The Columbus Museum has one of the foremost collections of American drawings in the Southeast. Butler’s January 18, 2008 Up for Discussion lecture helped deepen understanding of this art form and enhance appreciation of works on display in Asheville as part of the exhibition Lines of Discovery: American Drawings.

“Lines of Discovery celebrates a rich history of drawing,” Butler said. “It has been seen in many places and while this is the last stop on its tour, it is my pleasure to bring this experience to Asheville.”

Lines of Discovery: American Drawings includes works by 19th century American artists William Merritt Chase, Thomas Cole and Winslow Homer. Also included are a range of works by diverse 20th century artists such as Charles Burchfield, Isamu Noguchi and Andrew Wyeth. In addition there are drawings by contemporary artists Thornton Dial, Leslie Dill and Jerome Witkin.

Works from Lines of Discovery: American Drawings were initially on view as part of The Columbus Museum’s permanent collection in 2003 before select pieces traveled to the Gilcrease Museum in Tulsa, OK, the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts in Kalamazoo, MI and the Arkansas Arts Center in Little Rock, AR.

The Asheville Art Museum curated this selection of works to further its mission to present the best of 20th and 21st century American art and serve the both residents of Western North Carolina and visitors to the area.

Asheville Art Museum Executive Director Pamela Myers thanked Butler for his personal dedication to arts education across the Southeast.

“Tom Butler’s passion is infectious and we thank him for making his collection available for the people of Western North Carolina to enjoy.” Myers said. “It has been a privilege for us to have the works here and to have groups spend time really studying what each one has to offer.”

Lines of Discovery: American Drawings will be on display at the Asheville Art
Museum through Sunday, February 10, 2008.