Peaceable Kingdom: The Art of Donald Saaf October 4 – December 23, 2023

The Cahoon Museum of American Art announces the opening of a new exhibition, Peaceable Kingdom: The Art of Donald Saaf. The exhibition presents a series of paintings that span Saaf’s career, as well as a selection of his children’s book illustrations. Wood carved figurative sculptures by Saaf’s son, Olaf Saaf, will also be on view. The exhibition continues through December 23. 
 
A graduate of the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Donald Saaf has spent the past 25 years exploring subject matter inspired by his life in rural communities in Nova Scotia, Maine, and Bellows Falls, Vermont where he currently lives. His work bridges both folk and fine art traditions and melds a sense of place, observation, memory, and imagination in narrative scenes of village life. Saaf’s colorful works are heartwarming and celebrate simple joys, such as apple picking, bicycling, and time spent observing the natural world. The exhibition is designed to appeal to all ages. 

Saaf is also the illustrator, author, and co-author of numerous children’s books. An accomplished musician and recording artist, Saaf plays many folk instruments including the pump organ, mandolin, balalaika, guitar, and banjo. His new compilation of music, The Arrow of Time, has just been released.  
 
Saaf will be at the Museum for a number of programs including a gallery talk and musical performance on October 7th, a musical performance on October 8th, and  he will be available to greet visitors during the Museum’s Fall Open House from 1:00-3:00PM in the Trustees Gallery.  

Donald Saaf is represented by the Rice Polak Gallery in Provincetown, MA