MEMORIAL ART GALLERY BIENNIAL REPORT 2006 • 0 8 Years in Review A B C F G H AA With With more more than than 50,000 50,000 visitors, visitors, Georgia Georgia BB In In January January 2007, 2007, the the Gallery Gallery unveiled unveiled CC A A major major reinstallation reinstallation of of the the Gallery’s Gallery’s O’Keeffe:O’Keeffe: Color Color and and Conservation Conservation was was the the third third-best best ana majorimportant acquisition—a new acquisition—a beautifully beauti- deco- AmericanAmerican collection collection opened opened in in 2007. 2006. Spanning Spanning attendedattended exhibition exhibition in in Gallery Gallery history. history. And And when when fullyrated decorated partial suit partial of etched suit of armor etched that armor was fourfour centuries centuries and and occupying occupying 7,000 7,000 square square feet feet thethe show show closed closed in in December December 2006, 2006, director director Grant thatmade was in made the 1560s in the for 1560s the Dukesfor the ofDukes onon the the Gallery’s Gallery’s first first floor, floor, Seeing Seeing America America brings brings HolcombGrant Holcomb was pleased was topleased announce to announce that one that of one ofBrunswick Brunswick in in northern northern Germany. Germany. An An togethertogether some some of of the the finest finest works works in in the the collec- collec- theof 40+the 40+works works in the in show—thethe show—the luminous luminous pastel pas- integralintegral part part of of docent-led docent-led tours tours and and tiontion as as it it constitutes constitutes what what chief chief curator curator Marjorie Marjorie showntel Over on Bluep. 7—would—would remain at MAG, the schoolschool curricula, curricula, the the armor armor stands stands just just SearlSearl calls calls “a “a journey journey in in space space and and time.” time.” The The bequestbequest of of long-time long-time supporter supporter Anne Anne Whitman. Whitman. insideinside the the tour tour entrance, entrance, where where it it casts casts 114114 works works range range from from treasures treasures of of the the Colonial Colonial itsits spell spell on on arriving arriving schoolchildren. schoolchildren. eraera to to politically politically charged charged mixed-media mixed-media pieces pieces by by FF 2008 “A means marked alike the of 40th pleasure anniversary and of education of the contemporarycontemporary artists. artists. Galleryfor all thedocents, citizens dedicated of Rochester.” volunteers So decreedwho GG Bicycles, Bicycles, irons, irons, hair hair dryers dryers and and high- high- collectivelyEmily Sibley have Watson led tours in donating for more thethan original half a heeledheeled shoes shoes are are among among the the urban urban artifacts artifacts HH Dancers Dancers from from the the Chinese Chinese Dance Dance Company Company millionMemorial schoolchildren Art Gallery andto the adults. University On June of 9, usedused by by artist artist Willie Willie Cole Cole to to explore explore and and ofof Rochester Rochester were were among among the the performers performers at at the the directorRochester. Grant A centuryHolcomb later, opened the Gallery the festivities still places reinterpretreinterpret African African tribal tribal art, art, global global cul- cul- Gallery’sGallery’s Asian Asian Pacific Pacific American American Heritage Heritage Day Day in in asthe 120 highest active priorityand retired on education,docents gathered with a wide-for tureture and and personal personal identity. identity. One One of of the the MayMay 2007. 2007. The The annual annual event, event, which which attracted attracted anranging anniversary program celebration. that each year serves thousands artistsartists in in MAG’s MAG’s wildly wildly popular popular 2006 2006 moremore than than 1,000 1,000 visitors, visitors, was was one one of of a along-run- long-run- of area schoolchildren—many enjoying their first exhibitionexhibition Extreme Extreme Materials Materials, ,Cole Cole was was ningning series series that that also also included included yearly yearly celebrations celebrations museum experience—and their teachers. backback in in 2007, 2007, the the subject subject of of a anationally major ofof Black Black History History Month, Month, Hispanic Hispanic Heritage Heritage touringtraveling exhibition. exhibition. MonthMonth and and Kwanzaa. Kwanzaa. Photo credits above and facing page: Richard P. Wersinger (A, B, C, I, J), Gary Graham (D, F, G, H), Kurt Brownell (E). Photos by Richard P. Wersinger (A, B, C, I, J), Ria Casartelli (F), Gary Graham (D, G, H), Kurt Brownell (E). Cover: “A means alike of pleasure and of education for all the citizens of Rochester.” So decreed Emily Sibley Watson in donating the original Memorial Art Gallery to the University of Rochester. A century later, the Gallery still places the highest priority on education, with a wide-ranging program that each year serves thousands of area schoolchildren—many enjoying their first museum experience—and their teachers. Photo by Ria Casertelli. 