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Eric Edward Esper
Ringling Brothers Barnum & Bailey Circus Fire of 1944 - Historic Disaster

2018

About the Item

There were several thousand people at the circus on July 6, 1944 for the mid-day show. As excited spectators were watching the Flying Wallenda's start their high wire act, a fire started on the sidewall of the enormous big top and spread quickly ovet the canvas, which was waterproofed with gasoline and parafin. As the fire burned over the crowd, a panic driven stampede caused many people to become tangled in the bleachers and animal cages in the ring, trapping them inside the tent as it became completely engulfed and burned to the ground in less than 10 minutes. This piece is framed in a wooden frame measuring 36 x 50.5 inches. Eric Edward Esper The Ringling Brothers Barnum & Bailey Circus Fire of 1944 oil on canvas 27h x 42w in 68.58h x 106.68w cm EEE011 Eric Edward Esper After obtaining my BFA in Illustration from Northern Michigan University in 1996 I relocated to Chicago to pursue my artistic endeavors. Here, I began exclusively oil painting and have assembled a body of paintings chronicling scenes of Chicago done primarily in plein air. Capturing parts of the city’s landscape during its cultural evolution had been my way of conveying history as a painter. My fascination with landscapes and history has led me to create oil paintings of scenes that have affected us in dramatic ways. Recently I have begun painting aerial views of locations that have interesting historical significance, encapsulating true stories that are hard to imagine and harder to forget. My latest paintings capture these places and depict them with historically accurate attention to detail. Using various sources I recreate these scenes with as many photographs of every angle of the incident and research the stories, submersing myself in the event. My newest body of paintings depicts events with a more historically tragic significance, depicting scenes of the darkest hours in America’s Midwest history, where the landscape became the backdrop for tragedy and calamity. These events that irrevocably altered so many lives are important to remember, not only for the people lost and how it affected our culture, but also to remind us that disaster can occur at any time, anywhere. Eric Edward Esper EDUCATION 1995 BFA, Illustration, Northern Michigan University, Marquette, Michigan SELECT EXHIBITIONS 2013 Chicago Catastrophes, Conflagrations, and Calamities, Solo show, Linda Warren Projects, Chicago, Illinois 2012 Group show, Metropolitan Capital Bank, Chicago, Illinois 2012 Ten year anniversary show, Sulzen Fine Art Studio, Chicago, Illinois 2010 Group show, Concordia University, River forest, Illinois 2009 Holiday Show, Sulzen Fine Art Studio, Chicago, Illinois 2008 Somewhere, Elsewhere, Group show, Linda Warren Gallery, Chicago, Illinois 2008 Scene in Chicago, Group show, Judy Saslow Gallery, Chicago, Illinois 2007 Holiday Show, Sulzen Fine Art Studio, Chicago, Illinois 2007 Cityscapes, Solo Exhibition, Oculus Gallery, Chicago, Illinois 2006 Solo exhibition, Meztli Gallery, Chicago, Illinois 2005 Around the Coyote 2005, Biannual Art Festival, Chicago, Illinois 2004 Chicago Art Open 2004, Chicago Artists' Coalition annual exhibit. Chicago, Illinois 2004 Chicago Images, Group show, Frederick Baker Inc. Chicago, Illinois 2004 Around the Coyote Winter Festival, Curator's Choice Show, Biannual art festival, Chicago, Illinois 2003 Landscape Unlimited, Group show, Fine Arts Building Gallery, Chicago, Illinois 2002 Chicago Art Open 2002, Chicago Artists' Coalition annual exhibit, Chicago, Illinois 1998 Shoe Show, Group show, Ariana Gallery, Royal Oak, Michigan 1998 Art and Design Alumni Exhibit, Lee Hall Gallery, Northern Michigan University, Marquette, Michigan 1997 Group Show. Streeterville Gallery, Chicago, Illinois CORPORATE COLLECTIONS 2012 Blue Cross Blue Shield, Corporate headquarters, Chicago, Illinois 2008/10 Deutschman & Associates, Corporate headquarters, Chicago, Illinois 2004 Piper Jaffray Brokerage, Corporate headquarters, Chicago, Illinois PUBLICATIONS 2011 Chicago Lawyers Magazine, Chicago, Illinois 1999 Barfly, Chicago, Illinois 1993/95 Marquette Monthly, Marquette, Michigan GRANTS 2011 CAAP Grant, Chicago, Illi
  • Creator:
    Eric Edward Esper (American)
  • Creation Year:
    2018
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 27 in (68.58 cm)Width: 42 in (106.68 cm)
  • Medium:
    Canvas,Oil
  • Movement & Style:
    Contemporary
  • Period:
    21st Century
  • Condition:
  • Gallery Location:
    Chicago, IL
  • Reference Number:
    Seller: EEE0111stDibs: LU55439584642