Huntsville, Ala. – The Huntsville Museum of Art (HMA) is thrilled to announce the opening of The Sporting Life: Selection from the Remington Arms Art Collection on Sunday, August 20th. The Sporting Life will be on view at the Museum for general admission until November 5, 2017.
The Remington Arms Art Collection encompasses over 400 paintings spanning the past 100 years and were commissioned to illustrate posters, prints, calendars and other advertising vehicles for The Remington Arms Company, America’s oldest gun maker. These works typically depicted a sportsman using a Remington firearm or ammunition, but often in an understated way. The underlying idea was that the image – through the drama, excitement and romantic appeal of its narrative – would excite the imaginations of sportsmen and hunters alike.
“The Remington Arms Art Collection is believed to be the single largest holding of sporting and wildlife art in the world,” said Peter Baldaia, Director of Curatorial Affairs at HMA. “While its size alone makes it significant, what ultimately sets the collection apart is the high quality of pieces. We are honored to organize and host this exhibition at the Museum and are grateful to the Remington Arms Company for sharing their extraordinary collection of paintings with the public once again.”
Organized by the Huntsville Museum of Art, The Sporting Life is the first major exhibition of Remington Arms Art Collection in over 40 years and includes approximately 75 original paintings by such iconic early artists as Frank Xavier Leyendecker and Lynn Bogue Hunt, as well as paintings by contemporary masters Tom Beecham, Larry Duke and the legendary Bob Kuhn (the man generally acknowledged to be the greatest animal painter of the last half-century).
“We are pleased to partner with the Huntsville Museum of Art to bring The Sporting Life exhibition to the people of Huntsville,” said Remington President and CEO Jim Marcotuli. “The Remington team takes great pride in this one of a kind art collection. It speaks not only to our proud American history, but to the Remington lifestyle that so many of us, particularly in the Yellowhammer State, revere. Since 1816, Remington believed that high-quality firearms went hand-in-hand with high-quality experiences in the great outdoors. This collection of art exemplifies that ethos.”
On Saturday, August 19th from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., the Museum will host a Preview Party to celebrate the opening of this exhibition. Guests will be able to view the collection before it opens to the public, while enjoying wine and light appetizers.
Admission to the Preview Party is free for Museum members and $25 for non-members. Tickets are on-sale now and may be purchased online at www.hsvmuseum.org or by calling 256-535-4350 ext. 208. Please RSVP by August 16th.
The Sporting Life was made possible through the help of our sponsors: Carole Anne and Conway Ellers, Mr. and Mrs. John H. Shields & Family, and a Combined Federal Campaign. Additional support was provided by: Alabama Media Group, Alabama State Council on the Arts, Altherr Howard Design, Huntsville Museum of Art Guild, and Gerry and Virgil Schaffer.
For more information about The Sporting Life exhibit and to see what else is happening at the Museum, visit www.hsvmuseum.org.
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