NEWS & EVENTS / Sept–Dec 2017
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NEWS & EVENTS / SEPT–dEc 2017 John Talbott Donoghue (1853–1903), Young Sophocles, c. 1890, Bronze, 44.5 x 26 x 17 inches, Gift of Dr. Michael L. Nieland, 2015.111 (detail) Musings... I am pleased to announce the core tenets of our 2017–2020 Strategic Plan, which were adopted by our Board of Trustees at their July meeting. Vision: We are a model of institutional excellence and a vital part of our community. Mission: The Westmoreland Museum of American Art stimulates imagination and innovation through great experiences with art. Strategic Goal>Destination/Convener: The Westmoreland will strive to be an exciting destination and engage with various communities as a convener. We value opportunities to be a catalyst for new ideas and diverse voices, as we tell the American story through a preeminent collection of art. Strategic Goal>Collections & Exhibitions: A Timeless The Westmoreland will use our preeminent collection of American art to connect people to the stories and history of our region, state and country, and we will devise Many thanks to those who helped out on Perfection strategies to fill gaps within our holdings this work, including our wonderful colleague to be more inclusive of various styles of Charlie Humphrey, who provoked discussion art and a diversity of makers. and wouldn’t let us off the hook! American Figurative Sculpture In other news, joining our Board in the Classical Spirit Strategic Goal>Uniting the Human recently are Stephen Yslas, Nathan Boxx, Experience: The Westmoreland will endeavor Carolyn Snyder, Marty O’Brien and Susie Gifts from the Collection to be relevant, aware of and responsive to Dorrance. Thank you all and welcome current issues, support diversity in its many aboard! Meanwhile, we are so very grateful of Dr. Michael L. Nieland forms through arts programming and nurture to retiring members H Childs, George the value of inclusion and accessibility. Greer, Anne Robertshaw, Chuck Booth, A remarkable new generation of academically Strategic Goal>Sustainability: The Carol Brown and Jane Roesch. Don’t worry, trained American sculptors emerged during the late Westmoreland will be sustainable— we’ll be in touch! nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. At the financially, environmentally and socially. height of the Gilded Age, they achieved widespread We maintain a balanced budget, will practice critical and commercial success for works created LEED values and will take a leadership role on public commission as well as for private patrons. in promoting the value of the arts, being a Working on both grand civic platforms and on a more champion for arts advocacy and keeping the Judith Hansen O’Toole intimate, domestic scale, they transformed the art of arts central to local revitalization efforts. The Richard M. Scaife Director/CEO American sculpture. 01 / September–December 2017 thewestmoreland.org / 02 New York City was at the heart of the trans- adds greater depth to the Museum’s Francisco. These larger-than-life versions author, Bruce Weber, discusses individual formation, but other major American cities, sculpture holdings. In addition, Dr. Nieland’s were then cast by the artist in smaller scale works within the context of their creator’s including Chicago, Baltimore, Philadelphia, gift supplements important sculptures by editions. Examples are in the collections overall interests and pursuits, and highlights and Boston, provided encouragement, Paul Wayland Bartlett, Frishmuth, Walker of the Cleveland Museum of Art, the these artists’ works which have come to find support, and venues. Surprisingly and Hancock, and Frederick MacMonnies, Metropolitan Museum of Art, and the White a new home at The Westmoreland Museum unfortunately, the flowering of these already owned by The Westmoreland. House, among others. Donoghue’s Young of American Art. We are especially proud to artists was relatively brief, and amid rapidly With works ranging from six to nearly sixty Sophocles, which once belonged to Andy be able to share these gifts with you, our changing aesthetics in the twentieth century, inches in height, this stunning collection Warhol’s manager Fred Hughes, also resides audience, providing access to a collection that the reputations of many of these sculptors provides diversity in the arena of American at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in once was not readily available to the public. dimmed. Despite increased interest in their figurative sculpture. While the collection is Boston. Mario Korbel’s Andante, a work that work in recent decades among scholars, entirely figurative and primarily comprised depicts two classically styled female figures A Timeless Perfection will be on view from October 7 through December 31, 2017. An curators, and collectors, their careers, of sculpture, book ends, candleholders, dancing, is one of only seven cast in that opening reception will be held on Saturday, achievements, and even their names, once vases, and inkwells add a utilitarian aspect