Erwin S. Barrie
Encyclopedia
Erwin S. Barrie was an American businessman in the arts. He was most closely associated with New York City
's Grand Central Art Galleries
, which he managed from its founding in 1922 until he retired in 1975. Barrie, whose middle name was Seaver, was born in Canton
, Ohio
. He attended Cornell University
and then studied landscape painting at the Art Institute of Chicago
. After his studies he became manager of the art collection at Carson Pirie Scott
; it was at this time that he befriended Hovsep Pushman
and other artists.
In 1922 Barrie was hired by businessman and art patron Walter Leighton Clark
to manage the Grand Central Art Galleries
, which he was in the process of establishing. Clark had secured space in Grand Central Terminal
, and his goal was to create "the largest sales gallery of art in the world." The galleries extended over most of the terminal's sixth floor, 15000 square feet (1,393.5 m²), and offered eight main exhibition rooms, a foyer gallery, and a reception area. The architect was William Adams Delano
, best known for designing Yale Divinity School
's Sterling Quadrangle.
The Grand Central Art Galleries
were managed by Barrie for more than 50 years; he guided them through the Depression and World War II
as well as enabling many of their triumphs. In the 1940s Barrie helped establish the Galleries' "Grand Central Moderns" division, and managed it until Colette Roberts took over the reins in 1951. After the gallery "wandered about for several years" it settled at 130 East 56th Street in 1950. Artists represented by Grand Central Moderns included Byron Browne, Lamar Dodd
, Jennett Lam, and Louise Nevelson
.
Barrie's treatment of artists was particularly respectful. For Pushman he "maintained a separate velvet-walled salon.... The only illumination allowed on his paintings were specially designed reflector lights attached to the rear of his carefully selected antique frames." When Henry Tanner
was unable to provide a canvas for the Galleries' 1930 members' show, Barrie chose one of the artist's paintings from the stockroom and entered it in his name. The work, Etaples Fisher Folk, won Tanner the Walter L. Clark
prize, worth $500.
In November 1950 Barrie had a show of his own paintings at the Galleries. The exhibition, titled "Famous Golf Holes I Have Played," was attended by former amateur golf champion Willie Turnesa
among others. Speaking of his paintings, Barrie said:
In 1958 the Grand Central Art Galleries
were forced out of the Grand Central Terminal
, which had been their home since 1922, by the construction of the Pan Am Building
. Barrie supervised the Galleries' relocation to the second floor of the Biltmore Hotel
, where they had six exhibition rooms and an office. Barrie directed the Galleries at that location until 1975, when he retired.
Barrie died in Delray Beach, Florida
, in 1983 after a brief illness. He also had a home in Greenwich
, Connecticut
. He was survived by his second wife, Rose Marie, whom he married in 1974 after the death of his first wife, Grace.
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
's Grand Central Art Galleries
Grand Central Art Galleries
The Grand Central Art Galleries were the exhibition and administrative space of the nonprofit Painters and Sculptors Gallery Association, an artists' cooperative established in 1922 by Walter Leighton Clark together with John Singer Sargent, Edmund Greacen, and others...
, which he managed from its founding in 1922 until he retired in 1975. Barrie, whose middle name was Seaver, was born in Canton
Canton, Ohio
Canton is the county seat of Stark County in northeastern Ohio, approximately south of Akron and south of Cleveland.The City of Caton is the largest incorporated area within the Canton-Massillon Metropolitan Statistical Area...
, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
. He attended Cornell University
Cornell University
Cornell University is an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York, United States. It is a private land-grant university, receiving annual funding from the State of New York for certain educational missions...
and then studied landscape painting at the Art Institute of Chicago
Art Institute of Chicago
The School of the Art Institute of Chicago is one of America's largest accredited independent schools of art and design, located in the Loop in Chicago, Illinois. It is associated with the museum of the same name, and "The Art Institute of Chicago" or "Chicago Art Institute" often refers to either...
. After his studies he became manager of the art collection at Carson Pirie Scott
Carson Pirie Scott
Carson Pirie Scott & Co., known informally as Carson's, is an upscale chain of department stores that have been in business for over 150 years. Their product price points are targeted to the moderate-to-upscale shopper...
; it was at this time that he befriended Hovsep Pushman
Hovsep Pushman
Hovsep Pushman was an American artist of Armenian background. He was known for his contemplative still lifes and sensitive portraits of women, often in exotic dress...
and other artists.
In 1922 Barrie was hired by businessman and art patron Walter Leighton Clark
Walter Leighton Clark
Walter Leighton Clark was an American businessman, inventor, and artist based in Stockbridge, Massachusetts and New York City. Among other achievements, in 1923 he founded with John Singer Sargent the Grand Central Art Galleries, located within New York City's Grand Central Terminal, to offer...
to manage the Grand Central Art Galleries
Grand Central Art Galleries
The Grand Central Art Galleries were the exhibition and administrative space of the nonprofit Painters and Sculptors Gallery Association, an artists' cooperative established in 1922 by Walter Leighton Clark together with John Singer Sargent, Edmund Greacen, and others...
, which he was in the process of establishing. Clark had secured space in Grand Central Terminal
Grand Central Terminal
Grand Central Terminal —often incorrectly called Grand Central Station, or shortened to simply Grand Central—is a terminal station at 42nd Street and Park Avenue in Midtown Manhattan in New York City, United States...
