Fort Sanders in Knoxville in Knox County, Tennessee — The American South (East South Central)

Will Henry Stevens

(Vevay, Indiana 1881–1949)

Photographed By Tom Bosse, April 15, 2023

1. Will Henry Stevens Marker

Inscription.

Will Henry Stevens. (Vevay, Indiana 1881–1949). Untitled (#320), 1945 Pastel on paper 61 x 14 inches. Knoxville Museum of Art, 2001 Artscapes purchase with funds provided by Marie and Bob Alcorn, Barbara and Steve Apking, Barbara and Bernard E. Bernstein, Lane and Charles Hays, Shannon and Bobby Denton, Susan and Lee Hyde, Penny Lynch and Kimbro Maguire, Plasti-Line Inc. and Mr. and Mrs. James R. Martin, Daniel F. McGehee in honor of Sandra Powell Emond, Alexandra Rosen, Debbie and Ron Watkins, Christine Patterson and Ed Winter, Born in southeastern Indiana near the Ohio River, Will Henry Stevens studied with impressionist William Merrit Chase, but his more independent, idiosyncratic approach to painting may have shared something with another early influence, Albert Pinkman Ryder. Stevens studied at the Cincinnati Art Academy and worked for a time in the famous Rockwood Pottery studio., He taught in Louisville, Kentucky, before accepting a permanent position teaching art at Newcomb College in New Orleans, a women’s college associated with Tulane University. Drawn to the mountains of North Carolina and Tennessee, painting landscapes in his own style., He grew fascinated with the Smoky Mountains, both as a refuge and as a subject for his art. By the 1920s, he was exhibiting and lecturing occasionally in Knoxville, where made friends. A 1928 painting of the Mount LeConte area called “Misty Valley” drew special attention from Knoxville’s established artists. He sometimes exhibited at the University of Tennessee which maintains a collection of his work., In 1933 Stevens began teaching a summer school for art in the then tiny, quiet report of Gatlinburg, originally with the intention of starting an “art colony” there., His interests were broad, and he said he was equally inspired by writers, from Walt Whitman to Lao-Tze to Ralph Waldo Emerson as by other artists., He returned to Vevay, Indiana, his birthplace, where he died in 1949, not long after participating in a show in Indianapolis. Only later recognized as a pioneer of modernism, his work has been displayed much more since his death that it was during his lifetime., Special thanks to the Knoxville Museum of Art and the Knoxville Arts and Culture Alliance., Visit the Knoxville Museum of Art near here at 1050 World’s Fair Park Drive., Funding was provided by the Tennessee Arts Commission. Graphic Creations generously provided the grant match., Downtown Art Wraps are coordinated by the Knoxville History Project, an educational nonprofit with a mission to research and promote the history and culture of Knoxville. KHP’s educational articles and publications feature colorful characters, bizarre tales, interesting buildings, curious traditions, as well as seriously influential local events. Learn more at knoxvillehistoryproject.org..

Untitled (#320), 1945
Pastel on paper 61 x 14 inches
Knoxville Museum of Art, 2001 Artscapes purchase with funds provided by Marie and Bob Alcorn, Barbara and Steve Apking, Barbara and Bernard E. Bernstein, Lane and Charles Hays, Shannon and Bobby Denton, Susan and Lee Hyde, Penny Lynch and Kimbro Maguire, Plasti-Line Inc. and Mr. and Mrs. James R. Martin, Daniel F. McGehee in honor of Sandra Powell Emond, Alexandra Rosen, Debbie and Ron Watkins, Christine Patterson and Ed Winter

Born in southeastern Indiana near the Ohio River, Will Henry Stevens studied with impressionist William Merrit Chase, but his more independent, idiosyncratic approach to painting may have shared something with another early influence, Albert Pinkman Ryder. Stevens studied at the Cincinnati Art Academy and worked for a time in the famous Rockwood Pottery studio.

He taught in Louisville, Kentucky, before accepting a permanent position teaching art at Newcomb College in New Orleans, a women’s college associated with Tulane University. Drawn to the mountains of North Carolina and Tennessee, painting landscapes in his own style.

He grew fascinated with the Smoky Mountains, both as a refuge and as a subject for his art. By the 1920s, he was exhibiting and lecturing occasionally in Knoxville,

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where made friends. A 1928 painting of the Mount LeConte area called “Misty Valley” drew special attention from Knoxville’s established artists. He sometimes exhibited at the University of Tennessee which maintains a collection of his work.

In 1933 Stevens began teaching a summer school for art in the then tiny, quiet report of Gatlinburg, originally with the intention of starting an “art colony” there.

His interests were broad, and he said he was equally inspired by writers, from Walt Whitman to Lao-Tze to Ralph Waldo Emerson as by other artists.

He returned to Vevay, Indiana, his birthplace, where he died in 1949, not long after participating in a show in Indianapolis. Only later recognized as a pioneer of modernism, his work has been displayed much more since his death that it was during his lifetime.

Special thanks to the Knoxville Museum of Art and the Knoxville Arts & Culture Alliance.

Visit the Knoxville Museum of Art near here at 1050 World’s Fair Park Drive.

Funding was provided by the Tennessee Arts Commission. Graphic Creations
generously provided the grant match.

Downtown Art Wraps are coordinated by the Knoxville History Project, an educational
nonprofit with a mission to research and promote the history and culture of Knoxville.
KHP’s educational articles and publications

Photographed By Tom Bosse, April 15, 2023

2. Will Henry Stevens Marker

feature colorful characters, bizarre tales,
interesting buildings, curious traditions, as well as seriously influential local events.
Learn more at knoxvillehistoryproject.org.

Erected by Knoxville History Project.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Arts, Letters, Music. In addition, it is included in the Knoxville History Project - Downtown Art Wraps series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1945.

Location. 35° 57.849′ N, 83° 55.633′ W. Marker is in Knoxville, Tennessee, in Knox County. It is in Fort Sanders. Marker is at the intersection of 11th Street and Western Avenue, on the right when traveling north on 11th Street. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Knoxville TN 37916, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. The 1982 World's Fair Walking Tour (about 600 feet away, measured in a direct line); Memorial to Vietnam Veterans of East Tennessee (about 700 feet away); World's Fair Park (about 800 feet away); a different marker also named The 1982 World's Fair Walking Tour (approx. 0.2 miles away); a different marker also named The 1982 World's Fair Walking Tour (approx. 0.2 miles away); Catherine Wiley (approx. ¼ mile away);

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Civil War Hospital (approx. ¼ mile away); a different marker also named The 1982 World's Fair Walking Tour (approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Knoxville.

Credits. This page was last revised on May 21, 2023. It was originally submitted on May 20, 2023, by Tom Bosse of Jefferson City, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 55 times since then and 11 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on May 20, 2023, by Tom Bosse of Jefferson City, Tennessee. • James Hulse was the editor who published this page.