Village museum looking for former academy students

The Sea Cliff Village Museum is reaching out to former students of Harold Ransom Stevenson and his wife Alma Gallanos Stevenson, renowned artists and founders of the Stevenson Academy of Traditional Painting. The museum is preparing for a September exhibit titled “Harold Ransom Stevenson: An American Realist in Sea Cliff” and is keen to include stories, artwork, and memorabilia from those who studied under the Stevensons.

The exhibit will primarily showcase the museum’s extensive collection of Stevenson’s works, including magazine covers, paintings, and accompanying sketches and drawings. Courtney Chambers, the museum’s director, said that this collection was generously donated by his nieces in 2022.

“We received a very large donation encompassing about 13 paintings, as well as magazine covers, photographs, and scrapbooks,” Chambers explained. “We’ve been planning this exhibition since then, and now, with enough time passed since our last major art exhibit, we felt it was the right time.”

Stevenson, an artist, illustrator, and teacher originally from Brooklyn, was a protégé of Norman Rockwell, whom he got the chance to study under following his service in World War II. His style reflects Rockwell’s influence, characterized by a nostalgic Americana aesthetic.

“You can see that kind of Americana style that Rockwell is known for in a lot of his work,” Chambers said. “He was also influenced by Dutch painter Johannes Vermeer, which is evident in some of his paintings like ‘Cradle Song’.”

His wife Alma was a respected artist in her own right, having studied under, and later taught alongside, Stevenson. She also served as the art director for Colgate University.

The upcoming exhibit will be more than just a display of Stevenson’s art, however. It aims to tell the broader story of his life, his influences, and the art school he and his wife ran in Sea Cliff.

“We’re trying to track down some correspondence he had with Norman Rockwell to include in the exhibit,” Chambers added. “We hope to get digital copies from the Rockwell Museum in the Berkshires.”

The Stevenson Academy of Traditional Painting, located at 361 Glen Ave., was a cornerstone of Sea Cliff’s artistic community. Paul Bachem, a Glen Cove resident, illustrator and former student of the Stevensons, fondly recalled his time at the academy.

“I started there in September 1975, right after graduating high school, and studied with them until November 1977,” Bachem said. “It was an incredible experience that deeply influenced my career as an illustrator and painter.”

Bachem recounted how the academy offered rigorous academic training in traditional art techniques. He described how the Stevensons required students to rigorously master the basics before they would be allowed to move on to more complex and challenging pieces.

“We started with drawing spheres, cubes, and cones, then moved on to drawing from plaster casts, and finally to painting from live models,” he said. “It was a very disciplined and structured approach, but it laid a strong foundation for my entire career.”

According to Bachem, Stevenson was known for his realistic and meticulous style, while Alma brought a more impressionistic touch. He added that both were great teachers, who balanced high expectations with strong support for their students.

“Mrs. Stevenson was very gentle and encouraged us to round off the hard edges,” Bachem said. “They were both wonderful people, very supportive and nurturing. They were like second parents to me.”

In addition to showcasing Stevenson’s works, Chambers added that the museum is eager to include pieces created by his former students. The museum also aims to restart its Oral History Program and is inviting former students to share their memories and experiences.

“We’d love to talk to people who studied under Stevenson,” Chambers said. “It would be fun to include their stories in the exhibit, and possibly even their artworks.”

The Sea Cliff Village Museum is encouraging anyone with stories, artifacts, or artwork related to Harold and Alma Stevenson to contact them. The museum will be open on Saturdays in July and plans to close in August to prepare for the new exhibit, which will open on Sept. 14.

For those interested in contributing, the museum can be reached by phone or email at (516) 801-3401 or museum@seacliff-ny.gov. For more information on the museum itself and its exhibits, visit the website at SeaCliffMuseum.org.