When the American painter Reginald Marsh created his best-known artworks of New York City, they were filled with people walking, flirting, chatting, jostling, bringing to life the city’s dark, vigorous, oppressively crowded vibe.
When he visited Cuba, his images changed. Majestic buildings stand, entirely or almost devoid of human life. Palm trees sway, the ocean beckons, the sun shines. Where are Marsh’s famous seas of humanity?
An exhibit of watercolors at the Benton Museum in Storrs shows Marsh’s love for Cuba, where many Americans went during and after Prohibition to enjoy sun, sand, nightlife and cocktails.
“His New York scenes were all about relationships. There is none of that in his Havana scenes,” said Nancy Stula, executive director of the Benton Museum at UConn in Storrs.
“He may have been inspired by John Singer Sargent or maybe Winslow Homer, their watercolors, to try new compositional devices, new approaches, to do rural landscapes or focus on architecture. These are scenes out of postcards.”
The Benton show, drawn from the 1,000-plus pieces by Marsh in Benton’s collection, was created by curatorial consultant Bob Leo and curated by art historian Jillian Russo.
Marsh shows dramatic clouds in bright skies over the European-style architecture of Havana: the Plaza des Armas, Parque de La Fraternidad, crumbling Victorian-era houses on a beach.
The exhibit also illustrates Marsh’s visits to Florida and Puerto Rico. In contrast to the Spanish Baroque and French neo-classical buildings in Cuba, Marsh pays particular attention to his father’s Art Deco house, called the Battleship House for its militaristic design. The severity of Battleship House is starkly different than the romance of old Havana. But as seen in his artworks, Marsh clearly loved them both.
THE LURE OF CUBA: REGINALD MARSH’S TROPICAL WATERCOLORS, 1924-1930 is at William Benton Museum of Art, 245 Glenbrook Road at the University of Connecticut in Storrs, until Oct. 13. benton.uconn.edu.
On other walls
Jaanika Peerna: Cold Love opens at Real Art Ways, 56 Arbor St. in Hartford, on Sept. 19, with a Creative Cocktail Hour reception from 6 to 8 p.m. Peerna will give a performance at the Oct. 17 Creative Cocktail Hour. realartways.org.
Maryna Bilak: Caring Hands, an exhibit about caring for someone with Alzheimer’s Disease, is at Mattatuck Museum‘s temporary home at Rose Hill, 63 Prospect St. in Waterbury, from Sept. 22 to Jan. 5. It opens with a guided talk and reception Sept. 22 from noon to 3 p.m. on Sept. 22. Mattmuseum.org.
Peterloo and Protest, an exhibit to mark the 50th anniversary of the Peterloo Massacre in Manchester, England, is at Yale Center for British Art, 1080 Chapel St. in New Haven, until Dec. 1. britishart.yale.edu.
I-Park, an artist residency program at 428 Hopyard Road in East Haddam, will hold its Illuminations Gala (tickets $100) on Sept. 21 from 6 to 10 p.m. and its Art Biennale (free-) on Sept. 22 from 1 to 6 p.m. i-park.org.
The Shoreline Harvest Art Festival is on the Branford Green on Sept 21 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Forty-five artists will show and sell sculpture, jewelry, woodwork, pottery, metal, stained glass, painting, photography and textiles. branfordartcenter@gmail.com.
Susan Dunne can be reached at sdunne@courant.com.
