Couse Foundation

Programs: Accomplishments include ongoing exhibitions of artwork and educational programs concerning the couse historic site and studios - the only site of the 10 founders of the taos society of artists that remains intact from that period. In addition, the organization consistently provides lectures, guided tours and other public events about the site's three historic studios, and distributes semi-annual newsletters (2000+ circulation each) relating to its yearly activities. Some specific examples are:in 2006, it published "eanger irving couse image maker for america", the definitive 1991 work about the artist, and in 2008 published "authentically american" an educational dvd about the site. In 2009, the organization created two 4-month exhibitions at the harwood museum of art, one showcasing couse and sharp and the studies and materials depicted in the paintings, and the other of couse's cameras and his acclaimed model studies. In 2010, the organization created an external digital archive of (a) the contents of the site, and (b) an oral history from couse's granddaughter. In 2011, the organization mounted an exhibition, accompanied by an educational handout, of original historic santa fe railway calendars, most of which were based on couse paintings, and related materials. In 2012, tcf published a 69-page booklet about its new mexican devotional art titled "the couse collection of santos". In addition, the organization hosted an exhibition entitled "remarkable women of taos - virginia walker couse", reviewing the role played by the artist's wife. In 2013, the organization created an exhibition focused on the life and work of joseph henry sharp. The exhibition included twelve works given by the sharps to the couse grandchildren. It was accompanied by an interview on dvd with couse's grandaughter, virginia, recounting her childhood memories of the sharps. Tcf also supported an exhibition at the maryhill museum near goldendale, wa, entitled eanger irving couse on the columbia river. In 2014, the organization obtained a professional assessment and digital image inventory of the 160+ historic pueblo pots used by the artist. It also presented two public exhibitions and presented three public lectures. Finally it secured a topographical survey of the historic site's gardens and an inventory of the extensive couse archive. During 2015 the foundation presented 4 lectures that had a combinedattendance in excess of 350. In addition, the foundation mounted anexhibition about the life and work of julius rolshoven who was a member ofthe taos society of artists and hosted an exhibition of etchings by josephhenry sharp, a founding member of the tsa. The foundation's presidentgave a presentation about the couse-sharp historic site and itscollections in colorado springs, colorado to the docents of the coloradosprings fine arts center. The foundation continued its practice ofholding public open houses of the site on the first saturday of july,august, september and october. In 2017 the organization completed the restoration of the joseph henry sharp studio and held an opening of the studio and exhibits featuring the life and career of sharps work in taos. The organization further held a special exhibit of the importance of archival material which chronicles the work of the artist leading to a finished painting including sketches, artist notes, photography, artist models and props used in the work. This exhibit of archival materials will lead to the development of the largest archive facility in the world for the artists making up the taos society of artists from the early 20th century for the benefit of collectors, art historians, researchers, university and graduate students to understand the importance of the taos art colony in the context of american art.