The Dream
Hot Pink Square
Mensola
Throat

Interpreting The Dream: A Recent Painting by Will Barnet in Context

January 27, 2009

This installation celebrates the recent gift from the figurative artist Will Barnet (born in 1911) and his wife, Elena, of The Dream (1990) and four related drawings. The Dream, which shows the artist’s sister Eva peering frightfully from a window of their childhood home, is featured alongside Introspection (ca. 1960) and The Bannister (1969), earlier works by Barnet in the Mead’s collection that evoke less emotionally fraught—if no less isolated—states of being.

Barnet painted The Dream as part of a series executed between 1990 and 1992 entitled My Father’s House.A 15-minute in-gallery video features an interview with Barnet and casts additional light on the inspiration for and creation of this powerful series.

Barnet will discuss his art in a public conversation with Professor of Political Science Thomas Dumm, author of Loneliness as a Way of Life (2008), at the Mead on Tuesday, February 24, 2009.  This event is generously supported by the Lamont Fund. 

Interpreting The Dream: A Recent Painting by Will Barnet in Context has been made possible with support from the Amherst Art Series Fund and the Hall and Kate Peterson Fund.