Name/Title
Douglas AlleyEntry/Object ID
2019.27.01Description
Watercolor painting of sheds, staircases and trees in a alley in Douglas.
Behind glass with a white 3" mat and 1" natural wood frame. Painted by Helen E. Corlett approx. 1940-1950.Context
Text that accompanied painting in 2008 "13 Moments in Time" exhibit portfolio:
Douglas Backyards
11 of 13
Helen Corlett
Watercolor, ca 1963
In a town full of artists all corners of the area are eventually committed to canvas - even the backyards and alleys. Each spring and fall Helen Corlett invited her friends from Chicago for a week-long painting session. They seemed to specialize in behind-the-scenes views. This painting is a view of a series of backyards in Douglas running behind the stores on the north side of Center Street and opening onto an alley. The perspective is looking west from Main Street.
Helen Ehrman (1893-1978) was born in Oak Park, Illinois, and first visited the Douglas lakeshore in 1899 as a young child. In 1917 she was married to Webster David Corlett and the couple eventually owned three houses on Lakeshore Drive in a compound called "Ballakeyll," Manx for "Five Acre Farm." She took classes throughout her life, both at Ox-Bow and in Chicago.
Saugatuck-Douglas Historical Society Collection, gift of Ruth CorlettCollection
ArtworksCataloged By
Voss, MaryAcquisition
Accession
2019.27Source or Donor
Found in the SDHS/SDHC collectionAcquisition Method
DonationNotes
Gift of Ruth CorlettMade/Created
Artist Information
Artist
Corlett, Helen Katherine (Ehrman) 1893-1978Role
ArtistDate made
1940 - 1950Place
* Untyped Place
Saugatuck, Michigan (geographic place)Lexicon
Search Terms
Painting, Douglas Alley watercolor paintingLocation
Shelf
AC bay 17Room
Art Conservation RoomRelationships
Related Person or Organization
Person or Organization
Corlett, Helen Katherine (Ehrman) 1893-1978Exhibition
Curator’s Choice ExhibitInterpretative Labels
Label
Helen E. Corlett
1891 – 1971
Alley, Douglas, MI
undated | watercolor on paper
Notes: Helen Corlett first visited the Saugatuck Douglas area with her parents at the age of six. The Chicago family originally stayed in a boarding house on Lake Shore Drive. Later, the Corletts bought that house which still remains in the family. Helen studied at the Art Institute of Chicago. As an adult, Helen would come for long weekends and host “painting parties” for her artist friends. She was a member of the Saugatuck Art Club and also studied at Ox-Bow.
Regentrification in Douglas is a recent phenomenon. This scene shows the alley just north of Center Street, looking west from Main Street.
Collection: Saugatuck Douglas History Center
Gift of: The Corlett Family
Accession: 2019.27.01General Notes
Note
Notes: The painting was given by the Corlett family to the SDHC prior to 2005. No paperwork available.
Status: OK
Status By: Mary Voss
Status Date: 2019-08-19Create Date
August 19, 2019Update Date
September 4, 2024
