NORMAN PETTINGILL:
PRETTY FAR BACK IN THE WOODS
Through January 16, 2011
Born in Iron River, a small northern Wisconsin town founded by his grandfather, Norman Pettingill (1896-1991) grew up a true outdoorsman, hunting, trapping, and fishing. The beauty of the woods, lakes, and wildlife inspired him-as did the quirky humor of the saloons, cabin culture, and throngs of seasonal visitors coming to the Northwoods to "get away from it all." Pettingill became an artist of note in the region with a professional career spanning approximately five decades, drawing not on any artistic training or ideas propagated by the art world, but simply on the vernacular culture that defined his life. Norman Pettingill: Pretty Far Back in the Woods includes more than 40 of the artist's humorous illustrations-some on view for the first time. All are from the Arts Center's collection, the largest holdings of Pettingill's works.