"This exhibition will focus on many talented artists who are often overlooked in larger American Impressionism surveys," says Massillon Museum Executive Director Christine Shearer, who is curating the exhibition. "It will ask viewers the question, 'Is there a Midwest Impressionist style?' Viewers will have an answer by the end of their visit."

Approximately 70 paintings will highlight artists, born or raised in the Midwest, who practiced American Impressionism from the 1890s to the 1930s: John Ottis Adams, George Adomeit, George Ames Aldrich, May Ames, Otto H. Bacher, L. Clarence Ball, Karl Albert Buehr, V.J. Cariani, William Merritt Chase, William Clusmann, Charles Dahlgreen, Frank Virgil Dudley, Maude Eggemeyer, William J. Forsyth, Alexis Jean Fournier, Marie Goth, Frederick Gottwald, Carl Graf, Louis Oscar Griffith, Lucy Hartrath, Emil Jacques, Karl Kappes, Lewis Henry Meakin, Pauline Palmer, Louis Ritman, Ada Walter Shulz, Adolph Shulz, Otto Stark, Theodore Clement Steele, John Henry Twachtman, Will Vawter, Abel Warshawsky, and Edward K. Williams.

The exhibition will focus on the similarities and differences among artists associated with the region of Illinois, Indiana and Ohio, as well as within the larger American Impressionism movement. It will examine whether or not the region in which the artists lived and studied had a noticeable effect on their paintings.

The exhibition will debut at a public opening on Saturday, May 26, from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. Guests will enjoy a first look at the exhibition, refreshments, live entertainment, and visits to the second floor permanent collection galleries and the lower level Studio M show. The evening is free and open to everyone; reservations are not necessary.

"Impressionism has long had an appeal for museum audiences," Shearer says. "This exhibition takes a look at some of the lesser known artists who explored this concept in their work." Shearer received her BA in Art History from Kent State University and her MA in Art History from the University of Notre Dame in 1996. She was selected to participate in the Getty Museum Leadership Institute in July 2006. Before coming to the Massillon Museum in 2001, Shearer served as the first full-time executive director of the Cleveland Artists Foundation for three years. She currently serves as president of the board of trustees of the Ohio Museums Association.

Ann Caywood Brown of Cleveland is the project coordinator. The paintings for the exhibition have been borrowed from various museums, galleries, and private collections throughout Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois.

This exhibition has been made possible by the National Endowment for the Arts as part of American Masterpieces: Three Centuries of Artistic Genius. The "Midwestern Visions of Impressionism" exhibition is also supported by The Ohio Arts Council, The Stark Community Foundation, Rotary Club of Massillon, Arts in Stark, the Canton/Stark County Convention and Visitors Bureau, and Charles Hayes.

Paintings have been loaned for the exhibition by the Richmond Art Museum (IN), South Bend Regional Museum of Art (IN), Butler Institute of American Art (Youngstown, OH), the Cleveland Artists Foundation, Brian and Christine Pierce (Cleveland), John and Susan Horseman (St. Louis), Mr. and Mrs. Michael A. Nickol (Mishawaka, IN), Robert Burns (Mansfield, OH), Brauer Museum of Art (Valparaiso, IL), Tregoning Fine Art (Chagrin Falls, OH), Indiana State Museum, Rockford Art Museum (IL), Terra Foundation of American Art (Chicago), and additional private collections.

A series of accompanying activities have been planned throughout the run of the exhibition: classes featuring Impressionist movement and painting (beginning in June); Gallery Talks (June 20 and July 11); Impressionist Workshops for Children (June 23, July 21, and August 18); Brown Bag Lunch (June 26); Impressionism Summer Camp (August 7) and Watercolor Demonstrations, Nancy Stewart Matin and Brian Robinson (August 19). Call the Massillon Museum at 330-833-4061 or visit massillonmuseum.org for details.

The Massillon Museum invites out-of-town visitors to take advantage of a special package that will be available throughout the run of the show - a night at the Hampton Inn Massillon (which includes hot and cold breakfast selections, VIP turn-down service, and an in-room gift) and weekend tickets for a movie at the historic Lions Lincoln Theatre. All are within easy and safe walking distance of the Massillon Museum. For details, call the Hampton Inn (330-834-1144 or 1-800-HAMPTON) or the Massillon Museum (330-833-4061).

After the initial exhibition at the Massillon Museum, "Midwestern Visions of Impressionism" will travel to the South Bend Regional Museum of Art (September 8, 2007 through February 23, 2008) the Southern Ohio Museum in Portsmouth, Ohio (March 15 through June 14, 2008); and the Ohio Arts Council¹s Riffe Gallery in Columbus (July 31 through October 12, 2008).

An 80-page, soft cover catalog accompanying the exhibition will include essays‹focusing on the regions of the Midwest that became known as "hot spots" for Impressionism‹by Shearer and Dr. Dean A. Porter, Director Emeritus, Snite Museum of Art. Independent curator Brigitte Foley and Massillon Museum Curator Alexandra Nicholis will research and write biographies of the artists. The book will include an array of four-color images on high-quality, acid-free paper.

"Midwestern Visions of Impressionism" may be seen during regular Museum hours Tuesdays through Saturdays from 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Sundays 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. A visit to the Massillon Museum is always free.