'Warhol Uncanned' exhibit at Springfield Art Museum also a food drive

A new temporary exhibition called "Warhol Uncanned" will be on display at the Springfield Art Museum May 4 through August 28. During that time, the Springfield Art Museum will also host a food drive for Ozarks Food Harvest.

Colorado artist Lindsey Wohlman donated the pieces to fill the void left in the museum's collection after the theft earlier this month.

In a release announcing the exhibit, Springfield Art Museum Director Nick Nelson described the commercial burglary of seven iconic Andy Warhol Campbell’s Soup Can screenprints as feeling like “the loss of a family member." Wohlman is no stranger to that feeling. She lost her mother to cancer at the age of twelve. Her mother’s passion for drawing and sculpting led Wohlman to become an artist herself.

In an open letter to Nelson on her website, Wohlman, moved by the recent theft of “public health and happiness,” offered to donate a set of works from her “Warhol Naked and Unlabeled” series to fill the void left in the Museum’s collection.

Wohlman told the News-Leader she is both a photographer and a sculptor. She researched the 32 Campbell's soup recipes originally portrayed by Warhol back in 1962, then used gelatin and other materials to make sculptures that look like canned soups — without a can. Then she took the photos, which will soon hang in place of the stolen prints.

Nelson said in the release, “We were touched and inspired by her generosity, as well as her understanding of what the loss of cultural property means to a community. We continue to be humbled by the outpouring of support from the artistic community, both local and national, as we navigate this difficult time.”

Colorado artist offers Warhol-inspired art to Springfield museum

Christy Claybaker is Community Engagement Coordinator at Ozarks Food Harvest.

“One in six adults and one in four kids right here in our community are food insecure, often unsure of where their next meal is coming from. At some point, 67 percent of households in the Ozarks have had to make the choice between paying for utilities or buying food," Claybaker said in the release. “Food drives help to raise awareness of food insecurity in a tangible way.

“While hunger is a big problem facing our community, partnerships like this are one way to make a real impact on solving this critical issue.”

For more information, visit www.sgfmuseum.org