access-summer-2014 by Worcester Art Museum

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SUM ME R 2014

From the Director The month of March 2014 will surely go down as one of the most monumental periods in the Museum’s history. Within those 31 days, we completed the delivery of nearly 2,000 arms and armor artifacts from the Higgins Armory Museum, finished a whirlwind construction and installation of the new Knights! exhibition, conducted an all-out marketing push, and welcomed over 4,000 visitors to the Knights! opening weekend on March 28 - 30. I thank the entire WAM staff for their herculean efforts to make this all happen – while at the same time ensuring smooth day-to-day operations and uninterrupted service to visitors, members, and donors. With a lead time of barely one year, the staff closed ranks and outdid the normal time frame for exhibitions of this magnitude. It was nothing short of remarkable. Our efforts have paid off! To date, Knights! has been featured more than 150 times in both local and national media, including The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Boston Globe, Huffington Post, NECN, WGBH, and two Chronicle segments on WCVB Channel 5. Visit our website to see a full list and read what others have written about the exhibition. Knights! is significant not just because of this broad-based recognition, but because it is an important milestone in a Museum-wide transformation process. As requested by the Board of Trustees and defined in our vision statement, WAM is becoming more visitor-centric and community-focused, while continuing to take good care of the art in our stewardship. Knights! is one big step in that direction. If you haven’t already experienced Knights!, please be sure to take in this new interpretation of a beloved and artistically significant collection. And don’t forget to stop in to visit Helmutt’s House while you are here!

Matthias Waschek / Director

Worcester Art Museum Board of Trustees FY14 Catherine M. Colinvaux, President Phyllis Pollack, Vice President Marie Angelini, Vice President Charlie Moser, Vice President Joseph J. Bafaro, Jr., Treasurer Karin Branscombe, Clerk Herbert S. Alexander Julia D. Andrieni Sara Buckingham John B. Dirlam Susan M. Foley Gabriele M. Goszcz Abraham Haddad Rachel Kaminsky Lisa Kirby Gibbs Patricia S. Lotuff Katharine M. Michie Philip R. Morgan Moira Moynihan-Manoog John Savickas Clifford J. Schorer

“ The most important armor collection of our age has come to the Worcester Art Museum, a tour de force assemblage elevating WAM to international status.” –Malerie Yolen-Cohen, Huffington Post

“The show is smart, it’s fun, and it practically falls over itself to be welcoming.” –Sebastian Smee, Boston Globe

“Knights! … full of surprises … very, very distinctive … ” –Jared Bowen, WGBH

A Message from

Helmutt Hi everyone! I love my new home in the Knights! exhibition and hope you will visit me soon. Some of my old “knightly” friends are here with me, but I’ve also made lots of new ones throughout the Museum. I’ve had fun discovering new worlds and artists, and I can’t wait to share them with you on your next visit. Look for my picture (very handsome, if I do say so myself) in the galleries to learn fun facts about some of my favorite works of art. And, don’t forget to stop in at Helmutt’s House, my very own comfy space in Knights! See you soon!

The Making of Knights! Just shy of three months after the Higgins Armory Museum closed on December 31, 2013, its world-renowned arms and armor collection was on display in its new home at the Worcester Art Museum. Moving nearly 2,000 objects from Barber Avenue to Salisbury Street in such a short period of time was an ambitious undertaking by any measure. Adding the installation of a brand new exhibition, Knights!, made the project nothing short of heroic!

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Here are some insights into the “behindthe-scenes” efforts that brought this groundbreaking exhibition to Worcester Art Museum. Jeffrey Forgeng, curator of arms and armor and medieval art, formerly the Higgins Armory Museum’s Paul S. Morgan curator “I was focused on closing the Higgins and transferring objects to WAM. Once that work was done, I was closely involved with developing textual content and training docents.

Arms and armor have tremendous power to bring people to museums. One of the best things about the Higgins integration is that so many people will come to see the armor and discover that they also enjoy other parts of the collection. Arms and armor can be the ‘gateway drug.’ That’s exactly what happened to me as a child, and it made me a lifetime museumgoer.”

Left to Right: Warner S. Fletcher, James C. Donnelly, Jr., Meridith D. Wesby, Mark W. Fuller, and Matthias Waschek

Thank You Jump-Start Funders Significant Jump-Start funding for the Higgins Armory Collection Integration has been provided by The George I. Alden Trust, Fred Harris Daniels Foundation, Inc., The Fletcher Foundation, The George F. and Sybil H. Fuller Foundation, The Stoddard Charitable Trust, and The Manton Foundation. Additional support has been provided by HocheSchofield Foundation, Rockwell Foundation, and Massachusetts Cultural Council.

