Saturday and Sunday visitors to Malabar Farm State Park can enjoy a celebration of art. The event includes a visit with feature painter, Will Moses, the great grandson of Grandma Moses. Tours of Louis Bromfield’s home and a meet-the-artist event is also available at a small cost.
Other attractions will include fine art vendors, Chautauqua presentations, music, fiber arts demonstrations, children’s art activities, and re-painting of the original mural on the door of the main barn.
The event will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day.
On Saturday evening a Liberty Barn dance will follow, sponsored by The American Legion Post #535 of Bellville. The dance will be held from 7 – 10 p.m.
For more information call 419-892-2784 or 419-892-2929. Also, visit Malabar State Park’s website at http://www.malabarfarm.org and click on events.
There are two original Grandma Moses paintings hanging in the Big House at Malabar Farm State Park. They were given to Louis Bromfield as payment and gratitude for his efforts to promote the artist and her work.
In 1948 Grandma Moses was little known outside of New England where she lived, so a book of her works was prepared in order to publish her paintings and stories all over the US.
The publisher approached Louis Bromfield about writing an introduction to the book, hoping that the author’s popularity among farmers would get the book exposure and sales among country folk who might appreciate primitive art.
The publisher seriously underestimated the painter’s appeal among art enthusiasts of all types, as well as Bromfield’s scope of popularity, because the book sold out quickly and within a few month time Grandma Moses was recognized as a national treasure.
When Bromfield hung the Grandma Moses paintings in his house they had more sentimental than fiscal value to him, but today they are among the most highly insured pieces in his home.