After viewing the exhibit poster for “Walter Quirt: Paintings and Drawings, Jan. 6 to 26, 1959,” here is a short and brief glimpse into the 1959 records that document the exhibition of the works of University faculty member Walter Quirt:

A December 15, 1958 University News Release for the January 1959 Quirt exhibit described, “Quirt, who has taught at the University for 11 years, is one of the acknowledged pioneers in American abstract art. Minnesota was deliberately chosen by Quirt after his 17 years of work in New York City. ”This’, Quirt feels, ‘Is the ideal environment for the ‘new art’ – an art which returns to the human figure. New York is the better location for the non-objective painter, but not for the painter of people.’” (Digital Conservancy).

“Seventeen oils and 15 large wash drawings” comprised the exhibition, several of which were being viewed by visitors to the exhibition in these photographs found within the exhibition file in Box 7 of the archival collection:

A clipping, dated 1-7-1959, that is not identified by publication, was included in a series of scrapbooks documenting the gallery from 1957-1959: