In late 2023, Western Spirit: Scottsdale’s Museum of the West announced that it had accepted a donation of paintings, drawings, prints and archival materials related to Arizona artist Mac Schweitzer. The gift totaled more than 500 objects, including 128 original artworks, prints and sketches.
Mac Schweitzer (1924-1962), Confrontation, ca. 1950, pencil and watercolor wash. © Estate of Mac Schweitzer.
The works came to the museum as a gift from Dr. Ann Lane Hedlund, in memory of her late husband and Mac’s son, Kit Schweitzer, and in honor of their relatives in the Cox, Moore, Schweitzer and White families. Mac Schweitzer was born Mary Alice Cox in Euclid, Ohio. She came to the West in 1946 and quickly discovered the beauty of Arizona. In the mid-20th century, Schweitzer was a central figure in the Tucson artists’ colony, where Maynard Dixon, Edith Hamlin, Tom Bahti, Rose Cabat, Harrison Moore and others were active members of a lively art scene.
Alfred A. “Jimmie” Cohn, Portrait of Mac Schweitzer, ca. 1950. © Estate of Mac
Schweitzer.
“We look forward to surprising our visitors with the brilliant accomplishments of this long-lost artist,” says Todd Bankofier, Western Spirit CEO and executive director.
The museum hopes to organize an exhibition around the materials and Schweitzer’s career soon. —
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