The Ashby Collection - Part Two
FAYETTE, Mo. – The second part of an exhibition of the remarkable Ashby
art collection opened in The Ashby-Hodge Gallery of American Art on the
Central Methodist College campus Jan. 23 and ran through early March,
said Dr. Joe Geist, curator of the gallery.
Titled "The Way We Were: Dr. Ashby’s Favorite Artists," the memorial
show featured more than 50 works of American art from the collection of
the late Dr. Lawrence D. Ashby of Pekin, Ill. The works have been
provided to The Ashby-Hodge Gallery for its permanent collection. Pieces
to be shown include acrylics, oils, watercolors, pastels and bronze
sculpture. Dr. Ashby died Nov. 28 at his home in Pekin, Ill., at the age
of 80.
Among the works being shown are pieces by American artists Charles Banks
Wilson, who was born in Oklahoma in 1918 and is still an active artist
from his home in Fayetteville, Ark.; Fred Irvin of California, who was
born in 1914 in Chillicothe, Mo., and active in national art circles for
more than a half century; Roger Medearis, who was born in Fayette in
1920 and is still active as an artist from his home in California; and
Aaron Bohrod (1907-1992).
"The Ashby-Hodge Gallery will always be grateful to Dr. Ashby for his
inspirational guidance at the inception and through the seven-year
existence of the Gallery," Geist said. "Dr. Ashby’s interest in art
began many years ago, and his collection exemplifies his exquisite taste
and knowledge. His first-hand acquaintance with many of the artists in
the collection can be seen in the archival material in the Gallery.
"Dr. Ashby loved the Midwestern artists of the first part of the 20th
century, and the Ashby Collection testifies to what that era of art was
all about and what those artists added to the history of American art.
We are fortunate to have the Ashby Collection as the main focus of our
Gallery and to be able to show it in future years. Dr. Ashby’s heritage
will live on in a magnificent and magnanimous way via the collection."
The Ashby-Hodge Gallery of American Art opened in October 1993 at
Central Methodist College. In addition to Dr Ashby and his wife, Loretta
Ashby, its benefactors include Dr. Robert and Anna Mae Besgrove Hodge of
Kansas City. "From the very beginning, the central focus of the Gallery
was the Ashby Collection," said Dr. Geist. "The collection started with
92 works and has now grown to over 150 works." Geist said the collection
emphasizes Midwestern regionalist artists of the 20th century, with a
special interest in the students of Thomas Hart Benton.