Maat Manninen, associate registrar and current acting registrar

Bill MacMillan, project objects conservator, Higgins collection

Patrick Brown, exhibition designer/ chief preparator

“My main task was to prepare space in our storage areas for such a large group of objects. A major challenge has been making sure our storage space is a suitable environment for a large collection of mostly metal objects. By working with our conservation and facilities staff, we were able to create a comfortable home worthy of this incredible collection.”

“I helped to conserve and prepare objects for exhibit, mostly the arms and armor.

“As exhibition designer, I worked with curatorial and audience engagement staff to create physical spaces that would help shape the exhibition’s narrative scope. As chief preparator, I oversaw staff and contractors in the creating of cases, mounts, lighting, graphic production, and the installation of each object.

There were several objects in the Higgins collection that needed specialized treatment, mostly organic materials and some of the ancient objects. Seeing them treated by extremely talented and caring conservators is a true joy for me.”

I have particularly enjoyed the pleasure that some Museum staff and board members expressed at seeing a different kind of exhibition at WAM.”

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Knights! Enhanced

Where Stories Come to Life

What do you call an exhibition that combines 1950s tunes, medieval arms and armor, and interactive iPad activities led by a friendly dog? A thoroughly different and engaging museum experience! Access spoke to some of the WAM creative minds behind Knights!

Education and curatorial staff collaborated on iPad content, and illustrator Veronica Fish added animations of our mascot, Helmutt. Assistant Curator of Education Katrina Stacy says her favorite iPad is the one that accompanies the painting Venus at the Forge of Vulcan from the workshop of Jan Breughel the Elder. “The iPad walks viewers through the process of how armor is made and educates them about new vocabulary,” Stacy says. “Most importantly, it gets them to look more closely at the artwork.”

Cue the Music For Head of Education Marcia Lagerwey, music was a way to add female perspectives. “I was thrilled to find a deeply moving Vietnamese song, ‘Lament of the Soldier’s Wife,’ which captures the ache of a woman waiting for her soldier husband’s return,” Lagerwey says. It’s one of several songs heard near the Triumphal Arch that highlight the hidden costs of war. Knights! is a playful exhibition too. Nowhere is that more audible than in Ethel Merman and Howard Keel’s delightful rendition of “Anything You Can Do, I Can Do Better,” heard in the Dance of Love and War section.

Art that Brings Clarity and Complexity Dance of Love and War also offers some of the most poignant juxtapositions between art from WAM’s collection and the newly acquired Higgins pieces. The story of chivalrous knights and virtuous maidens is a familiar one, according to Museum Director Matthias Waschek, but here it illustrates something broader. “In Western art, this tension between Mars, the god of war, and Venus, the goddess of love, was used to illustrate the fragility of peace and its necessary coexistence with war,” he says.

Tim Furman, web design coordinator, led the software development with the help of several Worcester Polytechnic Institute students. The tight schedule was the most difficult part of the job, he says, but the WPI team was up for the challenge. “Working with them was a real pleasure, and they rolled with all of the changes that we threw at them.”

We Are Listening! Knights! is an ongoing process of testing new ideas, and we want your feedback. Please let us know what you think of the exhibition in any of the following ways: At the Museum Leave a comment on the iPad at the end of the exhibition. Complete a visitor survey, located throughout the Museum. At home Share your comment on Facebook or Twitter. Email us at information@worcesterart.org. Thank you!

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Helmutt Welcomes You!

To touch… and not to touch

The Higgins Armory Museum was a fantastic place for families, and that tradition continues in the collection’s new home at the Worcester Art Museum. To welcome visitors of all ages, we’ve enlisted the help of Helmutt, our trusty Knights! mascot and family-friendly ambassador for our entire collection. You will recognize him as the Higgins’ beloved boarhound in dog armor, reimagined here by artist and WAM faculty member Veronica Fish.

With its musical accompaniment, sumptuous paintings, gleaming armor, and interactive iPads, Knights! is a multisensory experience. Kids can get hands-on by touching a sample of a woven tapestry, slipping on a real gauntlet, and donning medieval costumes in Helmutt’s House.

