By Michael CanadayYOUNGSTOWN - The Butler Museum of American Art and the Canton Museum of Art have on display exhibits that are the complete reflection of local artist Clyde Singer (1908-1999), entitled "Clyde Singer's America." The showing will continue until Jan. 4.
Singer is clearly one of the area's most accomplished fine artists, painting over 3,000 works, mostly oils and watercolors. The subjects of the compositions are varied, but they normally depict ordinary Americans enmeshed in their daily activities, especially in Youngstown and New York City. He has been described as a regionalist, or as an American scene painter.
He attended the Columbus Museum of Fine Arts and earned a scholarship to the Art Students League in New York. He formally studied with other great American painters such as John Stewart Curry, Kenneth Hayes Miller, and Thomas Hart Benton. During this period, Singer won lots of rewards and the respect of his peers.
In addition to succeding in art, Singer taught in Marietta, Youngstown State University, and the Butler Museum. He wrote more than 2000 weekly reviews for The Youngstown Vindicator in the 1940s.
It is only appropriate that Singer is celebrated at this particular location because he was the curator for years. He was 88 years old when he retired.
Many local art students, art lovers, and Butler Museum employees accredit Singer for the museum's quality and overall success. Like many other Americans of the time he put his carreer aside to serve the United States in World War II.
The exhibit spans over three rooms on the second floor. Due to the closeness of the relationship he had with the museum, it is probably the best collective sample that represents him as an artist. Many of this exhibit's paintings have never been publicly displayed.This is a "must see" exhibit for all. Singer devoted his life to creating stimulating visual pieces and enlighting the locals about the benefits of fine art. For more information on this painter go to http://www.butlerart.com/.
