MISSOULA ART MUSEUM ANNUAL REPORT 2009 MAM MISSION: THE Missoula Art MU- SEUM SERVES THE PUBLIC BY engaging audiences AND artists IN THE EXplora- TION OF contemporarY art RELEVANT to THE communitY, state AND REGION. EXECUTIVE Director | laura j. millin MAM Staff 02 In the past year, the new MAM continued its emergence from the Laura J. Millin transformative process of the museum’s expansion and renova- Executive Director tion, completed in the fall of 2006. Benchmarks of progress in- Pam Adams cluded the completion of a three year strategic plan by board and Office Manager staff, and a transition in board leadership. We felt a great sense of John Calsbeek loss this year in the absence of Martin Burke following his retire- Assistant Curator & Preparator ment from the Board after 15 years of visionary service. Kindly, Stephen Glueckert Marshall Delano agreed to serve this last year as Immediate Past Exhibitions Curator President, which will complete 12 years of dedicated service. We Nici Holt Cline are grateful for the indomitable spirit of Sharon Snavely as she Development & Membership Director assumes the role of president and we welcome returning member Linden How Corky Clairmont and new member Beth Brennan to the board. Visitor Services Director In building the new MAM we promised to expand the scope Ted Hughes of our programming to include more art and artists from the Registrar greater region. Last year we were proud to present Tina Hoggatt, Alicia Jones Jeffry Mitchell, Marie Watt, and Joe Feddersen, all from the Pa- Visitor Services Associate cific Northwest. The New Spaces/New Visions series of site-specific Katie Stanton installations, which was made possible by a grant from the Andy Marketing & Communications Director Warhol Foundation, concluded with the encompassing, interac- Renee Taaffe tive environment created by Marie Watt in the Lynda M. Frost Education Curator Contemporary American Indian Art Gallery and spilling into the atrium of the Andrew Precht Addition. MAM Board Sharon Snavely, President We also promised to expand and exhibit MAM’s permanent Liz Dybdal, Vice President collection of art more actively in the new building and did so Betsy Bach, Secretary last year with six collection exhibitions. Three major acquisi- Norman Williamson,Treasurer tions were made from MAM exhibitions, prominent artists Marshall Delano, Past President from outside Montana: John Armstrong, Joe Feddersen and Pat Aresty Lois Conner. MAM’s commitment to contemporary artists of Beth Brennan Montana was fulfilled with a significant acquisition of works by J. Martin Burke the late, Gennie DeWeese, thanks to the extraordinary generos- Mae Nan Ellingson ity of the DeWeese family. The Contemporary Collectors Circle, Chris Eyer a new membership program, had its first collection acquisition Richard King meeting in December and selected a beautiful oil painting by Bobbie McKibbin local favorite Stephanie Frostad. Bob Precht Clearly, MAM is fulfilling its promise to the public we so energeti- Joseph Sample cally serve, and our community of supporters shares our passion. Cover image: Mehran Mohajer, TV Series 1 (The Light Is Out The Room Is Dark), 2000, 19 1/4 x 14” (each piece). Lois Conner, Buffalo Jump, Montana, 2005, courtesy of the artist. MAM Board President | sharon snavely Modern life is characterized by a high level of stress for almost fine exhibition space is key to providing a great art experience, 03 everyone. Under these conditions, the arts play an ever more but without staff who really care about the art we show and important role. The beauty, excitement, and inspiration we how it is presented, there would be little enjoyment for our feel when we see great art lifts our soul and renews our spirit. visitors. We have been very fortunate to attract and retain top professional staff. We at MAM work continuously to make art available to every- one. We do not charge admission and instead rely on museum The museum also plays a key role in supporting and high- memberships, donations, and our annual benefit auction to lighting the work of local artists. They, in turn, support and pay our expenses. sustain us. This relationship remains critical for the MAM. Thanks to the generous contributions of our supporters we Please continue to give us your suggestions on ways to im- think we have the finest museum in Montana. Of course, a prove the museum and experiences we offer. EXhibition Curator | stephen glueckert When surveying the lists of exhibitions and artists, it is to outside institutions for exhibitions. There are 44 exhibi- important to realize that over 300 artists were involved in tions listed below where MAM has been involved in one way or exhibitions during the year. By examining exhibitions and another. reviewing highlights, insight can be gained into the nature Remarkably, three exhibition catalogues were completed and spirit of MAM. in-house in the last year including: John Armstrong: Engaged Ab- Within the 27 exhibitions hosted by MAM, the vast majority straction, MA