You’ll find Helmutt at kid’s-eye level throughout the Museum and in Helmutt’s House, an interactive space designed just for kids in the Knights! exhibition. Pull up a beanbag chair, read a storybook, try on costumes of knights and ladies, embark on a scavenger hunt in the gallery, or design a coat of arms.

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They can also learn how to care for art objects, so that the objects will delight people for centuries to come. “Since Helmutt has lived in a museum for so long, he knows that not touching precious artifacts is the best way to preserve them, so they’ll be around for as long as he has been,” explains Marcia Lagerwey, head of education. Helmutt says, “Please don’t touch the armor!”

Interactive iPad Activities Helmutt also shares fun facts and games via interactive iPads stationed throughout the exhibition. See if you can spot all the details in the painting Venus at the Forge of Vulcan. Find out about each of the unique helmets in our “round table” of knights. Learn more about symbols on the ceremonial pieces of armor. Kids and adults alike appreciate Helmutt’s enthusiasm for sharing facts about his favorite topics: arms, armor, and horses.

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Superheroes Then and Now The Winged Genius Superheroes may be a uniquely American concept, but from the Norse god, Thor, to the Inca sun god, Inti, cultures throughout time have created images of superior beings who served as protectors and possessed superhuman traits. This alabaster relief is from the 8th-century BCE palace of Ashurnasirpal II, an Assyrian king whose palace was 20 miles southeast of the city of Mosul, Iraq. Like many royal dynasties,

the Assyrian kings conceived of themselves as divinely sanctioned, all-powerful monarchs and reinforced that idea through monumental art. Here Ashurnasirpal sports a massive set of wings and wears a fringed cape—both signaling his status as an omnipotent guardian. Comic fans today get the message as clearly as the king’s subjects did in Mesopotamia almost 3,000 years ago. A Winged Genius (detail), Assyrian, 883–859 BCE, alabaster, Museum purchase, 1930.42

Meet Veronica and Helmutt Illustrator and WAM faculty member Veronica Fish is the creator of Helmutt, the Museum’s new mascot.

For nearly 75 years, Helmutt the Dog welcomed visitors at the Higgins Armory Museum. The German boarhound's 16thcentury reproduction armor was created at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in 1942. After that Helmutt found a home in the lobby of Higgins, greeting visitors for generations and garnering leagues of faithful friends. Now he finds a new incarnation at the Worcester Art Museum as an educational ambassador and friend to all.

V: And the White Stripes! Good call. Mine would be Prussian blue and peach-pink.

V: What does it feel like to be a cartoon dog?

V: Sushi! Any and all kinds!

H: Hmm, I don’t know, but it tickled a lot when you drew me.

Favorite style of armor?

H: What does it feel like to be a human?

H: Elizabethan, of course.

V: You think about work too much, and your feet are always cold. At least mine are. But it’s not bad. You get opposable thumbs and a pre-frontal cortex.

V: 18th century Japanese samurai, naturally.

H: [looks at hands] You gave me thumbs too! Alright! [high five]

H: Sleeping in front of a warm fire.

V: How’s the move from Higgins?

V: That makes two of us.

H: I miss them a bunch, but everybody at WAM has been very welcoming. Kiki Smith's “The Girl in the Blue Dress” takes me for walks in the courtyard. It’ll be fun to explore after closing time!

H: If you could meet any person from history, who would it be?

V: What’s your favorite sport? H: Jousting! I always root for the horses.

Favorite poet? V: A tie between Walt Whitman and Pablo Neruda. H: (gasps) Me too!! What a coincidence! Favorite food? H: Pizza! Any and all kinds!

Favorite thing to do:

V: My favorite politician, John Adams! And Thomas Jefferson if he were hanging around, because they were buddies. V: If you were Batman, what would you keep in your utility belt? H: Biscuits! And a tennis ball. V: Would you throw the tennis ball at the bad guys?

Favorite colors?

H: No, we’d play catch together and they’d give up crime forever.

H: Red and white—my family crest colors from the Beckwythe coat of arms!

