Robert William Gelinas (American, 1931-2010) oil on canvas expressionist painting titled "Burden" depicting the figure of a man rendered in black against a background in shades of tan, white, black, and yellow. Signed "Gelinas" lower right. Labels en verso from the Mid-South Exhibition of Paintings 1961, Brooks Memorial Art Gallery, Overton Park, Memphis, Tennessee with artist's name, title, and location; pencil inscription reading "1st Prize". Housed in a white painted wooden frame. Sight – 56 7/8" H x 48 1/8" W. Framed – 57 5/8" H x 49" W. Mid 20th century. Provenance: Deaccessioned from the Memphis Brooks Museum of Art. Biography (source: the Sarasota Herald Tribune): Robert William Gelinas was born in Springfield, Massachusetts and attended the University of Connecticut and the Julliard School of Music in New York. Working as a jazz musician, he joined the Air Force in 1951 and became a member of the Air Force Band. Upon release from the Air Force in 1953, he attended the University of Alabama, completing his BFA and MFA degrees in art. For the next 31 years he taught art at Memphis State University and then at the University of South Florida in Tampa. He exhibited extensively in national and regional exhibitions, including two Corcoran Biennials in Washington, D.C., and won 44 major awards, grants, and fellowships in painting and performance art. Robert's work is included in permanent and private collections including the Tampa Museum, the Polk Museum in Lakeland, the Florida House of Representatives in Tallahassee, and the High Museum in Atlanta. He was also a member of the Fine Art Society in Sarasota, and has a painting in their art collection at the Van Wezel Performing Art Center. Note: the first annual Mid-South Exhibition was held at the Brooks in 1956, a tradition that continued for the next 17 years and included purchase prizes to help bring regional art into the collection. Jurors included artists such as Wil Barnet and Jack Levine as well as museum directors from institutions such as Museum of Fine Arts, Boston and The Walker Art Center. CONDITION: Overall very good condition.