, and his goal was to create "the largest sales gallery of art in the world." The galleries extended over most of the terminal's sixth floor, 15000 square feet (1,393.5 m²), and offered eight main exhibition rooms, a foyer gallery, and a reception area. The architect was William Adams Delano
William Adams Delano
William Adams Delano , an American architect, was a partner with Chester Holmes Aldrich in the firm of Delano & Aldrich. The firm worked in the Beaux-Arts tradition for elite clients in New York City, Long Island and elsewhere, building townhouses, country houses, clubs, banks and buildings for...
, best known for designing Yale Divinity School
Yale Divinity School
Yale Divinity School is a professional school at Yale University, in New Haven, Connecticut, U.S. preparing students for ordained or lay ministry, or for the academy...
's Sterling Quadrangle.
The Grand Central Art Galleries
Grand Central Art Galleries
The Grand Central Art Galleries were the exhibition and administrative space of the nonprofit Painters and Sculptors Gallery Association, an artists' cooperative established in 1922 by Walter Leighton Clark together with John Singer Sargent, Edmund Greacen, and others...
were managed by Barrie for more than 50 years; he guided them through the Depression and World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
as well as enabling many of their triumphs. In the 1940s Barrie helped establish the Galleries' "Grand Central Moderns" division, and managed it until Colette Roberts took over the reins in 1951. After the gallery "wandered about for several years" it settled at 130 East 56th Street in 1950. Artists represented by Grand Central Moderns included Byron Browne, Lamar Dodd
Lamar Dodd
Lamar Dodd was a U.S. painter whose work reflected a love of the American South.- Early life and education :Born in Fairburn, Georgia to Rev...
, Jennett Lam, and Louise Nevelson
Louise Berliawsky Nevelson
Louise Nevelson was an American sculptor known for her monumental, monochromatic, wooden wall pieces and outdoor sculptures. Born in Czarist Russia, she emigrated with her family to the United States in the early 20th century when she was three years old. Nevelson learned English at school, as she...
.
Barrie's treatment of artists was particularly respectful. For Pushman he "maintained a separate velvet-walled salon.... The only illumination allowed on his paintings were specially designed reflector lights attached to the rear of his carefully selected antique frames." When Henry Tanner
Henry Ossawa Tanner
Henry Ossawa Tanner was an African American artist best known for his style of painting. He was the first African American painter to gain international acclaim.-Education:...
was unable to provide a canvas for the Galleries' 1930 members' show, Barrie chose one of the artist's paintings from the stockroom and entered it in his name. The work, Etaples Fisher Folk, won Tanner the Walter L. Clark
Walter Leighton Clark
Walter Leighton Clark was an American businessman, inventor, and artist based in Stockbridge, Massachusetts and New York City. Among other achievements, in 1923 he founded with John Singer Sargent the Grand Central Art Galleries, located within New York City's Grand Central Terminal, to offer...
prize, worth $500.
In November 1950 Barrie had a show of his own paintings at the Galleries. The exhibition, titled "Famous Golf Holes I Have Played," was attended by former amateur golf champion Willie Turnesa
Willie Turnesa
William P. Turnesa was an American amateur golfer, best known for winning two U.S. Amateur titles and the British Amateur. He was one of seven famous golfing brothers; Phil , Frank , Joe , Mike , Doug , Jim , and Willie...
among others. Speaking of his paintings, Barrie said:
"The little 11th hole at [Tarrytown, N.Y.'s] Sleepy Hollow, a one-shotter of 142 yds., is, on the other hand, attractive and gay. It is comparatively easy. The trees are soft and inviting, the reflections in the water are lyric and I have tried to give just that impression in my colorful and atmospheric interpretation of it."
In 1958 the Grand Central Art Galleries
Grand Central Art Galleries
The Grand Central Art Galleries were the exhibition and administrative space of the nonprofit Painters and Sculptors Gallery Association, an artists' cooperative established in 1922 by Walter Leighton Clark together with John Singer Sargent, Edmund Greacen, and others...
were forced out of the Grand Central Terminal
Grand Central Terminal
Grand Central Terminal —often incorrectly called Grand Central Station, or shortened to simply Grand Central—is a terminal station at 42nd Street and Park Avenue in Midtown Manhattan in New York City, United States...
, which had been their home since 1922, by the construction of the Pan Am Building
MetLife Building
The MetLife Building, originally called the Pan Am Building, is a skyscraper located at 200 Park Avenue in Midtown Manhattan, New York City.-History:...
. Barrie supervised the Galleries' relocation to the second floor of the Biltmore Hotel
New York Biltmore Hotel
The New York Biltmore Hotel was a luxury hotel in New York City. It was one of three palatial hotels built as part of the Terminal City development...
, where they had six exhibition rooms and an office. Barrie directed the Galleries at that location until 1975, when he retired.
Barrie died in Delray Beach, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
, in 1983 after a brief illness. He also had a home in Greenwich
Greenwich
Greenwich is a district of south London, England, located in the London Borough of Greenwich.Greenwich is best known for its maritime history and for giving its name to the Greenwich Meridian and Greenwich Mean Time...
, Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
. He was survived by his second wife, Rose Marie, whom he married in 1974 after the death of his first wife, Grace.