MEMBERS NEWSLETTER Volume 20, Number 5 September/October 2012 Collectors’ Reserve Art Exhibition and Sale 1 director’s report Collaborating for Success Collaboration is a mutually beneficial tions and capital improvements in the last and well-defined relationship entered four years. into by two or more entities to achieve The financial support has allowed MEMBERS NEWSLETTER common goals. Although partnering the museum to hire staff, make Volume 20, Number 5 September/October 2012 arrangements can be created on enhancements in its public offerings and different levels of duration, intensity enter into cooperative and collaborative and allocation of resources, a true relationships with other institutions. A collaboration requires a commitment to good example of a cooperative program In this Issue shared goals and responsibility. It also is the exhibit National Geographic Greatest needs a clear organizational structure Photographs of the American West that will with defined authority and responsibility, open simultaneously on October 27, a means for accountability, and the 2012 at Gilcrease Museum and nine sharing of risks, rewards and resources. other venues. The images were taken Lesser levels of involvement might be by National Geographic photographers more accurately described as cooperative over a span of 125 years. All of the or coordinating arrangements, but the venues are members of the Museums Dr. Duane H. King reasons for participation are essentially West consortium, a group of institutions the same — increasing the impact of from around the country whose and an accompanying book published an institution by combining resources to collecting purviews and educational in two languages using communications Collectors’ Reserve artist, Bruce Cheever, Change of Seasons, oil, 9.5" x 13.5" Collectors’ Reserve artist, Cecile Baird, Too Hot to Handle, colored pencil, 6.5" x 18" share the rewards. missions are similar to those of Gilcrease techniques that were not available a decade Gilcrease Museum is involved in Museum. As a result of this collaborative ago. numerous collaborations all of which arrangement, funders from across the This year Gilcrease Museum will impact its effectiveness. Structurally, the country have contributed significantly to take an enormous step forward with its museum operates through a collaborative the national promotion for the exhibition electronic cataloging and digitization FEATURES partnership between the City of Tulsa that will reach a diverse audience of initiative. Although a multiyear project, 4 6 8 and The University of Tulsa. The city hundreds of thousands of museum-goers the museum will soon provide greater Smith Family Gift Collectors’ Reserve The Real owns the museum, contributes about a over the 10 venues. public access to information about the Longtime Gilcrease Museum Returns George Washington third of its annual operating support, and The transformation of the museum collection by connecting images with supporters, the Sherman E. Smith Emerging and nationally acclaimed Forensic science brings us a glimpse of has fiduciary responsibility for the collec- world in the last two decades, from the catalogue data. Expanded searches will be Family makes a gift to support arts artists will showcase their work at this a young George Washington. tions and property. Since July 1, 2008, industrial age to the digital age, has possible by linking to databases with other education. year’s show and sale. The University of Tulsa has assumed dramatically changed how museums museums. The next decade will prove that the responsibility for the day-to-day work together. The development of we are now only at the beginning of the operations of the museum. The univer- the exhibition, Nuova Frontiera, Storia E technological revolution. sity provides vital support services for Cultura dei Nativi D’America, from the Harnessing the power of collective DEPARTMENTS the museum in terms of maintenance, collections of Gilcrease Museum which knowledge will become an increasing focus 9 Education grounds keeping, janitorial, accounting, is on display at the Palazzo Pitti in of Gilcrease Museum in the years ahead administrative services and institutional Florence, Italy, until December 8, 2012, and enable the museum to enter into the 13 Calendar advancement. The museum staff are required instantaneous transmissions of kinds of cooperative and collaborative employees of the university. The philan- images, texts and label copy half way arrangements with other institutions that thropic community in Tulsa has strongly around the world. Among the obstacles we can only dream about today. embraced this partnership. The Gilcrease to accomplish this feat was the language ON THE COVER Council now has 72 members who have barrier. Thanks to skilled interpreters Duane King Collectors’ Reserve artist Ken DeWaard, made significant five-year financial com- and simultaneous electronic translations Little Courtyard, Morning Light, mitments to the museum. In all, donors available to the entire Gilcrease staff, the oil on panel, 9" x 12". This piece along have contributed more than $46 million exhibition was conceived, developed, Executive Director of Gilcrease Museum with many others will be featured in the in support of museum programs, opera- and installed with educational materials and TU Vice President for Museum Affairs exhibition. For additional information, Landscapes from the Brush of Thomas Moran is now on display see pages 6 and 7. at Gilcrease Museum through October 7, 2012. Smith Foundation Bolsters Zarrow Programming When it comes to creating art, including exhibition sponsorships at complete his mechanical engineering inspiration is free, but materials and other Gilcrease and an engineering scholarship degree at Oklahoma A&M before getting expenses can add up quickly. Fortunately, and support of the new mechanical his start in the energy industry. He soon a generous gift from the Sherman E. engineering offices at TU. joined his father, Edward A. Smith, in Smith Family Charitable Foundation has “We’re deeply grateful for the building SerDrilco, Inc. into a successful established a permanent endowment to Smith family’s long-standing support,” oil and gas drilling contractor. Other help underwrite children’s art programs said TU President Geoffrey Orsak. companies followed, including Service at the Henry Zarrow Center for Art and “Their foundation does important work Drilling Southwest, LLC; Service Drilling Education in downtown Tulsa. throughout our community promoting Co., an oil and gas production company; The center, located in the historic education, health and culture, and we’re and Diamond-S Gas Systems, a pipeline Brady District and operated by The honored to be among its beneficiaries. company. Together, the companies University of Tulsa, Gilcrease Museum It’s especially humbling that their support had operations throughout the Mid- staff and community volunteers, engages of our Zarrow Center programs is one Continent and Southwest. In December Hans Helmerich, chairman of the Gilcrease Museum National Board, welcomes Tulsans of all ages and backgrounds of several recent investments. We’re 2003, Sherman sold the companies to representatives of the Sherman Smith Family Foundation to the Zarrow Center. in hands-on art projects, classes, and fortunate to have the Smith family as Unit Corporation. exhibitions. partners in this important endeavor.” In addition to being a successful “This gift was an easy decision for businessman, Sherman was an active the trustees,” said Beverly Marquardt, The Zarrow Center gift citizen on many fronts. He was a foundation administrator. “The Brady extends the legacy of Rotarian, a Mason, a member of the District is an up-and-coming area, and Board of Governors of Oklahoma State it’s so important that all our citizens be community support begun University, and a board member for the able to enjoy it. Helping to revitalize years ago by the late Tulsa Air and Space Museum among downtown will be a wonderful part of the Sherman E. Smith, a Tulsa many other affiliations. Within his Smith family’s legacy.” oilman who exemplified the industry, he held memberships or director In honor of the gift, TU has named positions in the Oklahoma Independent energy and honor of his Members of the Smith family pose by the newly unveiled Sherman Smith the center’s Sherman Smith Family Petroleum Association, Energy Family Gallery at the Henry Zarrow Center for Art and Education. Pictured left Gallery, which will house exhibitions generation. Advocates, the Independent Association to right are Eloise Smith, Will Smith and Susan Smith Burghart. drawn from the Gilcrease collection and of Drilling Contractors, and several other showings by TU students and faculty. Smith interrupted his college studies organizations. Will Smith, TU President Geoffrey Orsak, Susan Smith Burghart and Beverly Marquardt, Smith Family Foundation Administrator, visit during the unveiling of The endowment gift follows other to serve in World War II (13th Airborne His personal passions included golf, the galley named in the Smith family’s honor. recent gifts from the foundation, Division, France), then returned to baseball, Oklahoma State University, flying (he was a pilot), travel, and cowboy and western art. own benevolent organizations, the William S. Smith Charitable Several rugged bronzes and framed western scenes still Trust and the Susan Smith Burghart Charitable Foundation. adorn the office where he worked until his passing on Susie