Photography in the late 1800s was a new art form. Lucien Grey was at the forefront of that here in Eureka Springs.
“He had one of the first photography studios in Eureka Springs,” Lucilla Garrett, board member of the new Museum of Eureka Springs Art planned at the Community Center, said. “Most of the early black and white postcard images are by him. A famous panorama photograph of the entire town done at the turn of the century is a highly sought-after triptych postcard. He also took amusing photos and rented out cameras to visitors and developed their images.”
Grey is just one of the prominent early artists whose work is planned to be displayed at the Museum of Eureka Springs Art, along with dozens of contemporary artists who fortify the town’s reputation as being one of the better small art towns in America.
Steve Beacham, also on the board, said there has been a lack in Eureka Springs of visual celebration of the history of our art.
“Discussion about creation of an art museum goes back to the early 1970s,” Beacham, said. “A small group decided the time has come. The initial focus of the museum will be on artists who are no longer alive such as Louis and Elsie Freund, Glenn Gant, Ken Addington, Miriam McKinnie and Glenn and Fred Swedlun.”
The museum is being privately funded with memberships, donations, grants, fundraisers, and the display and sale of the work of current artists. Beacham said it will be staffed by a director and volunteers. They plan to wait until the Community Center completes renovation of the space before the museum is opened.
“I’m very excited about the museum,” Garrett said. “There have been a lot of references to Elsie and Louis Freund because of their influence on the Eureka Springs School of the Arts, but there are many artists who are gone who were very consequential 20th century artists. This is a way to highlight their legacy. Miriam McKinnie, who was here for many years, actually had a picture and write up in TIME in 1939. Who would know that? A lot of people here now don’t know her work and it was really very good.”
Eureka Springs is also well regarded for its public art, both in public spaces and in people’s yards and businesses. Garrett said a great example of early public art is Louis Freund’s mural downtown by the Mud Street Café.
“It is in tune with the idea that gardens and the springs are important to Eureka Springs,” Garrett said. “Art is a great stimulus for good. It is called culture. And Eureka has a wonderful cultural base between the artists, musicians and writers. It really makes a difference for people who live here, and our art reputation is important in terms of tourism. The new museum will be another attraction for people who visit Eureka Springs. Eureka Springs certainly has a great reputation as an art town.”
Garrett knew all of the historic artists except one, Fred Swedlun. She was friends with many of them. She said the early artists were united in advocating Eureka Springs as an artist community and refuge.
“That was a huge component of Eureka Springs,” she said. “The fact that there are many artists here is really a tradition. I think it is one that is valued and should be valued more, and I think it will be as a result of this museum.”