Modernists and legends

A few years after Bob's retirement in 1977, he and Gennie ran a gallery at their home south of Bozeman. People flocked to the gallery openings, sometimes as many as 200 people, even 14 miles out of town.

"We wanted to show artists who were good, who lived in Gallatin County, and who didn't teach at the university so couldn't exhibit there," Gennie said in a magazine interview in 1991. "We sat down and made a list, and in no time, we thought of several dozen artists we felt should be seen."

After Bob's sudden death at age 70 in 1990, the DeWeeses received several honors for their contributions to Montana's artistic world. In 1990, Bozeman High School named the Bob and Gennie DeWeese Art Gallery for them. In 1995, Gennie and her late husband received the Montana Governor's Award for the Arts. That same year, Gennie received an honorary doctorate of fine arts from MSU, where her earlier work on a master's degree had been interrupted by the birth of Josh, whom she fondly called her "thesis."

Billings' Yellowstone Art Museum, the Missoula Art Museum and Helena's Holter Museum all have presented retrospective exhibits of the DeWeeses and have many DeWeese works in their permanent collections. The Holter is designated as the repository for the bulk of the works.

Browning plans a retrospective of Bob DeWeese's work to open next March in Miles City. In his promotional material, he describes DeWeese as "a pioneering modernist whose creativity, warmth and generosity made him a Montana art legend."

"What I feel is unique about these artists is their high level of productivity and quality of their work, coupled with commitment to their wide circle of friends and community," Lo said. "The DeWeeses were exceptionally open and hospitable to students and fellow artists, as well as the landscape that surrounded them. They had the ability to balance the inner life of an artist and the public life of teacher and pillar of the artistic community in Montana."

Lo played bass guitar with the Missoula-based band Salsa Loco at a June solstice celebration of Gennie's life and work held seven months after her death. Internationally recognized artists John Buck and Deborah Butterfield, both former art professors at MSU, loaned their large horse arena, as they had for a sale and retrospective of Bob DeWeese's work in 1991. Hundreds turned out for the celebration and for the show and sale that continued the next day, appreciating row after row of Gennie's exuberant paintings.

Passion is the thing

In a circle of life that is very satisfying to DeWeese friends and family, Josh has begun a new career teaching ceramics in the MSU art department after 18 years at the Archie Bray Foundation for Ceramics Art in Helena, 14 years as its director. He said he is proud to continue the DeWeese connection with MSU.

"Now is a great time to come to MSU's art department," he adds. "So much change is under way with new, ambitious faculty members."

Tina also has made her living as an artist for years. She is best known for her wire sculptures of horses, but also explores new forms and ideas. Cathie had a career in early childhood education and remains a social activist in Mexico, where she lives. Jan teaches and plays music in Portland, Ore. Gretchen, who also paints, teaches art in an elementary school. In the summers she also works in the Montana wilderness.

Recently Tina and Josh discussed the dilemma of art for art's sake versus commercial success. They agreed that their father, with his teaching salary, never had to worry about acceptance of his creations and could be utterly honest in his work. Then again, so was Gennie, with her huge paintings that fit only in large rooms.

"Even though he didn't have to sell his own work, Dad was not a snob about art —he was always very proud of his students who were successful and sold a lot," Josh said. But he and Tina remember that their mother liked to point out that while artists are expected to starve, "You'll never find a doctor or a lawyer who has to take a day job to support his passion for the law or medicine."

Gennie worked hard on her art until the day she died, leaving behind hundreds of paintings. To the end, she retained her convictions and sense of humor. She was a lifelong smoker and in 1996 the Bozeman Chronicle published her letter to editor in which she suggested that there might be worse dangers than smoking. Her children (all non-smokers) chose a photo of her with cigarette in hand to illustrate her obituary in the Chronicle.

A few years ago Gennie said that someone asked her, "Why do you keep painting?" as she struggled with various health problems.

"Because," she said, "if I keep doing it long enough, maybe someday I'll do a good one."

The five DeWeese children celebrated their mother with a large art show and party attended by a Who's Who in Montana contemporary art. From left: Jan, Tina, Cathie, Gretchen and Josh. Photo by Kelly Gorham.

Return to regular view	Text-only              Email this article	Published: 11/24/2008