the work is unsigned but documented in Status: OK Status By: Mary Voss Status Date: 2012-09-24

Saugatuck-Douglas Historical Society Art Collection Receives “World Class” Gift In 1947, Richard Wilt and his wife, Ellen arrived at Ox-Bow for the summer. Ellen took in the wonder of the campus while Dick, as he was called, taught painting. Wilt worked tirelessly with his students, but did manage to take in all the wonders Saugatuck offered. That summer he captured the heat and brilliance of Lake Michigan in a painting, The Bathers. Wilt would go on that fall to become a professor of painting at the University of Michigan. “The Bathers” remained in the personal collection of the artist. Richard did not return to Ox-Bow to teach; his position kept him in Ann Arbor until his death in 1981. He is represented in the collections of the Pennsylvania Academy of Art, Kalamazoo Institute of Art, South Bend Museum of Art, Dennos Museum Center in Traverse City, and the Dayton Art Institute in Ohio. In 2012, Ellen Wilt gave The Bathers to the Saugatuck-Douglas Historical Society which retains a large collection of Midwest Art, especially works related to the Saugatuck-Douglas area. The work is on display in the Art Gallery located on the second floor of the Old School House History Center, 130 Center Street in Douglas. The museum gallery is handicapped accessible. For hours, see page two. The gallery is also open by appointment. For more information please call 269-857-5751. SDHC Historical Chronicle 2013

1947

PaintingPainting by Richard WiltTwo People on Beach With lake

29-1/2 in

24 in

Good

Curator’s Choice Exhibit

Richard Wilt 1915 – 1981 Beach Scene Lake Michigan 1947 | oil on canvas Notes: Richard Wilt, accompanied by his wife, Ellen, taught at the Ox-Bow Summer School of Painting in Saugatuck during the summer of 1947, the same year he would go on to become a professor of painting at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, where he made his home. During his time at Ox-Bow, Wilt pondered the thought processes that might have been part of “being Picasso”. Here he explores “Cubism” with a couple enjoying a day at Oval Beach. The work is from Wilt’s time at Ox-Bow, here in Saugatuck. It may be unfinished, indicated by the “dip” in the horizon line to the right and the fact that he did not sign the canvas. The Saugatuck area has long been famous for the light play of rays against sand and water. Here, Wilt captures the intense heat of sun on sand contrasted against the bright blue as sunlight dances on the water. Wilt also accentuates the human qualities of the figures by drawing in knuckles and toes. The female seems to be somewhat sunburned as she turns away, her head covered with a towel. The male figure almost struts in his stylish suit! Both seem to be preoccupied with activity on the beach rather than Lake Michigan. Collection: Saugatuck Douglas History Center Gift of: Ellen Bonar Wilt (In memory of Richard Wilt) Accession: 2012.62.01