Paintings of local students of Anderson-Smith added to Gallery’s exhibit

The Douglas Art Association through the Art Gallery in Douglas is offering a retrospective exhibit of the finest works of impressionist painter Effie Anderson Smith in honor of Arizona’s Statehood Centennial.

The exhibit officially began on Saturday, February 4 with an opening reception held from 1-4 p.m. at the Gallery.

During the reception it was informed by the E.A. Smith Archive Curator Steven Carlson that besides the amazing paintings from Anderson-Smith, seven paintings from four local women who studied with her were also on display.

“We decided to also include seven paintings by four Douglas women who studied with Effie during the 1940's and who were among her best students,” Carlson said.

Included in that group is former Mayor of Douglas and current President of the Society of St, Paul De Vincent, Elizabeth (Williams) Ames.

“We have 2 excellent paintings by Mrs. Ames from 1944 hanging in the 'Students Corner' area of the exhibit,” Carlson added.

Ames remembers being 14 years old when she became a student of Anderson-Smith. She also remembers Anderson-Smith as a wonderful woman and a very patient teacher.

“She was a lovely lady,” Ames said. “She was kind, she was very patient. I never saw her get upset with something that we did on the painting that was not right and if you look at her paintings and the paintings of her students you can tell by comparing them that we all painted just like she did.”

The other Douglas women of the 1940's who are also included in the "Students of Effie" area are Myriam Toles, Jewell Crouch and Myrtle Fowler, who were most active in the Douglas Arts Association during its founding years.

Anderson-Smith’s exhibit was opened Tuesday, January 31 and will continue through February 25. The Gallery will be open to the public from Tuesday to Saturday from 10-2 p.m. For more information call the Douglas Art Gallery at (520)364-6410 and to know more about Anderson Smith people can visit effieandersonsmith.com