2006-2008 5,384* * individual and corporate members * asas ofof 6/30/086/30/08 457,648 visitors welcomed ‘06–07: 245,511 ‘07–08: 212,137 D E 36,087 schoolchildren and adults toured the Gallery ‘06–07: 20,002 ‘07–08: 16,085 87,679 hours contributed by ‘06–07: 1,710 volunteers ‘07–08: 1,537 volunteers I J D In June 2007, MAG and Nazareth E One morning in 1927, Memorial Art College Arts Center launched “AcrossAcross Borders , Gallery director Gertrude Herdle passed out Bordersa year-long, Rochester,” community-wide a year-long, partnership community- crayons and paper to children at a Saturday widethat explored partnership contemporary that explored Hispanic contemporary art story hour. Little did she know that over the Hispanicand culture. art Amongand culture. the anchor Among events the anchor at next eight decades, her modest experiment eventsMAG wereat MAG the majorwere the traveling major exhibitiontraveling exhi - would grow into one of the oldest—and with bitionTRANSactions: TRANSactions: Contemporary Contemporary Latin American Latin 3,500 students one of the largest—museum Americanand Latino and Art Latino; a series Art of; alectures; series of and lectures; art schools in the country. Today, the Creative andHispanic Hispanic Heritage Heritage Family Family Day Day(pictured), (pictured), Workshop is a community resource offering which attracted nearly 1,500 visitors. year-round classes for preschool and school- age children, teens and adults. I Wild By Design: 200 Years of Innovation and Artistry in American Quilts was one of J In 1957,2006, 101Rochester’s exhibitors longest-running and 2,000 bargain fine the most popular shows of the 2007–08 huntersart and craftbraved festival—now the wind and the rain M&T of Hurricane Bank exhibition year. But the biggest surprise was AudreyClothesline at the Festival—celebrated Gallery’s first Clothesline 50 years. Festival. the popularity of MAGnificent Inspiration. FromSince these1957, inauspicious when it attracted beginnings, 101 exhibitors Clothesline This companion show organized by the hasand grown2,000 intobargain a community hunters, Clothesline happening has that Gallery Council paired small quilts by area showcasesgrown into artists a two-day from communityacross New Yorkhappening state. In artists to the works in ourthe collectioncollection thatthat 2006,that showcases Rochester’s hundreds longest-running of artists fromfine art across and inspired them. Originally scheduled to close craftNew Yorkfestival—now state, features the M&Tcontinuous Bank liveClothesline after four weeks, it was extended until the Festival—celebratedentertainment, and brings 50 years. more than 20,000 end of the exhibition. visitors to MAG. 2 2 Above, from left: My America traced the experience of Jewish immigrants and their descendants through such works as Raphael Soyer’s Seated Couple (1954). Fashioned from bicycle parts, Willie Cole’s 2002 work Sears Ross tji wara (mother and child) reimagines a West African ritual headdress; it was acquired by the Gallery at the close of Anxious Objects. Among the Renaissance still lifes in Natura Morta was Giovanna Garzoni’s Ceramic Bowl with Pears and Morning Glories (1651–62). Salomón Huerta’s Untitled Figure (2002) was one of 40 works by contemporary Latino artists in TRANSactions. Exhibitions GRAND GALLERY TRANSactions: Contemporary Latin American and Latino Art Second Rochester Biennial October 6–December 30, 2007 June 18–September 10, 2006 Organized by the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego Organized by the Memorial Art Gallery and sponsored by and made possible by the generous contributions of MCASD’s The Rochester Group. International Collectors, the Cochrane Exhibition Fund, the City of San Diego’s Commission for Arts and Culture, The James Georgia O’Keeffe: Color and Conservation Irvine Foundation and Cooley Godward Kronish LLP. In Rochester, October 1–December 31, 2006 sponsored in part by Deborah Ronnen, with additional support from Charlotte and Raul Herrera, the City of Rochester, and the Organized by the Mississippi Museum of Art, Jackson, and presented Rochester Hispanic Business Association, and with the assistance as part of the Annie Laurie Swaim Hearin Memorial Exhibition of New York State Senator Joseph Robach. Series. Made possible in Rochester by a major gift from Presenting Sponsor M&T Bank. Supporting Sponsors were Riedman Foundation, University of Rochester Medical Center/Strong Health, Wendy’s Wild by Design: 200 Years of Innovation