The Colleen & Dennis Bindley Collection The heart of the Bindley Collection is the passion that Colleen and Dennis have for art. The works in this collection reflect that joy. While there are major names in their collection the driving force of their acquisition of art is whether or not they enjoy the piece. I purposefully did not put nametags beside the pieces because the importance of the work is not who made them but the joy you receive from looking at and using them. The Bindleys live with their collection. Their house is full of and functional forms. It is in this spirit that I chose the pieces in the show and why the cabinets are full. This show also reflects the rich historical and educational value of the Bindley Collection. Over the years Colleen and Dennis have been very generous in lending their collection to regional colleges and high schools. Their collection represents a complete range of ceramic techniques from hand built to wheel thrown, from earthenware to porcelain, from functional to sculptural, from low fire to high fire, oxidation and reduction firings, from raku and pit firings to wood fires. Practically everything that artists can do with clay is represented here. The other amazing aspect of the Bindley Collection is its connection to history. There are many big names here from both Europe and the United States. From Europe the major names are Hans Coper and Lucie Rie, Mary Rogers and John Ward, from the U.S. there are many names reflecting the historical connections past and present. There is a piece by Gertrude and who taught , works by and Val Cushing who taught who taught David Dahlquist, Chuck Johnson, Ron Mazonowski, Don Hunt, and myself. There are works by Native American artists Maria Martinez and Lucy Lewis. Some of the other major national names represented are , , Tony Hepburn, , Warren Mackenzie, Jack Troy, David Shaner, Richard Devore, Ted Randall, Bacia Edelman, Ron Meyers, Tom Coleman, Elaine Coleman, Robert Turner, and Richard Notkin. I hope you enjoy the show as much as Colleen and Dennis enjoy sharing this wonderful collection with you. —Randy Becker, Guest Curator

Bindley_AirportExhibit.indd 1 2/6/09 4:17:43 PM Dane County Regional Airport Exhibition A Lifetime of Collecting Acknowledgments The Colleen & Dennis Colleen and Dennis Bindley. Randy Becker for guest curating this exhibition. Bindley are remarkable collectors. Twenty-five years ago Colleen & Dennis I sat at a graduation ceremony at Williams College where Neil Simon was The staff and students at Tandem Press Bindley the commencement speaker. He stated “Passion is the Superbowl of Amy Newell • Tim Rooney • Jason Ruhl A Lifetime of Collecting enthusiasm” and that immediately came to mind when I met the Bindleys. Paul Bergeson • Bruce Crownover • Ryan Will I had the privilege to visit their home several months ago, with the guest Tandem Press coordinates the exhibits at the Dane curator, Randy Becker, and everywhere I looked: walls, floors, shelves, County Regional Airport. windows, cupboards, tables, and banisters there was a piece of ceramic art. Tandem Press, a self supporting entity, is affiliated to the There were also prints, paintings, drawings and books. They are consummate Department of Art in the School of Education at the UW– collectors, and this exhibition represents only a small portion of their holdings. Madison. It shares the university mission by teaching, Native Wisconsinites, Dennis and Colleen Bindley have been married for 46 years. undertaking research into new and old printmaking They raised a family in Madison, and spent their careers in state government and at techniques, and by conducting outreach programs to help educate the public about art in general, and printmaking the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Although Colleen was a grants administrator in particular. at the UW School of Nursing, she did a degree in commercial art at MATC. Dennis acknowledges that he got the collecting bug from Colleen who accumulated Brochure Design & Photographs: Linda Endlich, items including stamps, butterflies, and rocks for as long as she can remember. MERIT (Media, Education Resources & Information Dennis spent much of his career at DoIt, and took courses in art appreciation over Technology), School of Education, UW–Madison. the years. They first started collecting ceramics in 1978, when they saw the work of Marsha Berenson and Tom Benesh at Kathleen Falk, Dane County Executive the Lakefront Festival in Milwaukee. They arrived on the first day, not realizing that there had been an opening Brad Livingston, Director, Dane County Regional Airport

reception earlier that morning. Twelve of the thirteen pots by the artists were sold. This led to an introduction Rodney F. Knight, Airport Counsel Collection to the dealer Martha Schneider in Highland Park who secured additional pieces for them. This experience led to a lifelong journey of collecting ceramics. Dane County Regional Airport Commision They traveled every weekend to pottery shows and to galleries throughout the Midwest. This led to trips abroad Dennis O’Laughlin, Chairman including England, Belgium, Holland, and also Luxembourg where their daughter lived for thirteen years. In Europe, they frequented Pottery Biennials and acquired many pieces. As a result, they built a very impressive Supervisors collection including many of the country’s most famous ceramic artists and their generosity led them to donate Perry J. Armstrong works to the Racine Art Museum and to the John Michael Kohler Art Center in Sheboygan. Duane Gau The first public exhibition of their collection took place at the University of Wisconsin– John Hendrick Whitewater and was curated by Charles Olson and Karl Borgenson. Randy Becker, Paul Rusk who curated this exhibit, selected three exhibitions for Verona High School where he teaches. Citizen Members David de Felice Why do Dennis and Colleen Bindley collect? They say it is for relaxation and enjoyment. But they also talk warmly of the “really neat” people they have met and Diane Everson how many friends they have made over the years. Dennis says that for him, “ It’s not Bill Haight about the work, it’s about the sociology of the work, and that collecting is cheaper Sally Probasco than going to a psychiatrist.” But above all, they collect because they are driven by their passion for art and are huge supporters of artists and their creations. On behalf of the Airport, I would like to thank Colleen and Dennis Bindley for sharing this extraordinary collection with visitors to the Dane County Regional Airport. I would also like to thank them for their inspiration and generosity. Curated by Randy Becker —Paula Panczenko, Director, Tandem Press w w w . t a n d e m p r e s s . w i s c . e d u Organized by Tandem Press UW–Madison

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