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Detective Comics #45 ÂŠ DC Comics

Knights! offers a unique opportunity to showcase spectacular pieces of arms and armor alongside paintings, photographs, and decorative arts from WAM’s collection. One object on loan, however, has especially delighted audiences. A Batman costume worn by Michael Keaton in Tim Burton’s 1989 film presides over our “round table” of helmets from around the world. We talked with artist and longtime WAM art teacher Andy Fish about his role in bringing “The Dark Knight" to Knights! Why Batman? [Museum Director] Matthias Waschek wanted to include an authentic Darth Vader or Batman movie costume, which are both extremely difficult to find. Matthias envisioned a King Arthur type of presentation, so it made sense to focus on Batman. Since 2014 is both the 25th anniversary of Tim Burton’s Batman film and the 75th anniversary of Batman himself (July 23 is National Batman Day), it was even more fitting. The 1989 film was also the first time that Batman was dressed in black armor rather than gray tights. How did you find a Batman suit? There are only two Batman suits from the 1989 film in existence. Fortunately, we found one— displayed alongside an actual Batmobile— at the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles. They generously agreed to loan the suit for Knights! Why is Batman such a good ambassador for the exhibition? The original Batman was a bloodthirsty avenger operating outside the law, but that all changed in 1940 when he adopted the first kid sidekick in comics history: Robin, the Boy Wonder. Batman soon developed a moral compass and became an advocate for law and order — always remaining a gentleman, who would have done well in serving King Arthur's elite round table. When did the epithet of Batman as “The Dark Knight” first appear? Ted VanLiew of Superworld Comics helped to track down this reference. Most people think it goes back only to the recent Christopher Nolan films, while comic fans might point to Frank Miller's seminal Dark Knight Returns graphic novel from 1986. But after reading every Batman appearance, we discovered the first reference to Batman as “The Dark Knight” in the Fall 1940 issue of Detective Comics (#45). We think this was the first time anyone has pinpointed this fact — it’s an important piece of research in comic history.

Learn more about Batman at worcesterart.org. 1989 Batman Costume, 1989, latex, foam latex (molded), spandex (bodysuit), black spray paint, Collection of the Petersen Automotive Museum, Los Angeles, California © Warner Brothers

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Conservation Spotlight: Turkish Kalkan Many of the objects in the John Woodman Higgins Armory Collection received a close look from our conservators to assess any damage and create a treatment plan. Kari Dodson, Andrew W. Mellon Fellow in Objects Conservation, talked to access about her work on an exceptional early 19th-century Turkish kalkan, a type of one-handed shield. The kalkan has curved iron bars and a copper-alloy umbo, or boss—the name for the round piece at the center — but otherwise is made from organic materials. This makes it lightweight, a blessing for the soldier, who carried it in battle, but a challenge for conservators. According to Dodson, new objects in the conservation lab get examined very closely, often under a microscope and using other non-invasive techniques, such as X-radiography and infrared reflectography. “The kalkan came to the lab with several condition issues,” she explains. “The interior lining fabric was

Conservator Kari Dodson stitches protective netting around tattered shield edge with dyed hair silk Above: Kalkan (one-handed shield), probably Turkish, 1800s, wood, iron, textile, leather and brass, 40 cm diameter, The John Woodman Higgins Collection, 2014.86.

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ripped and pulling away from the shield. Part of the braided leather strapping for holding the shield was missing, and a section of the protective iron rim had become detached from the front edge.” After removing dust and debris, Dodson gently humidified the crumpled and brittle lining fabric so it could be smoothed. The fabric had many tears and threadbare areas, so she carefully stitched it to polyester netting. “The stitches are very tiny and made with fine hair silk, so they are invisible without magnification,” she says. “All of our interventions are detectable upon close inspection, but they never obscure original material.” Next, Dodson replaced the missing strap pieces by braiding a strip of modern leather and painting it to match the 200-year-old leather. “Now the straps give the appearance of being complete, and the broken ends of the original are protected from further harm,” she says.

Finally, with the help of Bill MacMillan, project objects conservator, Higgins collection, modern iron rivets were hammered, painted to resemble others on the piece, and used to reattach the arc of iron rim. Dodson explains that the goal of conservation is not to make an object look like new. “Our goal is to prolong the life of an object and allow it to be presented in a way that conveys the maker’s original artistic message, while still preserving important evidence of its use.” Learn more at worcesterart.org/ Collection/conservation

Registrars Maat Manninen and Sarah Gillis hang WAM paintings onto new moving screens, which were provided through the Higgins integration.

Making room for art Pauldrons, greaves, and vambraces aren’t terms that Maat Manninen, associate registrar / current acting registrar, and his staff used often before March. That’s when the John Woodman Higgins Armory Collection moved into a new, climate-controlled storage space at the Worcester Art Museum. “Nearly 2,000 objects came to us in nine truckloads over the course of three or four days,” says Sarah Gillis, assistant registrar for image management, all during the busy final days of putting the finishing touches on the Knights! exhibition. Most of the collection is now housed in a converted basement photo studio. The space is outfitted with customized storage equipment from the Higgins, in a configuration that mimics the way the objects had been stored there. “The objects make more sense as a comprehensive collection when stored this way,” explains Rebecca Wrightson, former Higgins Armory registrar and now assistant registrar for the Higgins integration.

