Ogunquit artist, Joseph Davol

Ogunquit has long been known as an art colony discovered by Charles Woodbury in the late 1800's. The rugged coastline with the bright light shimmering against the cool Atlantic waters has been a constant subject for countless artists for over 120 years.

One lesser known Ogunquit artist, is  Joseph B. Davol (Aug 25, 1864 - June 15, 1923). Mr Davol was a painter, architect and teacher. He was also a student of Charles Woodbury's Ogunquit Art School in Perkins Cove.

Mr Davol was born in Chicago, studied in Paris at the Academie Julian. He then moved to Ogunquit with his mother, and studied with Woodbury. In Ogunquit he remained a "bachelor", according to an article in  the Lewiston Evening Journal ( Dec 1, 1911).

Davol lived year round in Ogunquit and many of his works depict the four distinct seasons.
His winter paintings capture the nuances of light as it touches the snowy seascape and land.

His paintings display a certain uniqueness that depicts the Maine flora and fauna. Trees have a Dr Suess likeness. Shadows casts winter colors glowing on the snow.

(October Idyl, October 1910, Ogunquit River Estuary, Collection of Ogunquit Beach Inn)

 

(Ogunquit Beach 1915)

Winter sea 1911

Joseph Davol's paintings are part of the Ogunquit Museum of Art's Colletion, Ogunquit Library, Farnsworth Museum and private collectors.

Ogunquit Fire Company Museum

Ogunquit is known for the Ogunquit Museum of American Art and the Ogunquit Heritage Museum,
but there is one museum that is in plain view that people often overlook.....

The Ogunquit Fire Company Museum is located on the corner of Shore Road and Cottage Street next to the Fire Station.  This miniature museum houses an antique fire engine and other accoutrement from a bygone era.

The engine is a horse drawn steam boiler from 1883 called Little Lulu.  Little Lulu was manufactured by the Button Fire Engine Company of Waterford New York. The Engine was made for the Reading Massachusetts Fire Dept. In 1966, the steam engine was given to the Ogunquit Fire Company by retired Reading Fire Chief Hugh Ames.  Ames retired in Ogunquit and became a member of the Fire Company.

The engine was coal fired, and three horses were needed to pull the steamer. Lulu could pump 500 gallons per minute with the piston pump. The original cost of the steam engine was $500 in 1883. The estimated value is now @ $1,000,000.

Also housed at this micro museum, is a collection of firemen's hats from days gone by; a collection of trophies from fire musters that Ogunquit Fire Company has participated in, and other fire related apparatus. The museum is located in Firemen's Park next to the Fire Station.

Today's firefighters in Ogunquit are trained professionals that serve a four square mile town with up to 50,000 visitors a day. The Fire Department and Company respond to medical, rescue and fire calls. The Company also sells unique Ogunquit Fire Company Breast Cancer Awareness T-shirts for $15.

Ogunquit Square in flames.

Ogunquit Museum Of American Art 2010

It is never difficult to see images – when the principle of the image is embedded in the soul.

-Marsden Hartley, 1932

Another favorite pastimes of mine is visiting the Ogunquit Museum of Art . I have always enjoyed museums. As a child, my dad would take me to the Harvard museums. I was fascinated and in awe with the vast collections. The Ogunquit Museum of American Art is located past Perkins Cove on Shore Road.  The museum is now open for the season.

The grounds are spectacular, the museum is surrounded by gardens and a reflecting pool. Craggy inlets along the Atlantic, showcase the Ogunquit Museum of Art . The site is the former property of Henry Strater. Strater built the museum where artists painted en plein aire. Its easy to see why the artists painted here. There is an abundance of subject matter: dramatic tides, sailing vessels, scenic coves and layers of rocky strata stretching out into the Atlantic....

The museum showcases the works of: Henry Strater, Charles Woodbury, Antonio Mattei, Rockwell Kent, Winslow Homer, Edward Hopper, Joseph Davol, Walt Kuhn, and many many more. The grounds of the museum are surrounded by modern sculptures, gardens, and amazing views.

Vistas of Adams Island, Perkins Cove, and the wooden draw bridge have been "drawing" artists to this location for generations!

The exhibits are always changing. There are over 1600 pieces in the permanent collection, focusing on American modern art.

The museum is currently showcasing the collection of Selma Koss Holtz. Holtz was a fixture in the New England art scene. She was a curator, and art historian. Her collection included works by Winslow Homer, Alex Katz, Rockwell Kent, Ernest Lawson, Michael Palmer, Fairfield Porter, Neil Welliver,  Charles Woodbury, and many more. Holtz donated over 58 works of art to the museum in her lifetime.

The Details:

Ogunquit Museum of America Art

543 Shore Road Ogunquit, ME 03907

207- 646-4909

http://www.ogunquitmuseum.org/

Hours Mon to Sat 10 - 5pm Sundays 1 - 5 pm

Open May to October 31

Admission $8 Seniors $7

Plenty of parking, spectacular gardens, bring a camera. Restrooms and Gift Shop on premise.

Located past Perkins Cove 3/10 of a mile on the left hand side.

Remember to bring a camera. Photos are not allowed in the museum, but there are plenty of photo opportunities on the museum grounds.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Blogger Greg of Ogunquit Beach Inn Enjoys the Ogunquit Museum and frolicking on the rocks!

A trip to the Ogunquit Museum of American Art...

One of my favorite things to do is to visit Museums. Here in Ogunquit we have the Ogunquit Museum of American Art. Its located on Shore Road after Perkins Cove.

This morning it was raining, so I decided to pay the museum a little visit.

Started by artist Henry Strater, this museum is called the most beautiful small museum in the world.  The permanent collection of 1600 works,  includes artists like American 20th century artists as Edward Hopper, Roy Lichtenstien, Marsden Hartley and Charles Woodbury.

The museum is situated on three acres overlooking a narrow cove with incredible views. On the grounds there are many sculptures, stonewalls and gardens. Its the magnificent views that inspired many artists to paint in Ogunquit. The craggy rocks reach out to the ocean, on the north side of the museum sits picturesque Perkins Cove. The crashing waves against the rocks and the wild north Atlantic sky is the perfect subject matter for 20th century artists. I am always amazed at the incredible colors of the sky, even on a less than perfect beach day.

The current exhibit features a retrospect of Maurice Freedman, Boston painter in the cubist/expressionism genre. Travelled to Europe in the early part of the 20th century, returned to NY, and painted in Maine. He fused together European ideas with unique American subject matter. This piece is my favorite painting from the retrospect. Notice the fauve colors with the cubist elements.

Its called "Bathers Interlude" 1948. The subject matter is a bit whimsical. A day on the beach should be fun! The docents at the museum are helpful and will help visitors dissect the art and give tours.

Picture taken out on the cliffs at the Ogunquit Museum of Art 10/07/2009. Could not get any of the docents to take my picture out on the cliffs......

The Details:

Ogunquit Museum of American Art

543 Shore Road Ogunquit, ME 03907

open daily from May to October 31

http://www.ogunquitmuseum.org