Edith Mitchill Prellwitz at the Cornish Colony Museum

Katherine Bogden 

October has always been one of my favorite months, especially if I find myself spending any of it in New England. I’m addicted to that wonderful feeling of walking though fallen yellow and rusty-brown leaves, which always make the most satisfying underfoot crunch.

My point is, of course, that it’s a great time to leave the city, and head up to Windsor, Vermont, where there are plenty of leaves, and an attractive show on view at the Cornish Colony Museum: Women's Work: The Artistry of the Women of the Cornish Colony. The exhibition features work by Edith Mitchill Prellwitz, including three oils on loan from Spanierman Gallery.

Alma Gilbert-Smith, the museum’s former director, gives a lovely introduction to the exhibition which sums up much of what is important about the show and why it is worth the trip:

Much of what the women of the Cornish Colony accomplished still lives after them. History and historians are just beginning to give them professional credit which is due… it is our sincere hope to enhance the public’s appreciation of some of the truly magnificent accomplishments which the women were able to achieve here. Despite the hardships of maintaining their artistic integrity while attempting to be wives, lovers and nurturers, it is also undeniably true that the beauty and inspiration of the area fed their artistic, intuitive souls and made them reach for the stars with their own creations, by a concentrated effort of heart and will.

I’m particularly pleased by the museum’s choice to include Prellwitz’s The Steam Drill in the exhibition, which departs from scenes typical and expected of woman artists of the period. In fact, the pairing of The Steam Drill with Mother and Child and Among the Roses seems an adept representation of the complexity of Edith Prellwitz, and her range of accomplishments.

The show remains on view until October 24, 2009.

(top) Mother and Child, Sleepy Boy, 1911, oil on canvas, 36-1/2 x 29 in.
(center) Among Roses, 1895, oil on canvas, 17 x 55 in.
(bottom) The Steam Drill, 1886, oil on canvas 22 x 17 in.