Farnsworth exhibit debuts in Washington

WASHINGTON – Sen. Olympia Snowe of Maine has joined Sen. Ted Stevens of Alaska, artist Jamie Wyeth and Time magazine columnist Hugh Sidey in celebrating the opening of the “One Nation” exhibit on Capitol Hill.

“One Nation: Patriots and Pirates Portrayed by N.C. Wyeth and James Wyeth” is a special exhibition of the Farnsworth Art Museum in Rockland opening in conjunction with the presidential inauguration festivities in Washington. The exhibit can be viewed by the public through Jan. 26 in the rotunda of the Russell Senate Office Building, adjacent to the U.S. Capitol.

At a press briefing and breakfast Tuesday, Snowe said the exhibit represents “an exploration of ourselves and the American journey over the past 100 years … a celebration of a uniquely American expression of a uniquely American experience … and the sum of all our hopes and fears, our courage and our questions.”

Snowe said this is the first time a Farnsworth museum exhibit has appeared in Washington.

“For over 50 years, the Farnsworth museum has featured the artwork of this remarkable [Maine] family, and today three entire galleries feature three entire generations of Wyeth paintings. And I’m proud that in conjunction with this exhibit, the public will have their first opportunity to view Jamie’s official bicentennial portrait of our hallowed White House right here on Capitol Hill.”

Jamie Wyeth, grandson of N.C. Wyeth and son of Andrew Wyeth, was commissioned to paint

the official bicentennial portrait of the White House, “Dawn, the White House 2000.”

The painting made its public debut Tuesday.