Papanek-Miller: A Snowman Cares For Our Memory of artists hailed from the immediate region. In addition, MAM of Water, and MAM’s 2009 Montana Triennial. In addition, one featured a handful of contemporary expressions from afar like publication New Spaces/New Visions is in production as this Persian Visions and for a small minority of our exhibitions, we reporting period draws to an end, completing a multi-year, five have hosted traveling exhibitions created outside the institu- part installation series supported through the Andy Warhol tion like Gaylen Hansen and Joe Feddersen. MAM also invited Foundation. guest curator Beth Sellars, of Seattle, to jury the first ever The season culminated with the opening of the first ever Mon- Montana Triennial. tana Triennial initiated and hosted by MAM. Of the 60 artists The mix and variety of contemporary exhibitions continues to accepted into the exhibition, 40 attended the opening. The 88 reflect the character of the institution. The mission continues works included in the exhibition reflected the variety and. vital- to guide and provide parameters for exhibition development. ity of the visual arts in Montana. As the museum has grown, Some exhibitions have been small and intimate like David so too has the desire to develop exhibitions and programs that Shaner from the Collection and Screen Prints from the Collec- are stimulating, diverse and flexible. Unsolicited, professional, tion featured in the library study exhibitions, while some are proposals for exhibitions continue to increase, as we received large and have more of a presence like the Encaustic Invitational over 300 proposals in the last year. This is a testimony the or Elk Dogs. Increasingly as the collection evolves and grows, we reputation of the institution. By reviewing these highlights, we have relied on it more heavily, having an ever more important can gain insight into the personality of the institution and the presence in the exhibition programming and noteably lending character of the community that hosts them. Education Curator | renee taaffe Registrar | ted hughes The Missoula community continues to regard MAM as it as it Fiscal year 2008/2009 was a typically eventful one at the Mis- source for high quality art experiences in the community. MAM soula Art Museum. In addition to collection acquisitions, events, provides highly qualified and friendly teachers offering art instruc- and the addition of new volunteers, long serving Curator of Col- tion for budding artists of all ages, and a range of lectures that lections and Registrar Jennifer Reifsneider stepped down after bring both a regional and international perspective to contempo- 11 years with MAM to pursue graduate study. After a competitive rary art, all of which is free or low priced. Thanks to the generous interview process, Ted Hughes was hired as Registrar. financial support of patrons for MAM’s Scholarship Fund, we were The permanent collection continued to grow, steered by the Col- able to provide more than a dozen individual and families with lection Committee, with generous donations and careful purchas- partial or full scholarships. es. Acquisitions were clearly guided by MAM’s collection mission In the galleries MAM is striving to present interpretive informa- by focusing on art relevant to the culture of the American West tion that is approachable and stimulating to visitors. This past year with an emphasis on contemporary Montana artists. In addition, MAM has contracted with Guide by Cell to be the first museum in to further bond with the community, the committee always takes Montana to offer cell phone tours to its visitors. Museum visitors a close look at artworks from MAM exhibits. Donations include: can use their cell phones to call a local number and access the art- 30 paintings from the estate of Montana artist Gennie DeWeese, ists or curators speaking about the artwork on exhibit. three ceramic works by University of Montana MFA ceramicists Hak kyun Kim and Alex Kraft, twelve photographs from the Wide MAM continues to offer free after school art classes through the Open exhibit by Lois Conner, a woodworking by Jerry McCauley, Flagship Program at Hawthorne and Franklin Elementary schools a painting by Kristi Hager, and a painting by Kerri Rosenstein. and CS Porter Middle School with support from a 21st Century 04 Works purchased include a beaded textile by Molly Murphy, a Learning Center Grant administered by the Missoula County painting by Stephanie Frostad, a glass work by Joe Feddersen, School District. This year MAM also brought free art classes to and a monoprint by John Armstrong. Lowell School’s Flagship Program with a grant received from the Macy’s foundation. Acquisitions in progress include Beth Lo’s ceramic piece All Look Same, using the Ursula Reiker Memorial funds, the purchase of Now in its 22nd year, the Fifth Grade Annual Art Experience, Charles Nichols’ three-movement musical composition Beneath the co-produced by the Art Associates of Missoula was a huge success.