Artist's personal work on display

ALEXANDRIA BAY — Starting Sunday, the public will have a rare opportunity to examine the more personal work and art collection of Alson Skinner Clark, a "master impressionist of the Thousand Islands," at the Cornwall Brothers Store and Museum on Market Street.

Mr. Clark, who is best remembered for his landscapes, helped introduce the French-impressionist style to the United States and lived in the Thousand Islands in the summer from the time he was 6 years old.

Patricia Tague, president of the Alexandria Township Historical Society, said an extensive collection of paintings and sketches of Thousand Islands scenery by Mr. Clark as well as the work of other well-known artists found in the Clarks' summer home on Comfort Island will be on display.

Mrs. Tague said the exhibit was prompted by the planned sale of Comfort Island and the Clarks' summer cottage.

Mancel T. "Tad" Clark III, Alson Clark's great-nephew, said he plans to sell the property because none of his family members are likely to inhabit the historic property.

Tad Clark said while there have been numerous exhibits of Mr. Clark's works across the nation — and even a few in the Thousand Islands region — this is the first time his work found in the Clarks' summer home will be presented to the public.

"The work hasn't been available to the public because it was in the house," he said. "We thought it should be shared."

The property is listed with Sotheby's, an international realty group that specializes in selling historic homes. The Clarks' family cottage was completed in 1883.

The memorabilia and most of the artwork will be removed before the property is sold, but Tad Clark — who is the fourth generation of the Clark family to live on Comfort Island — hopes the new owner will keep the murals on the walls and preserve the historic property.

"We have no immediate plans to auction the property," he said. "We're hoping to sell it to somebody who's interested in preserving the work."

Tad Clark said his great uncle painted over everything from the cabin walls to the furniture.

"When you enter the cabin, it's almost like a walk into a moment in history," he said. "And the amount of memorabilia and artwork found in the cabin, it's mind-boggling."

Alson Skinner Clark was born in Chicago in 1876 and spent much of his early career in Paris. He served in the U.S. Army as an aerial photographer during World War I.

In 1920, Mr. Clark and his wife, Medora McMullen, moved to Pasadena, Calif., where he died in 1949 at the age of 73.

Mrs. Tague said the historical society hopes to keep the exhibit open until September 2010, and plans to add more artwork found in the Clarks' summer house as they become available.

The opening reception will start at 3 p.m. Sunday and the museum will be open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. during the summer.

The exhibition is sponsored by the Alexandria Township Historical Society. Although there is no admission fee, visitors are encouraged to make a $3 donation to help the historical society preserve the 1866 Cornwall Brothers Store building.