UpDate - Vol. 15, No. 3, Page 3
September 14, 1995
On the road; Wyeth original from UD collection in exhibition

     Woodchopper" by Andrew Wyeth, a watercolor in the University's
Permanent Collection, has been featured in a Wyeth retrospective
exhibition. The touring exhibition has been shown in Japan at the
Aichi Prefectural Museum of Art in Nagoya, the Bunkamura Museum of Art
in Tokyo and the Prefectural Museum in Fukushima. It is now at the
Nelson-Atkins Museum in Kansas City until November.
     The painting, also known as "Willard," has been reproduced in the
Japanese and American editions of the exhibition's catalog. The
American version of the catalog has been chosen as a Book-of-the-Month
Club selection for the fall, according to University archivist Jean
Brown, curator of the UD permanent collection.
     The painting's odyssey began when art historian Thomas Hoving
wrote to the University and said he was mounting, with input from the
artist, a Wyeth retrospective, sponsored by the Japanese newspaper,
the Chunichi Shimbun.
     As Hoving wrote, "The loan of the wonderful 'Woodchopper' of 1964
would be a key addition to this landmark exhibition. It's one of the
best of the '60s watercolors." The exhibition, he wrote, "would make a
major contribution to the understanding of an artist who, no matter
what, will always be considered to have made an indelible mark on
American painting."
     Lending an important piece of art is a complicated process
involving teamwork among several experts in the art field, Brown
discovered.
     First the condition of the watercolor was studied and evaluated
by a paper conservator at the Winterthur Museum. Then it had to be
stabilized in its original frame by Hardcastle Gallery and specially
packed for shipment.
     In the meantime, a contract for outgoing loans, addressing such
issues as insurance, security and the care of artwork, was developed
by Brown with the assistance of Belena Chapp, director of the
University Gallery; Gary Stokes, director of billing, collection and
insurance; and the Brandywine River Museum. The contract form now can
be used when other University-owned works of art are on loan for
exhibitions, Brown said.
     Couriers generally accompany paintings to international
exhibitions to ensure they are cared for properly and to get them
through customs and to their destination, Brown said. In this
instance, a curator from the Brandywine River Museum carried out this
mission.
     Further complications arose when last winter's earthquake in
Japan meant a last-minute change of location for the exhibition from
Kobe to Fukushima, Brown said.
     Sharing the painting so that others might enjoy it has made it
all worthwhile, Brown said. The inclusion of "Woodchopper," in the
catalog means an even larger audience for the painting among art
lovers.
     Nancy Hoving of Hoving Associates wrote to Brown that the Wyeth
retrospective has been a "tremendous success" in Japan, thanking the
University for "being part of this exceptional exhibition."
     "Woodchopper" was a gift of Mary M. R. Phelps to the University
in 1968.
                                                   -Sue Swyers Moncure