'Unknown Blakelock' offers comprehensive view of artist's work, vision

Presenting more than 40 paintings on view together for the first time, "The Unknown Blakelock" offers a grand vision of the work of Ralph Albert Blakelock (1847-1919) beginning Jan. 25 at Sheldon Memorial Art Gallery.

Sheldon has organized the exhibition with works from its collections and loans from 34 museums and collectors throughout the country. In October, the exhibition will be on view at the National Academy Museum and School of Fine Arts in New York City.

Known as a 19th-century tonalist painter, Blakelock has been historically associated with two dominant themes -- moonlight scenes and Indian encampments. Critics have largely overlooked the painter's broader accomplishments, which have been obscured by his tragic mental illness and numerous forgeries produced in his style.

Modern art scholars, including Norman Geske, Sheldon director emeritus, in his recently published "Beyond Madness: The Art of Ralph Albert Blakelock," find a proto-modern vision in the artist's works and his influence on several generations of 20th-century painters.

This exhibition's more comprehensive view of Blakelock's work includes Western and Jamaican landscapes, shanty scenes, seascapes, still lifes and imaginary/fantasy compositions.

One gallery in the exhibition will be devoted to the authentication of Blakelock's work. In 1969, Geske established the Nebraska Blakelock Inventory at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln to analyze paintings attributed to the artist.

The exhibition opens Jan. 25, with Geske's 5:30 p.m. keynote address titled, "Why Blakelock?" in the Ethel S. Abbott Auditorium. A public reception will follow his address.

A symposium beginning at 9 a.m. Jan. 26 will feature three speakers:

* Glyn Vincent, author of "The Unknown Night: The Genius and Madness of R. A. Blakelock," will speak on "Demythologizing Blakelock: Influences on His Art and Life."

* Mark D. Mitchell, curator of American Art, Philadelphia Museum of Art and former curator, National Academy Museum, New York, will offer a talk titled, "Blakelock in Color: Toward a New Appreciation."

* William D. Spaulding, a professor of psychology at UNL, will give a talk titled "Schizophrenia and Artistic Achievement -- Reflections of a Psychopathologist."

The registration fee for the Blakelock Symposium is $25 per person at the door or $20 before Jan. 26. Students with a college or high school identification may register free. To preregister, call Monica Babcock at (402) 472-2463 or send a check to the Blakelock Symposium at Sheldon, P.O. Box 680300, Lincoln, NE 68588-0300. Admission to the keynote address and to the exhibition are free.

A gallery guide and catalogue will accompany the exhibition, which runs through April 6. The Blakelock paintings in the exhibition will be reinstalled at Sheldon in May with works from the museum's permanent collection to illustrate the artist's influence on contemporary American painters. The reinstallation will be on view through August.

The exhibition and publications are funded by the Henry Luce Foundation and the Wyeth Foundation for American Art, as well as Ameritas Charitable Foundation, the Nebraska Arts Council, Ethel S. Abbott Charitable Foundation, Friends of Norman Geske, the Geske Paris Travelers and the Nebraska Art Association.

The museum, 12th and R streets on the UNL City Campus, is open to the public Tuesday through Sunday. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday, and noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday. For information or to arrange a tour, call (402) 472-2461. Additional information is available on the Sheldon Web site, www.sheldon.unl.edu.