When some people hear the phrase "Snap the whip," they might think of the ever-popular 1980s song "Whip It" by Devo.

But this reference to whips and snaps has nothing to do with the construction-hat-wearing band.

Opening Friday and running until Jan. 4 at the Grand Rapids Art Museum is the exhibit "The American Spirit," featuring art pieces by some of America's most famous artists - Thomas Moran, Frederic Church and Winslow Homer.

The main attention-grabbing piece on display will be Homer's "Snap the Whip," one of the most famous paintings in American art, said Celeste Adams, director of the art museum.

"We're delighted to bring a picture of this importance to the museum and share this with the community," Adams said. "It's always a very special experience when a museum can bring in a big piece like this."

By seeing "Snap the Whip" in person - rather than in a book - Adams said people will be able to get a more complete sense of how American culture is displayed in the painting.

"Like any great masterpiece, it has many levels of meaning," Adams said. "1872 was a period when America lost nearly a generation of young men, and the losses were experienced by every family. This is an image of the next generation. These children are happy and playing, not fighting."

The Grand Rapids Art Museum worked in part with Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum and Smithsonian Institution to bring "The American Spirit" to West Michigan.

"It is the only place ('The American Spirit') can be seen," said Kristen Corrado, spokeswoman for the art museum. "Cooper-Hewitt has a phenomenal collection of these artists' works. They were either all given by children of the artists or the artists themselves because the family believes they are important."

But what's more exciting about bringing this exhibit to Michigan, Corrado said, is the ability to deliver cultural art to the people.

"The art museum is thrilled to have such a priceless and important piece of art for West Michigan and Michigan to see," Corrado said.

"The American Spirit" is expected to bring in a wide-ranging audience, Adams said.

"It's an exhibit that has a very broad appeal to people of all ages," Adams said. "We feel it's an exhibition that really has a lot of issues that we are facing today, such as the nature of American heroism."

Heather Hoyle, a graduate student in art history, said older art helps shape younger artists' tastes.

"The art of previous generations serves as a canon for current artists," Hoyle said. "They learn from and develop their art as a reaction in support of or against their predecessors."

"The American Spirit" exhibit includes 90 works of art with other famed pieces such as: "Palm Trees, Jamaica" by Frederic Church, "A Woodland Stream" by Winslow Homer and "Cliffs of the Rio Virgin, Colorado" by Thomas Moran.

For more information, visit the Grand Rapids Art Museum's Web site at www.gramonline.org