Almost everything in the collection is made primarily of metal, which requires different storage conditions than paintings or works on paper in terms of temperature and humidity. “We’re new to dealing with objects that have been used in war,” Manninen adds. “Many of these items have an archaeological record, and we know what battle they were used in.” Gillis says she’s intrigued by the fact that several swords were recovered from the riverbeds that may have been their owners’ final resting places. Standing next to a rack of dozens of spears and poleaxes, she says, “It’s hard not to imagine the tragic, or heroic, stories some of them could tell.” Learn more about the John Woodman Higgins Armory Collection at worcesterart.org/Collection/higgins-collection

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new acquisitions

Photos by LaToya Ruby Frazier A selection of photographs by LaToya Ruby Frazier created from 2005-2009 were recently acquired by the Museum. Photographed in various rooms of her family house in her hometown of Braddock, Pennsylvania, once a thriving steel mill town, the images reveal complex intergenerational relationships and an intertwining of people and place. The work, says Frazier, is “the story of economic globalization and the decline of manufacturing as told through the bodies of three generations of African American women”—her grandmother, mother, and herself. With an emotional authenticity in which her subjects assert their own identities, Frazier’s images complicate and expand traditional notions of portrait and social documentary photography.

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Frazier (born 1982) is a Lecturer in Photography at the Mason Gross School of the Arts and Associate Curator for the Mason Gross Galleries at Rutgers University. She is also Critic in Photography at Yale University School of Art. Her work was included in the New Museum’s Younger Than Jesus triennial (2009), in the Whitney Biennial (2012), and in solo exhibitions at the Brooklyn Museum, Contemporary Art Museum Houston, and the ICA, Boston (all 2013). LaToya Ruby Frazier, Momme, 2008, gelatin silver print, Chapin Riley Fund, 2013.13. ©LaToya Ruby Frazier

A message from Jon L. Seydl, Director of Curatorial Af Affairs fairs As an art historian, I long admired Worcester’s collections, assembled with such remarkable taste and intelligence. It’s been a joy getting to know the objects here; every day another incredible surprise jumps out in the galleries or in storage. However, what really drew me here was the opportunity to be part of such a pivotal moment in the museum’s history, with WAM on the forefront of some of the most exciting developments going on in American museums today. Rethinking the distribution of the galleries, creating narratives of connections, and allowing art to pervade every corner of the institution—these are the exciting challenges ahead of us. At the same time we are reaching out to new audiences, especially families, and our many local colleges and universities. A remarkable curatorial team — curators, conservators, registrars, art handlers, and an exhibition designer—alongside our colleagues in audience engagement will make this happen. There’s so much to do! A dynamic exhibition program, reinstalling the collections, integrating the Higgins Armory, creating a stronger digital presence, and thinking about new stories—this is an exciting time to be at WAM.

Pictured: Jon Seydl

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Guns without Borders in Mexico and Central America Confronting the Consequences of Violence At the center of Knights!, visitors are confronted with stark and disturbing images of contemporary violence in Mexico and Guatemala. What do these poignant documentary photographs have to do with King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table? “Weapons are made to do harm, and not to talk about this would be to tell only part of the story,” says Museum Director Matthias Waschek. “It was important to me that we acknowledge the existence of arms and armor in contemporary society.” Guns Without Borders is a collaboration with the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting and features photography from the frontlines of today’s epidemic of gun violence. Dominic Bracco II, Carlos Javier Ortiz, and Louie Palu photograph the violence of gangs and drug cartels in Mexico and Guatemala, documenting the complex socio-economic issues that are both a cause and an effect of that violence. Images include Bracco’s photo of a man and his pregnant partner shot dead in their truck

in Juárez and Palu’s portrait of children crowding around a Mexico murder scene. Guns Without Borders is about human consequences in a world dominated by arms and armor. “Literary ideas about chivalry and courtly manners are an important theme in Knights!,” says Assistant Curator of Prints, Drawings, and Photographs Nancy Burns, “but it would have been irresponsible not to also acknowledge the violence that weapons represent.” Carlos Javier Ortiz, whose work is shown in the photo above, sees little difference between today’s Guatemalan drug cartels and American mobsters during Prohibition. He points to the romanticization of figures like Al Capone and Bugsy Segal. For him, it’s just a matter of time until the terror inflicted by the cartels is glorified by popular culture. Those who met their fate centuries ago at the end of a knight’s sword might agree. Carlos Javier Ortiz, Rioters, 2007, Photo © Carlos Javier Ortiz/Pulitzer Center

