Springfield Museums presents "Poems II, 1969-1972: Watercolors by C. Ronald Bechtle

 

Springfield Museums presents "Poems II, 1969-1972: Watercolors by C. Ronald Bechtle

A series of 23 abstract watercolor paintings by Connecticut artist C. Ronald Bechtle (born 1924) will be on view at the Michele and Donald D’Amour Museum of Fine Arts from October 25, 2011, through October 28, 2012 in the exhibition Poems II, 1969-1972: Watercolors by C. Ronald Bechtle.

Bechtle was born inPhiladelphiawhere he attendedTempleUniversity, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, theSchoolofIndustrial Art, and the Fleisher Memorial Art Foundation. From 1952 to 1955, he studied privately with artist Benton Spruance (1904-1967).

Bechtle works exclusively in watercolor, crayon, pastel and pencil. Heavily influenced by the works of Piero Della Francesca, Rembrandt, Goya, Matisse, and Gorky, Bechtle's work is primarily abstract or semi-abstract in nature. He has exhibited at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts and has been president of Group 55, Philadelphia Abstract Artists. The D’Amour Museum holds 80 paintings by Bechtle in the collection.

            The Springfield Museums are located on the Quadrangle at 21 Edwards Street in downtownSpringfield. Free onsite parking is available in the Edwards Street parking lots. Hours are Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., and Sunday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Admission is $12.50 for adults, $9 for seniors and college students, $6.50 for children 3-17, and free for children under three and museum members. The fee provides admission to allSpringfieldMuseumsand the Dr. Seuss National Memorial Sculpture Garden.   Springfieldresidents are free with proof of address.

For information, call 413-263-6800 or visit springfieldmuseums.org.