Exploring the Artistic Legacy of Russell Chatham: Unveiling the Enigmatic Dalva, by Lucas Laroche

Dalva by Russell Chatham

Russell Chatham (1939-2019), who was originally from California is, later from 1971 to 2011 considered a Montana-based artist and author who left an indelible tapestry of fantastic artwork that touched the art world, mainly because of his use of lithographs and captivating landscapes. The artwork “Dalva,” made by Chatham in 1987, was bequeathed by Seymour Lawrence in 1993 to be officially part of the Seymour Lawrence Collection of American Art at The University of Mississippi Museum.

“Dalva” is an artwork that always interests our audience because of this woman’s intimate yet commanding presence depicted in an acrylic painting technique on a rag board. It is still difficult to determine where she is from, according to Chatham’s perspective. However, his friend, Jim Harrison (1937–2016), used the same character, “Dalva,” in his book that includes this artwork. The book cover for “Dalva,” 1988, mentioned that she is a part-Sioux woman, which means that she is from an indigenous Native American tribe. The Sioux tribes inhabited the states of Minnesota, South and North Dakota, and Nebraska. In addition, the Sioux also inhabited the Great Plains region of Montana, which is the same state where Russell Chatham is formerly based, which can give us an idea that she might be from Montana. The composition is also colored brown on the background, which also holds significance for indigenous cultures, symbolizing the earth element, the mountains, indigenous beliefs associated with nature, and tribes that painted their faces and bodies with mud, which refers to the brown color.

The book also mentions that she is in her mid-40s and has lived a rich and varied life. She is depicted with a three quarters profile portrait pose. This sense of gazing toward her right gives a more outlook of great dark hair, and the depiction of her left earring contrasts the artwork’s hue. Because this artwork is also associated with the book cover for James Harrison’s novel “Dalva” in 1988, this collaboration between the two artists adds layers of depth to the artwork, allowing the viewer to ponder the connections between visual and literary art forms. Chatham is an interesting character that we value a lot at The University of Mississippi Museum because of his background as a mostly self-taught artist. His lineage as the grandson of renowned landscape painter Gottardo Piazzoni gives him an important appreciation for the natural world. The vibrant hues and fluid brushstrokes of “Dalva” add vitality and dynamism to the composition, which probably comes from his experiences as a sportsman and outdoorsman.

Chatham had a prestigious audience that included celebrity friends like Jack Nicholson, who he went fishing with, and other celebrities like Walter Cronkite, Jessica Lange, Robert Redford, Harrison Ford, Warren Beatty, and Tom Brokaw. Because of the creation of the Chatham Fine Art Gallery by famed Cape Cod artist Marguerite Falconer in 1968, as well as Chatham’s establishment of Clark City Press in 1989, the California-raised artist solidified his reputation as a multifaceted artist and author.

As we unravel the enigmatic allure of “Dalva,” we invite you to immerse yourself in the exhibition, “The Seymour Lawrence Collection of American Art,” to see Russell Chatham’s artwork in person at the University of Mississippi Museum. The museum is open from 10 AM to 5 PM Monday-Friday and from 10 AM to 4 PM on Saturday.

Victorian Magic Lantern Show

Victorian Magic Lantern Show with Joel Schlemowitz!

Join us for a spectacular show with Joel Schlemowitz on the lawn of the Walton Young House at the University Museum. Popcorn, cotton candy, and refreshments will be provided to enjoy during a theatrical demonstration of Victorian magic lantern slides. All ages are welcome at this free event.

 

For questions or more information, please contact the collections team, at museumcollections@olemiss.edu or 662-915-7074. 

EL: Magic Lanterns, MAY 3-41

Mediterranea: American Art from the Graham D. Williford Collection

AUGUST 6 – DECEMBER 7, 2024

Coming soon to the Edmonds, Lawrence, and Fortune Galleries

The Williford Collection of American Art boasts seventy-one paintings depicting scenes from the Mediterranean. Throughout the 1800s, aristocratic young men from America traveled to Europe to journey through the ancient ruins of Greece, Rome, and Egypt, following the footsteps of their British predecessors who started the Grand Tour in the 1600s.

 

William Clothier Watts, Grazing Sheep, Temple of Luxor, Egypt, ca. 1915, watercolor on paper
The Jean and Graham Devoe Williford Charitable Trust

Magic Lanterns

View Magic Lanterns Exhibit Online

FEBRUARY 13 – AUGUST 10, 2024

Magic Lanterns is an immersive exhibit containing luminous prints and projections of astronomical and astrological imagery sourced from 1860’s magic lantern slides from the Millington-Barnard Collection of Scientific Instruments. Magic Lanterns, a predecessor of modern slide projectors, was used to swindle, entertain, and enchant its audience for hundreds of years before the advent of moving pictures. Large projections of slides like these revolutionized teaching. With a single device that could fit in an average room a viewer could suddenly travel the globe or see through an observatory telescope lens.

Magic Lanterns

FEBRUARY 13 – AUGUST 10, 2024

View Magic Lanterns online

Astrological Signs, Carpenter and Westley Magic Lantern Slides, ca. 1860

 

Magic Lanterns is an immersive exhibit containing luminous prints and projections of astronomical and astrological imagery sourced from 1860’s magic lantern slides from the Millington-Barnard Collection of Scientific Instruments. Magic Lanterns, a predecessor of modern slide projectors, was used to swindle, entertain, and enchant its audience for hundreds of years before the advent of moving pictures. Large projections of slides like these revolutionized teaching. With a single device that could fit in an average room a viewer could suddenly travel the globe or see through an observatory telescope lens.


 

EL: Mini, APRIL 25, 38

EL: Mini, MAR 28, 28

EL: Building Brains, APRIL 18, 36

EL: Building Brains, MARCH 21, 26