Another Wonderful Life
A combined exhibit of the work of artist Mary Stewart and a companion showing of her brother Jimmy Stewart’s film, The Mortal Storm.
Her famous brother, actor Jimmy Stewart was the first Hollywood star to enlist in World War II. Mary Stewart, hoping to do her part, embarked on The War Orphans Series, depicting tbe horrors of war on the children of Europe where family separations and deportations became the norm.
This Event will feature a companion showing of one of Jimmy Stewart’s most iconic films—The Mortal Storm.
How artist Mary Stewart’s life intertwined with her famous movie star brother, Jimmy Stewart, during World War II.
Another Wonderful Life, the Exhibit
The Art of Mary Stewart
The War Orphan’s Series
The war in Europe with the rise of Nazism and Fascism had a profound influence on Mary’s art. She felt that the real victims of all military arrogance were the youth. In her work she depicted the horrors to children that were taking place in Europe. Her art was influenced by but not derivative of the great German artist Kathe Kollwitz, whose work was suppressed by the Nazis. Mother and Child was a recurring theme in her work, ominous and disturbing.
Later in the war Mary designed powerful anti-Nazi propaganda posters and created artwork for the organization Artists for Victory, which held the National War Poster Competition of 1942. Her cartoon was accepted and won first prize at a juried exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, beating out luminaries like Saul Steinberg, Charles Addams, Peter Arno and others. The exhibition went on to tour the country to promote war bonds.
A companion showing of one of
Jimmy Stewart’s most iconic films
A critically acclaimed film, The Mortal Storm, pointedly addressed the attack on Democracy at the time.
The Mortal Storm
The Mortal Storm (1940) was MGM's first feature film to openly criticize Germany's Nazi regime. Set in 1933, the film unflinchingly looked at the rise of Nazism, and helped explain why some Jews stayed in Germany in the face of the rising Nazi persecution.
The film shows the impact on Germans after Hitler becomes chancellor of Germany and gains unlimited power. Several weeks after the film’s US release, all MGM movies were banned in Germany, including The Mortal Storm.
A year after the film’s release, Jimmy Stewart became the first major star to join the United States military at the beginning of World War II.
“Every American today should see The Mortal Storm.”
Jimmy Stewart’s War World II Record
The exhibit signage details Jimmy Stewart’s war career as he became a decorated bomber pilot and squadron commander who flew 20 missions over enemy territory and won two Distinguished Flying Crosses and the French Croix de Guerre.
On July 23, 1959, Stewart was promoted to brigadier general, becoming the highest-ranking actor in American military history.
A Q&A with Stewart family members will be held after the Film’s showing
The Mortal Storm Introduction by Kelly Perry
The Mortal Storm Q&A with David Perry