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A Perfectly Strange Encounter Opens September 13 The intriguing concept of what we collectively call “the strange” is explored in Perfectly Strange, an exhibition of prints, drawings, and photographs, opening September 13th. The works on display, include dreamscapes by Salvador Dalì, Diane Arbus’s uncanny portrait of identical twins, and Noirs by 19th-century French artist Odilon Redon.

The exhibition will focus on four main realms of the strange: the imagined world of fairy tales, dreams, and fictional creatures; the frightening and grotesque, such as Goya’s monsters; our everyday world; and the circus, “a real place that creates an impossible world—with acrobats doing seemingly impossible things, and clowns that are both frightening and funny.”

Assistant Curator of Prints, Drawings, and Photographs Nancy Burns says the idea for the exhibition was partly inspired years ago by Joel Sternfeld’s photograph McLean, Virginia, December 1978, shown above. “It made me think about our reliance on linear, clear narratives when trying to understand what is presented in an artwork. Part of what makes this photograph so strange is our difficulty negotiating how a fireman could be buying a pumpkin when a house is on fire behind him. It’s disturbing, absurd, and funny all at the same time,” she says.

The exhibition will also embrace a bit of the strange in its display. “It’s unusual to present such diverse prints, drawings, and photographs together in the same installation,” explains Burns, “so that is a collision I’m excited about. And the subject of the exhibition allows me to take some liberties in hanging that I wouldn’t do otherwise. I hope that audiences find the gallery ‘perfectly strange’ in an interesting way.” Joel Sternfeld, McLean, Virginia, December 1978, digital c-print, Purchase through the gift of Mrs. Joseph Goodhue, 1983.15, © Joel Sternfeld; Courtesy of the artist and Luhring Augustine, New York.

Upcoming Salisbury Art Series Event: The Art of Conservation: Hogarth Rejuvenated September 23, 2014 / 5:30pm

Portraits of William James and Elizabeth James b Hogarth. Conservators Rita Albertson (seated), Bi Philip Klausmeyer in WAMâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Fuller Conservation L art for the Jeppson Idea Lab.

mes by William ed), Birgit Strähle and vation Lab preparing

Jeppson Idea Lab

On view through February 8, 2015 The next Jeppson Idea Lab re-introduces two of the Museum’s most splendid portraits: William James and Elizabeth James by 18th-century English artist William Hogarth. They were the first Hogarth oil paintings acquired by an American museum when WAM purchased them from a London art dealer in 1909. Prominently displayed for almost 100 years, they were taken down in 2008 for gallery renovations. It was then that staff realized the paintings had never been comprehensively evaluated by conservators. Layers of built-up varnish had discolored over the decades, and the portraits were no longer a fair representation of Hogarth’s skill. Thanks to a generous award from the Netherlands-based European Fine Arts Fair (TEFAF)/Museum Restoration Fund, WAM conservators were able to embark on the long overdue restoration. They conducted a technical analysis of Hogarth’s materials and methods and scrutinized the artist’s bravura brushwork using high-resolution microscopic imaging. The Idea Lab— a public forum for sharing questions and research about specific objects—presents the results of this analysis, shedding light on Hogarth’s techniques and how they affect the way his paintings have aged.

What is the Idea Lab? Unlike a traditional exhibition, the Idea Lab presents questions and on-going research to the public, inviting visitors to explore individual works more deeply. The Idea Lab is located in the Jeppson Gallery on the 3rd level.

Join us as we put the James’ portraits back in their rightful place as showpieces of the Museum’s collection. With a striking, newly revealed color palette, broader tonal range, and conserved frames, visitors can finally view this impressive pair as Hogarth intended almost 300 years ago. Connect with us

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In the Asian Galleries

This 20th-century masterpiece depicts five dragonsâ&#x20AC;&#x201D; associated with the Emperor, the heavens, water, clouds, and fertilityâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;in pursuit of three flaming jewels that symbolize transcendent wisdom. The artist used powerful diamond drills to coax the misty scene from a massive boulder of forest green nephrite. 28 Learn more at

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Large Basin with High-Relief Design of Five Dragons, Nephrite, 20th century; gift of John and Maria Dirlam, 2006.610

Abstractions in Blue: Works from the Wise Collection Through January 11, 2015 This exhibition honors a generous gift from Joanne and Douglas Wise of artworks by Japanese artists, active in the 1970s-90s, who viewed Japanese culture from a western perspective with modernist ideals. Like their western counterparts, most of these artists were art-school trained and aimed to express their personal truths and visions. The works on view show the influence of Western media and contemporary inspirational sources. As seen in the selected works, several of these artists revelled in the use of the color blue when creating abstract, avantgarde works. While the works do not look typically Japanese at first glance, their high level of technical skill and pioneering explorations of space, subtle gradations, and quirky humor harmonize with traditional Japanese aesthetics. Hiroki Morinque, Night Sky No. XI, 1988, watercolor on cut paper; gift of The Wise Collection, Joanne and Douglas Wise, 2011.388

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Raphael is coming! National Gallery of Art’s Cowper Madonna to be exhibited at the Worcester Art Museum In January 2015, museumgoers will have a once-in-a-lifetime chance to view one of the most important Renaissance paintings in the country, right here at the Worcester Art Museum. Raphael’s The Small Cowper Madonna, on loan from the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., was painted during the artist’s years in Florence, 1504 1508. This exhibition will place the Cowper Madonna next to Worcester’s own Northbrook Madonna, offering “an intense exercise in close looking,” says Jon Seydl, director of curatorial affairs and curator of European art.

The Mystery of the Northbrook Madonna The Worcester Art Museum’s The Virgin and Child (Northbrook Madonna) bears a striking resemblance to the National Gallery’s Raphael, and, in the past, some scholars attributed the painting to Raphael. Few would maintain that attribution today, but the authorship of the Worcester painting has yet to be conclusively proven. “It’s something that has bedeviled us for years,” Seydl says. Next winter, Worcester Art Museum visitors will have an unprecedented opportunity to draw their own conclusions when both paintings are exhibited together.

Look for more information about this exciting exhibition in the Fall issue of access.

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Raphael, The Small Cowper Madonna, c. 1505, oil on panel, Widener Collection, National Gallery of Art, 1942.9.57

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A New View on Museum Philanthropy Worcester Art Museum kicked off 2014 by welcoming a new Director of Philanthropy, Nora Maroulis. Arriving fresh from her role as Deputy Director for External Affairs at deCordova Sculpture Park in Lincoln, Maroulis says she’s thrilled to be joining the Museum at such a pivotal time. “Worcester Art Museum is a model for what museums can be when they dare to take risks. The excitement is palpable,” she says. WAM Director Matthias Waschek notes that Maroulis brings a depth of experience with a wide variety of cultural institutions. “She will undoubtedly help as we continue toward our goal of increased accessibility and growing our base of financial support,” he says. “The Museum is an art historical treasure trove, a vibrant reflection of Worcester’s rich history and bright future,” Maroulis says. “I look forward to being part of it.” 32 Learn more at

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Spotlight on A Renaissance Celebration On Saturday, June 14, nearly 300 guests dined, danced, and bid on items ranging from Red Sox tickets to an eight-day Viking cruise down the Rhine River—all in celebration of the historic Higgins collection integration. Guests arrived to the sound of heralding trumpets to enjoy a toast of mead, while fire-eaters set the spectacular scene. The invitation specified creative black tie, and the style-savvy crowd did not disappoint. For Gala Committee Co-chair Laura Brainard, it was the ideal opportunity to wear a vintage gold chain mail jacket by Massachusetts designer Anthony Ferrara. Although the effect was quite sleek, the five-pound jacket did give Brainard a taste of what it must have been like to wear ceremonial armor at court. The guitar and violin Duo Divertimento serenaded guests during the cocktail hour with compositions from classical and romantic-era composers. Bidding in the silent auction kicked off as guests mingled before sitting down to a delicious dinner with a medieval twist, with a farm-to-table menu by Russell Morin Fine Catering. After dinner, Boston band Legit got the crowd on its feet with their repertoire of jazz standards, Motown favorites, and Top 40 hits. The elegant and entertaining evening—which transformed the Stoddard Garden Court into a glittering Renaissance Hall— raised an estimated $250,000 net in support for the Museum’s highest priorities and exciting path forward, and celebrated the vital role the Museum plays in the cultural life of the region. For new Director of Philanthropy, Nora Maroulis, the takeaway is gratitude. “Heartfelt thanks are due to our dedicated event committee, chaired by Laura Brainard, Caroline Camougis, and Maura Turner; to our energetic Members Council, led by Peggy Snow and Sandy Hubbard; to our tireless development staff; and importantly, to all who participated as generous and spirited sponsors, attendees, high bidders, auction item contributors, donors, and cheerleaders. The event helped us kick off the summer in style and celebrate the ongoing integration of the remarkable Higgins Collection into its new home at the Worcester Art Museum.”