same size by the artist. A larger version October 7 from 6:30–8pm. To purchase your famed, are now recalled only narrowly. to it. The gift also includes forty pieces is in the collection of The Metropolitan tickets, visit thewestmoreland.org/events This exhibition celebrates the of medallic art designed by some of the Museum of Art. or call 1.888.71TICKETS ($15 members, $20 non-members). Additionally, a gallery transformational gift from Dr. Michael L. same artists and produced by the Society This outstanding collection gives us an talk with Bruce Weber and Dr. Michael L. Nieland Nieland to the Museum in 2015 of nine late of Medalists and American Numismatic opportunity to rediscover another dimen- will take place on Saturday, October 7 at 1pm. nineteenth and early twentieth century Society, further broadening the scope of sion of modern American art from the late To RSVP, also visit thewestmoreland.org/events. figurative sculptures with an additional the Museum’s collection. 19th century into the first half of the 20th A Timeless Perfection is supported by The Richard C. forty-eight sculptures to be given in 2018. Sculpture is frequently cast in editions, century. By exploring the lives and aesthetic von Hess Foundation and the Hillman Exhibition Fund This gift, which includes such notable artists and often in varying sizes by the artist, achievements of these sculptors, the exhi- of The Westmoreland Museum of American Art. as John Talbott Donoghue, Harriet Whitney depending on its popularity at the time. bition will expand awareness and deepen from opposite left: Adolph Alexander Weinman (1870–1952), Frishmuth, Malvina Hofmann, Mario Korbel, For example, Adolph Alexander Weinman’s the public’s knowledge of this extraordinary Rising Day, c. 1914–15, Bronze, 26 x 24.375 x 9.875 inches, Gift of Dr. Michael L. Nieland, 2015.119 (detail) Boris Lovet-Lorski, and Adoph Alexander Rising Day and Descending Night, an era of American sculpture, in addition to Mario Korbel (1882–1954), Andante, 1917, Bronze, 29.5 x Weinman, together with twenty-eight others, elegant pair of bronzes, were originally bringing overdue recognition to these artists. 34.25 x 8.75 inches, Gift of Dr. Michael L. Nieland, 2015.115 John Clements Gregory (1879–1958), Philomela, 1922, Bronze on not only adds new names to the permanent commissioned for the Panama-Pacific A fully illustrated, full-color catalogue stepped green variegated marble base, 12.25 x 8.5 x 3.5 inches; collection but significantly enriches and International Exposition of 1915 in San accompanies the exhibition in which the base 2.5 inches high, Gift of Dr. Michael L. Nieland, 2016.55 (detail) 03 / September–December 2017 thewestmoreland.org / 04 Don’t Miss the Party September Is BIG of the Year! Hunger Action Month The Museum and the Westmoreland Our signature annual event, the BIG ART Symphony Orchestra are partnering in PARTY, is Saturday, October 21, and you honor of the Westmoreland County Food are invited! You do not want to miss this Bank’s 35 years of fighting hunger in our year’s event full of Big Art, Big Sounds and area. Both organizations will serve as food Big Fun—all to support The Westmoreland’s drop-off locations throughout September artistic and education programs. and October. Bring a non-perishable ART Tickets go fast, so purchase yours now! donation when visiting the Museum and For tickets and more information, visit receive one free admission per party. For T. thewestmoreland.org/bigartparty. information on the most needed items, go OC to westmorelandfoodbank.org/donate. PARTY Presenting Sponsors: Media Sponsor: 21 Mr. & Mrs. Roy Dorrance Strassburger, McKenna, Gutnick & Gefsky James Romaine, Photogram, n.d., Photograph (black & white) on paper, Gift of Mrs. Lucy Ball Owsley, 1983.147 (detail) Little Free Library The Westmoreland is partnering with Central Westmoreland Habitat for Humanity to host a Little Free Library located at our north entrance on Academy Hill Place. There is a pull-in for easy access Art Is Happening on the and parking spots if you want to stay a bit and read on one of the garden benches. Streets of Greensburg To learn more visit littlefreelibrary.org. Art Happens has launched! This interactive public art project developed by the Museum in partnership with the Greensburg Community Development Corporation (GCDC) and the City of Greensburg places New Concert Series select details of the Museum’s collection directly into the city where people live, work Celebrating Great and play. Take a selfie with your favorite American Music image and tag it with #arthappensproject, then come visit the Museum to view the Beginning in September, The Westmoreland artwork in its entirety. Show us your selfie, Jazz Society program will transform into and receive free admission. Works of art the Great American Music Series. Four will be featured at a total of twelve sites concerts scheduled during the year will throughout Greensburg’s central business celebrate American music from jazz to soul, district, and “happenings” with area artists, from bluegrass to funk.