New Castle, PA.- The Hoyt Institute of Fine Arts is proud to present “Robert Blair: paintings and Drawings” on view until September 24th. Some 52 rarely seen paintings and drawings provide an extraordinary glimpse into Blair’s experience as a paratrooper in the 17th and 82nd Airborne Divisions during World War II and his later association and friendship with Charles Burchfield who praised Blair in his journals as one of the only young students whose work he would like to see more of. The first body of work to be featured at the Hoyt was completed during the Battle of the Bulge, the bloody offensive by the Germans that almost split the Allied Armies in two. Blair received approval from his Colonel to document the disturbing and even horrific scenes of both German and US attacks, provided it did not interfere with his duties.