New gallery at Butler to open with carvings

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

A new gallery will open this month at the Butler Institute of American Art with a collection of carved birds as its inaugural exhibition.

The Balcony Gallery in the Butler North building will open July 26 with “The Birds of Cliff McGinnis,” a collection of sculpted birds that are native to the Mahoning Valley. The exhibit will run through the end of the year.

The gallery is the former balcony of the church that once occupied the Butler North building, and is part of the Americana galleries that the structure now houses. It is located immediately across the foot bridge from the main building.

The new gallery features a clear glass wall that keeps visitors safe and also provides a panoramic view of the stained-glass windows at the opposite end of the building. It was designed by architect C. Robert Buchanan and constructed by Davis International.

The Hubbard-born McGinnis has gained a regional reputation as a master carver.

He used linden wood and acrylic paint as his mediums for the bird carvings. With hammer, chisel and other carving tools, McGinnis painstakingly created exact representations of birds, including accurate coloring.

McGinnis’ works have been featured for many years in the Butler’s annual craft show and are favorites among art lovers and collectors. The works in the Butler exhibit are from the collection of W.P. Williamson.

Also on display in the new Balcony Gallery will be prints by John James Audubon and drawings by Henry Keller, both from the museum’s collection.

A full-sized reproduction volume of Audubon’s “The Birds of America” also will be on display. The book, first published as a series in sections between 1827 and 1838, in Edinburgh and London, features hand-colored life-size engravings.

The Butler is open from noon to 4 p.m. Sunday and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday.