Over the years of writing this blog I’ve experienced a reccurring feeling – I love my life. Not only do I have incredibly talented coworkers, I’m surrounded by beautiful artwork, and I get to know hundreds of talented artists.
One of the most exciting aspects of my career at the Woodson Art Museum is working with the artists. Just recently, following the 2016 opening of Birds in Art, I contacted fifteen artists to purchase or accept gifts of their work for the permanent collection.
Those fifteen paintings, sculptures, and works on paper join 486 others that have been acquired from Birds in Art exhibitions over the past forty-one years. By any standards that is an amazing commitment to supporting artists and building a world-class collection for future generations.
Three works that will reside at the Museum are gifts of the artist and include:
Walter T. Matia
Walter T. Matia
March Madness & The Soprano, 2016
Bronze
Gift in honor of Andy McGivern
Robin Murray
Symmetry, 2016
Oil on birch panel
Another successful Project Postcard this year offered for purchase 128 postcard-sized original paintings, drawings, sculptures, and graphics to Museum members and artists during the Friday-night opening festivities. Proceeds funded the purchase of three works joining twenty-eight acquisitions from previous years.
Karen Bondarchuk
Utopia, 2016
Charcoal on Rives BFK paper
Patricia Pepin
Patricia Pepin
Strange Beauty, 2015
Oil on Belgian linen
Arlene Rheinish
Arlene Rheinish
Hunting in the Shallows, 2016
Oil on linen
Eight works were acquired with the support of the John and Alice Forester Charitable Trust.
Fran A.H. Alvarado
Fran A.H. Alvarado
Athene noctua, 2014
Bronze and iron
Ute Bartels
Ute Bartels
Stork Couple, 2015
Silk colors on pongee silk
Thomas Jay Horn
The Perch, 2016
Acrylic on tupelo, brass, and steel
Martin Lasack
Along Jamison Creek, 2016
Oil on canvas
Julia Rogers
Julia Rogers
Rebellious Birds, 2016
Oil on linen
Jonathan Sainsbury
Jonathan Sainsbury
Wren’s Larder, 2015
Watercolor and charcoal on Canson paper
Debbie Stevens
Vanishing Delight, 2015
Oil on canvas
Debra Trent
Sparkle Like Diamonds, 2015
Oil on hardboard
Two works were purchased as memorials:
Chris Maynard
Chris Maynard
Dunlin Cloud, 2016
Turkey feather
Purchased with funds provided by J. and H. Zink in memory of O. and V. Suik
Allison Leigh Smith
Allison Leigh Smith
Memento: Northern Harrier Feather, 2016
Oil on Ampersand gessobord
Museum purchase with Tribute funds in memory of Esther Jaeger
Many of the works will tour to five museums from December 2016 through January 2018. When they return they will rest a bit and then be rotated into exhibitions. It’s thrilling to consider the possibilities.
