A groundbreaking pop art pioneer's days as an Oswego faculty member get an imaginative treatment in "Roy Lichtenstein in Oswego 1957-1960," an exhibition by painter, writer and alumnus Ron Throop, running Oct. 12 to Nov. 17 in the Wilber and Park hall connector.
An opening reception from 5 to 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 12, in that space will provide insight into the project, where Throop created mainly oil paintings and researched the residency of Lichtenstein at what was then Oswego State Teachers College from 1957 to 1960. The exhibition accompanies a book Throop has written on the influential artist's time in Oswego.
A 1990 SUNY Oswego graduate, Throop describes the effort as "a creative local art history project to add color and pride to the region," with "34 original paintings inspired by a mid 20th century Oswego that Lichtenstein might have experienced -- thoughts on a lakeside walk, sights while driving throughout the town and countryside, or taking the family out for a movie downtown. Park Hall and Splinter Village is where he would have taught classes in the late 1950s."
Throop has conducted ample research and compiled his illustrations, articles and essays in a book also titled "Roy Lichtenstein in Oswego 1957-1960," specifically for this exhibition. All profits from sales will be donated to a one-time scholarship for an Oswego High School student enrolled at SUNY Oswego in the fall 2020 for studio art or art history.
While teaching at the college, Lichtenstein changed his style of painting from figurative to abstract, sometimes applying broad swaths of color onto the canvas, wrapping a rag around his arm and dragging it to get the desired results, Throop noted. Lichtenstein was also sketching comics during this time, foreshadowing his revolutionary pop style, for which he is famously known.
Throop usually paints with acrylics on any substrate he feels most suitable. For this body of work, however, he chose to work in oil, mirroring Lichtenstein's chosen medium. Throop believed this would make him feel how Lichtenstein must have felt between artistic realizations: uneasy.
Throop has been a full-time practicing painter and writer for over 20 years, and has exhibited for 11 years. He has written and self-published 16 books with subjects on art, society, culture, politics and self-liberation. He is an advocate of the art movement Stuckism and since 2016, has curated three international Stuckist exhibitions, and two international solo shows, as well as several of his own.
The exhibition, made possible with support from CNYArts, is open to the public during the building's regular open hours.