A new art reference book titled “Eclectic Rhythms: The Artists of Huntington, West Virginia 1871-Present,” edited and compiled by HMA Executive Director Geoffrey K. Fleming, will be available for purchase in the Museum Store in late October 2021.
The new book contains nearly 600 biographies of artists of every type who made their home in the city at some point during their careers. “Editing a book about the artists of Huntington, West Virginia, was both a daunting and rewarding task,” said Fleming. “Huntington has been blessed with a number of talented artists and I believe this book highlights the talents of many of them while providing a valuable research tool for anyone interested in the city’s artistic past.”
The new book, which is priced at $39.95, is dedicated to noted art historian Chris Petteys (1927-2006), who authored the groundbreaking work titled “Dictionary of Women Artists: An International Dictionary of Women Artists Born Before 1900.” Many of the photographs in the new book are by HMA Registrar/Assistant Curator John Spurlock.
Some of the Huntington artists whose careers are detailed in the new book include Chuck Ripper, Adele Thornton Lewis, June Kilgore, Theresa Polley-Shellcroft, Vernon Howell, Tina Williams Brewer, and Don Pendleton.
The idea for the book came about when Fleming and HMA Grant Writer Timothy Adkins were having a meeting and Adkins asked Fleming if a book about Huntington artists existed. “The idea of creating a book about the artists of Huntington stuck with me and resulted in a two-year project of research and editing to compile the book,” Fleming said. “I was surprised by the sheer number of artists who started popping up all over the place who were associated with Huntington.”
For more information on the Huntington Museum of Art or the Museum Store, visit hmoa.org or call (304) 529-2701, HMA is fully accessible.
West Virginia residents may obtain a summary of the registration and financial documents from the Secretary of State, State Capitol, Charleston, WV 25305. Registration does not imply endorsement.