet tipi design exhibit had no mention of who made the prints. Through research French learned the prints were created by Jessie Wilbur who came to Montana State College (now MSU-Bozeman) in 1941. Wilbur, along with other art faculty who joined the college in the 1940's, helped introduce modernism at the college and was instrumental in creating the school's first full-fledged art department. That group formed the core of the modernist movement in Montana. Wilbur headed the art department in the 1950's and taught painting, printmaking and drawing until she retired in 1972.

Jessie Wilbur did the prints for the current Blackfeet tipi design exhibit but the actual designs of the tipis were collected by a colleague, Olga Ross Hannon. Hannon spearheaded a project at MSU to preserve the designs of the painted lodges of the Blackfeet Indians by means of a silk screening process. Wilbur used those prints to create the images used in the current display of tipi designs.

Asked if modernism affected Charlie Russell, likely Montana's most well-known painter and artist, Sam French said, "Charlie Russell was in many ways an outlier of the modernist painters. But, while most of his paintings were nostalgic and more "looking back rather than looking to the future," he did incorporate some elements and techniques of modernism in to his paintings." She added, "I've read that he attended modernist seminars back east and some of his paintings did incorporate elements of modernism."

The lecture by Dr. Corriel set for September 24

The lecture can be experienced in either of two ways. Per museum Director Sam French, "The preferred way is for people to come to the Blaine County Museum and be a part of an audience that will hear the lecture and share questions directly with Dr. Corriel via technology." Or, folks can sign in to Zoom on the day and time of the lecture and be a part of the audience that way (French said she will post the Zoom address to use before the day of the lecture at: http://www.facebook.com/blainemuseum).

The lecture will be held on Saturday, September 24 at 2pm. Museum Director French encourages people to come a few minutes early, or stay after the one-hour lecture, to view the exhibit of the Blackfeet tipi designs. Refreshments will follow the lecture.

The museum will be open seven days a week from 9am-5pm through Sunday, October 1. Winter hours will begin after that date.