Viktor Schreckengost known across the U.S.A.

National Centennial Exhibition venues indicate increasing national attention

Viktor Schreckengost is well known in Cleveland, but it is often assumed that only Clevelanders know his name. However, the organizers of the Viktor Schreckengost National Centennial Exhibition have discovered that even potential exhibition venues far from Ohio often already know and love Viktor’s work. Some of this appreciation comes from former Clevelanders; some of it is sparked by the many Schreckengost pieces that live in museums around the country.

Rich McClellan, Viktor Schreckengost Foundation Director, wasn’t in Cleveland a few years ago and didn’t know the principal players in the 2000-2001 exhibition Viktor Schreckengost and 20th-Century Design at the Cleveland Museum of Art. "I just knew when I was calling Diane De Grazia at the Indianapolis Museum of Art that she had a Cleveland connection. I introduced myself on the phone and somewhat tentatively asked whether she knew Viktor’s work. I felt a little foolish to be told that she was Chief Curator at the Cleveland Museum of Art during the Cleveland show." Rich explains that Diane was excited by the invitation to participate and is looking for a Schreckengost piece to display. "She’d love to find a pace car or another pedal car because, in her town, the Indianapolis 500 is all they think about during the spring."

Another former Cleveland curator has responded to the invitation as well. A "cold" call to the Memphis Brooks Museum of Art resulted in a voice mail from Curator Stanton Thomas. Rich describes the message. "I heard this deep voice say, 'I, of course, love Viktor Schreckengost. Call me back.'" Mr. Thomas was the Assistant Curator of Painting at the Cleveland Museum of Art during the Cleveland show.

When Rich contacted the Tacoma Museum of Art to invite them to participate in the National Centennial Exhibition, he had to leave a message. He was pleasantly surprised to get a return voicemail: "I don’t know what you’re calling about but I sure hope it’s an exhibit. We’d sure love to do an exhibit of Viktor Schreckengost!" As it happens, the Tacoma Museum of Art will shortly be running a show that includes two of Viktor’s pieces. (See related article in this issue, Exhibitions Include Jazz Bowl, Blue Revel and Culver Trophy)

The map below indicates the number of exhibitions tentatively scheduled for the National Centennial Exhibition by state. (A few international venues being organized are not shown.)

Distribution of Viktor Schreckengost National Centennial Exhibition Venues (Working List)

Although about half of the working list of participating venues is in Ohio, coverage across the United States is not bad for a Cleveland artist whose work has at times been labeled regionalist. "We have pretty good coverage on the east coast," comments Rich McClellan. "The intermountain west is pretty weak, and we could use more across the entire south, but it’s coming." Foundation Executive Director Chip Nowacek would love to see at least one show in every state, but recognizes that this may not be possible. Please contact the Foundation immediately if you know any potential exhibition venues in under- or un-represented states, or if you may have a piece you might want to loan. The exhibition catalogue is being finalized this month!