Midge Andreasen, one of the founding members of the Stinson Prairie Arts Council, presented an original oil painting by Mary Emaline Call (1864-1957) to current Stinson Prairie Arts Council co-chairs Mike and Mary Straub-Lavelle on Wednesday, July 1.
Call was the daughter of the first Kossuth County judge and founder of Algona, Asa Call. Call studied in New York City, N.Y., with William Merritt Chase, who was considered one of the celebrated teachers of his time, and in Paris at Academie Colarossi. She held several one-man shows and in 1948 critics stated that her most recent exhibition was bold.
"She paints with a broad brush and she recreates what she feels rather than what she literally sees," reported the Des Moines Register. "She is a complete master of color, making it translate to canvas the very atmosphere itself with startling conviction."
Andreasen purchased the painting from Ted Chrischilles several years ago.
"The piece is so representative of a period of impressionism," explained Andreasen. "It's so well done."
Andreasen presented the artwork to the Lavelles because she wanted to give the piece a permanent home in Algona due to the artist's connection to the area. Call's painting will join the entire collection in an exhibit to be held over Founder's Day. The reception held on Saturday will feature the 30 pieces in the permanent collection and several of the artists will be in attendance.
The unnamed small oil painting depicts a field in browns, greens and golds leading up to a city in blue.
"Call's painting is the same caliber as artwork at the Chicago Art Museum. It's from a highly professional artist," explained Mary. "This is the most extraordinary gift we've received and it will be the centerpiece of Stinson Prairie Arts Council's collection."
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Born 1864 in Algona. Died 1957 in San Anselmo, Calif.
Studied with William Merritt Chase and in Paris at Academie Colarossi.
Co-founder of the Mann Society of Artists in 1927
Subject matter indicates travel to Paris, Picardy and Bruges.
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