Docent Council Dialogue Fall 2012 Published by the Docent Council Volume XLIIl No 1 The Paris Salon Comes to the Wadsworth Atheneum 1 Inside the Dialogue New Beginnings................................................ Diane Macris, President, Docent Council Page 3 Fall Message................................................... Charlene Shang Miller, Docent and Tour Programs Manager Page 3 A Docent’s Appreciation of Eric Zafrin................................................... JoAn Hagan, Docent Page 4 This Works for Me! ........................................ A Message from the Editors Page 5 This Works for Me: Presentations of Works of Art from Medieval to Monet........ Docent Contributors Pages 5-15 French Flicks: The Dialogue Goes to the Cinema........................................ Susan Meisler, Beth Malley Pages 7, 13 A Docent’s Recommendation-A Book Review............................................................ Eugenia Villagra Page 11 ArTrivia and Daisy Scramble........................ Sandy Voice, Beth Malley Pages 11, 15 The Art of French Cooking........................... Leta Marks Page 16 A Docent’s Meal to Celebrate Medieval to Monet Curtain Going Up on a Crime of Passion....... Sandy Voice Page 17 War? What War?............................................. Hope Vath Page 18 Docent Council Dialogue The Dialogue is created by and for docents and provides a forum for touring ideas and techniques, publishing information that is vital to docent interests such as museum changes, and recording docent activities and events. The newsletter is published in Fall, Winter, and Spring editions. Editorial Staff Sandy Voice Co-Editor Copy Beth Malley Co-Editor Layout and Graphics Lillian Kezerian Associate Copy Editor Contributors: Judy Barton, Nat Brody, Patty Day, JoAn Hagan, Leta Marks, Susan Meisler, Hope Vath, Eugenia Villagra Cover Art: Joan Traverso Photography: Donna Bozzuto, Pauline Arendt Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art, 600 Main Street, Hartford, CT 06103-2990 www.wadsworthatheneum.org 2 New Beginnings Diane Macris, Docent Council President In this, my first column as Docent Council President, I find As Eric Zafran begins his new life in retirement, he leaves myself thinking about new beginnings. In some ways, it us Medieval to Monet, which is sure to bring new visitors to seems a paradox to talk about new beginnings in the fall, a the museum and to inspire creative tours. time of year that could be thought of as more about endings. I look at the autumn clutter in my garden and see the end of Recently, I spent a pleasant afternoon viewing the re- the growing season—tired petunias, drooping daisies, creation of Monet’s garden at Giverny that has been at the overgrown grasses, a few brave roses still blooming. New York Botanical Garden since last spring. The garden Leaves are falling, winter is coming, the end of another has changed with the seasons, always beginning again with year. something new in bloom. I came away inspired and ready to view my tired autumn garden with new eyes, anticipating For the Docent Council, there have been endings, too. its transformation next year. We’ve said farewell to Katie Gallagher and Franceen Munson, who have resigned from the program, and to Every season offers the promise of new beginnings. We as Margaret Hoskins, who has changed her status to emeritus. docents know this. We see old, familiar works of art with We’ve also had to say au revoir to Eric Zafran. new eyes when they are placed in a new location or a new context. Every tour, whether it be “Learning to Look” or And yet, fall is about beginnings, too, especially here at the “Highlights,” is new each time we lead it. Autumn, winter, Wadsworth Atheneum. We have begun a new year of spring, or summer—every tour is a new beginning and a training and touring. We have officially welcomed a new new opportunity to share our love of the treasures of the class of docents. We look forward to the reopening of Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art with our visitors. galleries and to the opening of new exhibitions. Fall Message Charlene Shang Miller, Docent and Tour Programs Manager Each fall, the anticipation of the new year brings an energy prefer teaching and to think about how they might move that is exciting and refreshing. That being said, 2012-2013 groups through the various exhibitions and installations that touring actually began in July with docents engaging he planned during his tenure. We will certainly miss his various tour groups including children participating in the energetic docent talks, erudition, and collegiality. Summer Community Studio program. Weekend/Evening docents continue to work with families during Second In other news, we honor Margaret Hoskins, who has Saturdays for Families and with adults for private evening become an emeritus docent after 20 years of enthusiastic events held at the museum. Fall now brings Museum on the and dedicated service. We also bid a fond farewell to Katie Move and Hands On! (formerly know as Art Matters) for Gallagher (class of 2004) and Franceen Munson (class of our school audiences. 