Sheffield — The art exhibit “Poison Pens: Political Cartoonists Take Aim at the American Presidency from Jefferson to Biden” will be on display at the Berkshire School’s Warren Family Gallery until Saturday, October 19. The exhibit is curated by Paul Banevicius, director of the Warren Family Gallery.
The exhibit includes original cartoon art, along with some art from Banevicius’s collection and reproductions of historical art.
Banevicius told The Berkshire Edge that he has collected personal sketches from over 1,000 cartoonists, first starting as a teenager. “I’ve always been fascinated by cartoonists, and I’m an amateur cartoonist myself,” Banevicius said. “I always thought, ‘I’ll write to a cartoonist and ask them for a drawing.’ My collection has taken a life of its own over 50 years. As my collection has grown, it has become a history of this medium in all different areas of cartooning, including comic strips, comic books, and political cartoons.”
Banevicius said that, with the national election coming up in less than a month, the exhibit focuses on political cartoonists and caricaturists and how they have examined and depicted the American presidency over the years. “I think political art is important, especially now when American politics is so polarized,” Banevicius said. “Looking at the presidency through the lens of cartoonists adds a little bit of humor to it. It’s something that all sides of the political spectrum can appreciate and enjoy. There are certainly some strong biases in the cartooning world. Sometimes the art can be extremely critical, and to some people, it can be offensive, especially how the artist picks one side or the other. But one of the things you see, as you look at the history of political cartooning, is how this is all something that isn’t just happening in today’s world. There have always been strong points of view when it comes to politics.”
The exhibit includes work from artists Patrick Oliphant, John Fischetti, Paul Szep, Paul Conrad, Matt Wuerker, Jerry Holbert, and Garry Trudeau.
Banevicius said that editorial cartoons are an important way to look at American history. “This show gives a broad survey of the American presidency for the past 200 years, along with different political issues that are still coming up,” Banevicius said. “To me, it’s interesting to see how the medium has changed; yet in many ways, it has not changed at all. I think a lot of people criticize today’s political cartoons sometimes for being too ‘haha funny’ and not biting enough. But I think you’ve always seen that. You’ve seen some cutting and scathing cartoonists over the years, and you have also seen derivative cartoonists copying other people’s styles, just going for the laugh. The medium of political cartoons has changed over the years, from broadsides and engravings in the late 18th and 19th centuries, to woodblock prints. With the advent of photogravure, newspapers were able to reproduce ink drawings or charcoal drawings.”
Back in 2022, in his “Doonesbury” comic strip, Trudeau lamented how newspaper editorial cartoonists are a “vanishing breed,” being dropped from newspapers. “Back in the day, every small town had its own newspaper, as well as their editorial cartoonist that would often focus on local issues, along with international or national issues,” Banevicius said. “Newspapers are a dying breed as well. But other things have taken its place. Going into the 20th century, when newspapers are a dying breed, the best political cartoons are the ones you often see online. I love sharing my collection for this exhibit, and I think it has something for people who love politics and American history.”
The Warren Family Gallery is located on the campus of Berkshire School, at 245 North Undermountain Road in Sheffield, and is open Monday through Saturday, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., or by appointment. For more information call (413) 229-1265 or email pbanevicius@berkshireschool.org.
