Vanderpoel Art Museum

Who knew a simple act of preserving a painting could blossom into a treasure trove of art? The Vanderpoel Art Museum, nestled within the Ridge Park Fieldhouse, stands as a testament to the power of community and the enduring legacy of John H. Vanderpoel. This museum isn’t just a building filled with art. It’s a living story, beginning with a concerned sister, Marie Leenheer, who worried about the fate of Vanderpoel’s “The Buttermakers.” In 1913, a group of friends and neighbors in Beverly, where Vanderpoel lived, pooled their resources to save the painting. They then gifted it to the local school named in his honor. During the unveiling, the idea for a larger memorial sparked. Artworks poured in from artists who admired Vanderpoel. The Vanderpoel Art Association was officially formed, with John A. Campbell, a close friend of Vanderpoel, as its volunteer curator. The collection grew rapidly. By the late 1920s, it had outgrown the school. The Vanderpoel Art Museum found its home in the Ridge Park Fieldhouse in 1929, designed with a dedicated gallery space by Hetherington Architects. This impressive collection boasts around 600 works by 400 artists. Though only a portion can be displayed at a time, the gallery is brimming with remarkable drawings, etchings, paintings, and sculptures. You’ll find works by Vanderpoel himself. You’ll also discover renowned names like Grant Wood, Mary Cassatt, and Maxfield Parrish. Vanderpoel, a Dutch immigrant, taught at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago for 30 years. He was a respected artist in his own right, exhibiting at the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition and receiving a bronze medal at the 1904 Louisiana Purchase Exposition. Even Georgia O’Keeffe, a former student, lauded Vanderpoel as one of the few true teachers she had known. The Vanderpoel Art Museum is more than just a gallery. It is a testament to a beloved teacher, artist, and community member. It’s a place where the spirit of art and education intertwines, leaving a lasting impression on all who visit.