2010). We thank both for their hard work and commitment. New exhibitions and installations continue to challenge and Finally, I want to pay tribute to Nick Ruocco, former inspire. Ahmed Alsoudani’s paintings in MATRIX 165 Director of Education, who passed away recently after a compel us to think, and interpret the experiences of chaos long illness. His appreciation for the work of docents ran and conflict. Recently installed in Avery Court Suite is Lee very deep. Docents have mentioned how they remember his Lozano’s Wave Series (1967–70), which provides a enthusiasm for art and his amazing talent for engaging contemplative experience between Pop and Its Legacy and people with the experience of looking at art. I see his The Minimalist Aesthetic. The newly reinstalled American influence when I observe docents with groups utilizing his art galleries on Avery third floor provide a logical tips for working with teenagers or paving the way for continuum from colonial times to the 19th century, placing dialogue. Nick once said in one of his trainings: “Be a part the Hudson River School collection into a larger context for of the dialogue, lead the dialogue, but disappear from the looking and teaching. dialogue. Encourage our audiences to take intellectual and emotional possession of the art.” Nick had a particular Medieval to Modern: French Drawings and Pastels in the talent for teaching in the galleries that was a joyful south side galleries of Morgan first floor and Medieval to encounter with art—inspiring others to see, to contemplate, Monet: French Paintings in the Wadsworth Atheneum in a and to “possess” the art in their own ways. Our work as reopened suite of galleries on Morgan second floor spotlight educators empowers others to learn to look, and he was a our remarkable French art collection that docents will enjoy great model for what we work very hard to achieve. touring. We celebrate the publication of the new catalogue Masters of French Painting, 1290-1920 by Eric Zafran, Curator of European Art, who retires after 15 illustrious years. Eric was always one to inquire what objects docents 3 A Docent’s Appreciation of Eric Zafran By JoAn Hagan 1997, Curator of European Paintings and Sculpture, 2005, Susan Morse Hilles Curator of European Art, 2012, Eric Zafran retires from the Wadsworth, Leaving a legacy of scholarship, elegance, and heart. Passionate and knowledgeable about European paintings, American and Contemporary also stir his mind, A finger on the pulse of the museum art world, A Renaissance man, engrossed, refined. Planning exhibitions that are creative, stellar: Michael Sweerts, Gauguin, Ballets Russes to Balanchine, Rembrandt’s People, Calder, Dali, Reunited Masterpieces—focused, pristine. Installing exhibitions that engage and instruct us: Caravaggio and His Followers, Picasso to Pop, Dali’s Optical Illusions, The Surrealist Vision, Impressionists by the Sea make us pause at each stop. Eric’s publications are scholarly and readable, The Honoraries From Calder in Connecticut to his latest to date, Standing: Beverly Greenberg, Eileen Pollack, Eric, Masters of French Paintings in the Wadsworth Atheneum, Julie Aldrich, Muriel Fleischman, Margaret Hoskins. Seated: Renee Dubin, Marilyn Stewart, Joan Brown, Give us information that is pertinent, first-rate. Emily Rankin, Gisele Miller. Eric’s acquisitions add distinction to the Wadsworth, Enriching the collection and serving it well: Duchesse de Polignac, Adam, Germination, Still Life with Lobster, Armida’s Spell, The Sunset Effect on the Shores of Trouville, The Carpenter’s Shop, Alfred Sisley’s The Pike, Halle’s Holy Family, Trinquesse’s Interior, Ribot, Boilly, Piazzetta—what’s not to like! Eric leaves the Wadsworth for his condo in Florida, A home base from where he’ll continue his zeal For travel, fine food, photography, and opera, And good friends to share a delectable meal. Beginning and ending with Caravaggio exhibits, Eric, you’ve shown us your masterful touch. In line with the Wadsworth tradition of genius, You leave a rich legacy that signifies much. 4 This Works for Me! From: The Editors It might work for you, too. Exchanging ideas of how to present our museum’s works to the various audiences we serve is probably the number one way we can improve our performance, both verbally and visually. Of course, experience, study, training, and observation count, too, but nothing inspires like word of mouth. Idea swaps encourage us to refresh old approaches that may be growing stale or to take on works we’ve shied away from simply because we haven’t found a way to Claude Gellée, called Claude Lorrain make them come alive for our viewers. Unfortunately, Landscape with Saint George and the Dragon, c. 1643 most of us can’t spend enough time in the Docent Oil on canvas The Ella Gallup Sumner and Mary Catlin Sumner Lounge to participate in all the conversations that Collection Fund, 1937.2 build and strengthen our repertoires.