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New Britain Museum of American Art Annual Report 2014–2015 CHAIRMAN'S AND CONTENTS DIRECTOR'S REPORT 3 CHAIRMAN'S AND DIRECTOR’S REPORT Over the last 16 years, the New Britain Museum of American Art has were not, allowing us to expand our understanding in a way that been transformed into a world class cultural institution through the would have been impossible to contemplate without the Hamms. 6 THE COLLECTION artistic vision and inspirational leadership of our Director, Douglas Hyland. During Douglas’ tenure, the Museum’s endowment has Each exhibition has commanded sizeable attendance and at the same 50 EXHIBITIONS AND INSTALLATIONS more than doubled; attendance has more than tripled; the already time we are pleased to attract specific aficionados of glass, textiles, excellent collection has increased fourfold; and the physical space marine paintings, and jewelry. We have never organized a quilt show 52 MUSEUM PUBLICATIONS has multiplied by a factor of five. Although Douglas announced before and we are most thankful to the dozens of lenders including his retirement at last year’s Annual Meeting, it is a testament to his leading museums and a distinguished group of contemporary quilters. 56 EDUCATION AND PUBLIC PROGRAMS discipline and energy that much has been accomplished in 2015. Similarly, the jewelry show was a first for the Museum and it was a pleasure displaying over 150 examples by Elizabeth Gage, who is a 63 VISITOR SERVICES One of the highlights of 2015 has been the construction of the Art & charming, creative artist. We are proud to have celebrated 50 years of Education Building, the focus of the Museum’s attention for the last her life as an internationally acclaimed designer. Sponsored by the 67 FINANCE/DEVELOPMENT three years. The 18,000 sq. ft. addition will open officially on Bank of America, f.64: Revolutionary Vision consisted of a survey of 40 of October 17, 2015. As a result of gaining 40% more space, for the the most iconic images by the most renowned photographers of the 20th 75 MEMBERS last year we have been planning the installation of the permanent century. Photography is increasingly popular at the Museum and this collection in the new galleries and the complete rehanging of the exhibition allowed us to present extraordinary images of great rarity. 86 DONORS TO MUSEUM OPERATIONS existing galleries in the Chase Family Building. The Education Department also has ambitious plans for the use of the three Our NEW/NOW artists are both innovators and entertainers. Bob 90 ADDITIONAL DONATIONS AND GIFTS spacious studios on the lower level. Gregson, Titus Kaphar, Karl Lund, and Katja Loher are four very different artists. At the same time, they are able to expand our 96 STAFF, TRUSTEES, ADVISORS As always, the Museum has offered hundreds of different activities appreciation of the role of artists in the 21st century. We are pleased for the enjoyment and education of a broad range of different that significant examples by all four of these creative individuals will 99 VOLUNTEERS constituencies from babies in arms to senior citizens. Our activities be shown at the Museum for many years to come as part of the have centered around our encyclopedic collection and also enhanced permanent collection. John O’Donnell’s Psychedelic Pantry and 102 FINANCIAL REPORT the experience of visitors to the major changing exhibitions of the Catherine Ross’ Laugh Track have served as our New Media artists of year: Glass Today: 21st Century Innovations, Let Me Quilt One More Day, Over Life’s 2014–2015. This ever popular section of the Batchelor Gallery is Waters: The Coastal Collection of Charles and Irene Hamm, and The Enchanting Jewels appreciated by our more than 12,000 school children as well as our of Elizabeth Gage. visitors interested in contemporary art. Support for the Museum’s operations, exhibitions and education programs are provided in part by the Dr. Pauline M. Alt Education Fund, Bailey Family Fund for Special Exhibitions, Martha Pease Bronson Endowment Fund, Jay and We are especially grateful to and honored by the generous gift of Traditionally, the Davis Gallery shows have allowed the Museum to Lorraine Bruemmer Memorial Fund, Charles and Elizabeth Buchanan Fund, Building and Furnishings Fund, Chase the Hamm Collection to the Museum. As a result, the Museum will spotlight 19th and 20th century artists of a more traditional bent. Family Curator of American Art Fund, Jean and Harold Clarke Memorial Endowment Fund, Elizabeth and Stanley M. house one of the largest and most comprehensive collections of Cary Smith curated a survey of nonobjective artists and assembled Cooper Fund, Margaret M. Cooper Fund, Kathryn Cox Endowment Fund for Special Exhibitions, Docent Yellow Bus outstanding American 19th and 20th century coastal artists. While an intriguing group of paintings by more than 20 of his friends Fund, Education Fund, Endowment Fund, Henry Sage Goodwin Fund, Harold M. and Charlene Gray