News Release No. 356

THOMAS HART BENTON HOME RECEIVES SCULPTURE OF ARTIST

Volume 32-356

Contact: Sue Holst

(For immediate release)

573-751-6510

JEFFERSON CITY, MO, NOV. 3, 2004 -- The Thomas Hart Benton Home and Studio State Historic Site, a facility of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources and located in Kansas City, recently was given a life-size bronze bust depicting Missouri's most famous 20th century painter. The sculpture of Thomas Hart Benton was done in 1970 by Leonard "Gus" Shafer, a nationally known western artist from Kansas, and was donated to the Benton Home by the Barclay Foundation of St. Joseph.

Benton posed for the bust and agreed to teach Shafer some painting techniques in return for some sculpting tips. This head and shoulders likeness shows Benton at the time he was 80 years old. The base of the sculpture depicts three rural scenes typical of Benton's "Regionalist" art.

This newest acquisition can be viewed at the site from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday and from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. Guided tours of the home and studio are available during these times for $2.50/adult. The site will also hold an informational meeting at 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 20, to discuss recent changes and projects at the Benton home, plans for development of programs, and upcoming repairs and renovations at the site.

Thomas Hart Benton Home and Studio State Historic Site is located at 3616 Belleview in mid-town Kansas City. For more information, call the site directly at 816-931-5722 or the Missouri Department of Natural Resources toll free at 800-334-6946 (voice) or 800-379-2419 (Telecommunications Device for the Deaf). For information on state parks and historic sites, go to www.mostateparks.com.

For news releases on the Web, visit www.dnr.state.mo.us/newsrel. For a complete listing of the department's upcoming meetings, hearings and events, visit the department's online calendar at www.dnr.mo.gov/calendar/search.do.

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