Swedish-American Art Association

The Swedish-American Art Association was founded on February 5, 1905 by a number of Chicago artists with the goal of promoting the work of Swedish-American artists. Sculptor Carl Johan Nilsson, was chosen as president.[1][2] The Association was incorporated under the laws of the State of Illinois in 1905.[3][4]

First Exhibition

The Swedish-American Art Association opened its first exhibition of eighty pieces at the Anderson Art Galleries in Chicago in October 1905. The exhibition was extended from two weeks to three weeks due to its popularity.[5][6]

Participating in the exhibition included the Swedish-American artists Gerda Ahlm, Arvid Nyholm and Henry Reuterdahl.[7]

The Swedish artists Carl Larsson, Bruno Liljefors, Anders Zorn and Anshelm Schultzberg sent canvases from Sweden, and Charles Friberg sent three sculptures.[8]

Later Exhibitions

Exhibits were held in following years though not always annually.

The 1929 exhibit was held in conjunction with the Illinois Women's Athletic Club at which 136 pieces by forty-eight artists were exhibited.[9]

The 1934 exhibit was held at the Swedish Club of Chicago. Thirty-nine artists exhibited eighty-two works in the categories of black and whites, oil paintings, sculpture, water colors and "In Memoriam."[10][11]

The Swedish-American Art Association held exhibitions to at least 1936 when an exhibit was held at the Marshall Field's department store in Chicago.[12][13]

References and notes
  1. Olson, Ernst Wilhelm. The Swedish Element in Illinois: Survey of the Past Seven Decades: with Life Sketches of Men of Today. Chicago, Illinois, USA: Swedish-American Biographical Association, 1917, page 261.
  2. Olson, Ernst, W. History of the Swedes of Illinois. Chicago: The Engberg-Holmberg Publishing Company, 1908, pages 862-65.
  3. Levy, Florence N., ed. American Art Directory, volume 5, 1905-06, New York: American Art Annual and R.R. Bowker, 1905, page 172.
  4. The Swedish-American Art Association. First Annual Exhibition of The Swedish-American Art Association / Anderson's Galleries 178 Wabash Avenue, Chicago. (1905) Chicago, Illinois, USA.
  5. Olson, Ernst Wilhelm. The Swedish Element in Illinois: Survey of the Past Seven Decades: with Life Sketches of Men of Today. Chicago, Illinois, USA: Swedish-American Biographical Association, 1917, page 261.
  6. Erik G. Westmann, A Swedish Art Center in Chicago, Scandinavian Review, volume 3, American-Scandinavian Foundation, 1915, page 303.
  7. Also participating in the first exhibition were the Swedish-American artists Aug. Franzen, E. Gelhaar, C. E. Hallberg, Hugo von Hofsten, S. Holmberg, Alfred Jansson, Carl J. Nilsson, John A. Nyden, Axel Elias Olsson, Birger Sandzen and A. G. Wahlgren.
  8. Olson, Ernst Wilhelm. The Swedish Element in Illinois: Survey of the Past Seven Decades: with Life Sketches of Men of Today. Chicago, Illinois, USA: Swedish-American Biographical Association (1917, page 262.
  9. Swedish American Art Association. First Annual Exhibition of Works by Swedish-American Artists Given Under the Auspices of the Swedish American Art Association / Illinois Women's Athletic Club / 13th Floor and Art Salon, Room 906 / March 10-17 1929. (1929) Chicago, Illinois, USA.
  10. Swedish-American Art Association. Thyra H . Peterson Memorial Exhibition of Works by Swedish-American Artists at the Swedish Club, 102 2258 N. La Salle Street. (April 21-29, 1934) Under the Auspices of the Swedish-American Art Association. (Chicago, 1934) [15 pages].
  11. Erickson, Rolf H. “Swedish-American Artists Exhibitions in Chicago Described in Checklists and Catalogs.” Swedish-American Historical Society, vol. 42, no. 2, April 1991, pages 102-103.
  12. American Swedish Monthly, June 1936.
  13. Swanson, Mary Towley, "A Tangled Web: Swedish Immigrant Artists' Patronage Systems, 1880-1940" (2004). Art History Faculty Publications. 9.(http://ir.stthomas.edu/arthistory_pub/9)
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