Fund, Holiday a few of the artists were in our collection already, the vast majority and colleagues. Arguably, Nelson Augustus Moore was the most Decorating Fund, Grace Judd Landers Fund, Robert Lehman Lecture Fund, Martha and Henry Pelton Fund, Catharine M. Rogers Lecture Series Fund, Shaker Gallery Fund, Helen Talcott Stanley Fund, and the Elizabeth Wick Fund. Douglas and Tita Hyland with three generations of family who flew in from all over the country for the Art Party of the Year, May 2, 2015 The growth and conservation of the collection is made possible by the income from the Barstow Fund, Alice Osborne Bristol Fund, William F. Brooks Fund, Jane and Victor Darnell Fund, General Purchase Fund, Stephen B. Lawrence Fund, Sanford B.D. Low Illustration Fund, Edward A. and Mary W. Mag Fund, Members Purchase Fund, Joseph H. and Janet L. Myers Fund, Luda S. Piecka Fund, Charles F. Smith Fund, John Butler Talcott Fund, funding from the Helen P.G. and John Vibberts Fund at the Community Foundation of Greater New Britain, and the Paul W. Zimmerman Purchase Fund. 2 NEW BRITAIN MUSEUM OF AMERICAN ART ANNUAL REPORT '14–'15 3 CHAIRMAN'S AND CHAIRMAN'S AND DIRECTOR'S REPORT DIRECTOR'S REPORT significant painter/photographer of 19th century New Britain and At the Annual Meeting, October 22, 2014, longtime Trustees Ken A larger group of firm supporters of the Museum died last year Rathgeber, Melinda Sullivan, and Kathryn West. For the national we are pleased to have displayed the collection of Todd and Marenda Carifa and John Patrick rotated off after three, three-year terms. than in previous years ever before. It includes long-term members, search, the Committee retained Marilyn Hoffman of Museum Stitzer. In the Warrington Gallery, we celebrated the achievements After serving longer than any other Trustee in recent memory, volunteers, artists, and patrons. Walt Reed, Honorary Trustee, Search & Reference, an executive-search firm located in Manchester, of Otis Kaye, a brilliant painter of money and a master of the trompe former Chairman John Rathgeber also left the Board. All three served on the Low Illustration Committee for over fifty years. He NH and Boston. A strong field of candidates emerged with l’oeil tradition. The comprehensive catalog which accompanied the Trustees were named Trustee Emeriti as was Howard Fromson. Kay was responsible for the gift of hundreds of illustrations to the Low semi-finalist and finalist interviews schedule for early summer. A exhibition has documented his achievements most thoroughly. We Knight Clarke and Paula Viscogliosi were elected to the Board. Collection. As one of the country’s leading authorities on American recommendation by the Search Committee for the sixth director were struck recently when a woman visited the Tom Yost exhibition illustrations, he helped guide the Museum and proved a steadfast of the NBMAA, Min Jung Kim, was approved by the Board of and shared that his paintings of the Litchfield Hills brought tears to We wish to express gratitude to all the trustees, but especially to the supporter. Not only that, but he was a kind, gentle, thoughtful man. Trustees and announced in August. Kim brings more than 20 her eyes. It is encouraging to know that in the 21st century, members of the Executive Committee, Barbara Bradbury-Pape, Thomas R. Cox III was the co-founder with his wife Kathryn of the years of experience in the art museum field and was most recently Connecticut landscapes can evoke such a powerful response. Chairman of the Long Range Planning Committee, Steve Miller John Butler Talcott Society, served as the Chairman of the Art of the Deputy Director for External Relations at the Eli and Edythe and Anita Ferrante, Chairmen of the Acquisition and Loan Wine and Food, and was a generous patron and good friend. Mary Broad Art Museum at Michigan State University in East Lansing, Over the last several years, the number and quality of the entries to Committee, Paula Viscogliosi, Chairman of the Education Clapp, Carol Kreeger Davidson, Norm Erickson, Connie Granski, Michigan. Previously, Kim worked at the Solomon R. Guggenheim the Museum’s Annual Juried Exhibition has increased dramatically Committee, John Dillaway, Chairman of the Personnel Committee, June Mitchell, Rosalind Richman, and Elizabeth Young, along with Foundation, New York for more than 12 years, focusing on a variety and we were delighted that over 250 artists submitted their work for Ken Boudreau, Chairman of the Finance Committee, John many others will be greatly missed by the Museum family. of international alliances and collaborative initiatives. consideration. The result was a powerful survey featuring more than Howard, Chairman of the Investment Committee, Tom Flanigan, 100 paintings, mixed media creations, photographs, watercolors, Chairman of the Development Committee, Kathryn Cox, Chairman As noted above at last year’s Annual Meeting, Douglas announced We all look forward to the coming year when we have the use of the drawings, and sculptures.