M I L E S P R E S S I N C.

WA M MEM

BER

members access [community

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Select your membership level: Single / $60 — 1 adult / 1 child Double / $80 — 2 adults / 2 children Triple / $100 — 3 adults / 3 children

Choose your categories: $20 per category (more than one can be chosen)

Social

Enjoy meeting new people and socializing?

• “Early Access” to a special event • One 10% off coupon for use at WAM’s Café • Two guest passes to bring friends, family or colleagues to the “Early Access” event

Membership My Way

Family

• Register for classes 24 hours in advance of the public

Introducing a unique twist to our membership packages. While we remain committed to the same annual membership price, we’re offering a new, customized plan for our membership packages that will change the way you interact with the Worcester Art Museum. We’re calling it Membership My Way.

(call 508.793.4333) • Additional 10% off WAM class registration when you sign-up for more than one class • Invitation to the Family Summer Picnic

Insider

With Membership My Way, you pick a category that fits your unique needs and customize that membership to focus upon your own personal tastes and preferences. Offering you discounts, alerts, and preferential treatment, Membership My Way provides you with access to the Museum in ways that are meaningful to you—our valued member.

Love an inside scoop?

• An invitation to an Insider’s Tea and Docent Tour • Reserved seats for Artist Talks ahead of time (call 508.793.4301 to reserve) • Access to 33 additional Museums through the Museum Alliance Reciprocal

It’s easy!

Membership program

Artist Is creating and exploring your idea of fun?

All Members enjoy • Unlimited free admission to the Museum • 10% savings at the Museum Shop and 20% off during the holidays • Up to 15% discount on WAM classes • $35 discount on children’s birthday parties (call 508.793.4334 to reserve) • Invitations and discounts to WAM exhibit openings and social events • Free audio tours • Subscription to access magazine • Members Express Line at major events New! • Select member days, when you can share your membership with friends and family New!

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• Register for classes 24 hours in advance of the public (call 508.793.4333) • Additional 10% off WAM class registration when you sign-up for more than one class • An invitation to an Artist Talk Q & A

Start enjoying your beneﬁts while supporting the Worcester Art Museum

Questions? Contact the Membership department: 508.793.4300 / membership@worcesterart.org

Meeting Suzanne Campbell-Lambert, WAM Member Suzanne Campbell-Lambert has been a member of WAM since 2003, when just out of college, she joined the young art lovers group then called “Friends of Steve.” Now the mother of two children ages 4 and 7, she spends more time playing “find the animals” with them in the galleries than attending cocktail receptions. The Museum, however, remains a central part of her cultural and community life. “I’m very proud that such an incredible museum is here in Worcester,” says Campbell-Lambert. “I love bringing visitors from out of town, or even people who are from here but haven’t been before. The Museum continues to become more and more welcoming. I love showing people that it’s not an imposing place.” She says that one of the best benefits of membership for young families is free admission. “We can go at the kids' pace,” she says. “There’s no pressure and we can stay as long as they want.” On a recent trip to Knights! with a visiting family member and her kids, everyone enjoyed Helmutt’s House, where the beanbag chairs were a big hit. “It’s so important to me to support the Museum,” says CampbellLambert, who has also served a full six-year term on the Museum Council, including a year as Council president. “The Museum is something I want to share with everyone. I want my kids to be able to bring their kids someday.” Purchase your Worcester Art Museum membership online at worcesterart.org/Membership, email membership@worcesterart.org, call 508.793.4300, or at the Museum.

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Become a Business Partner Together we make a difference for Worcester

WA M SS BUSINE R E PA R T N

Becoming a Business Partner is easier and more rewarding than ever! Join today—and enjoy a slate of new benefits, including: • VIP networking social with Director • 25% discount on advertising rates in access magazine and 20% discount on facility rentals

Meet Jim Cole, WAM Business Partner

• Publicity through WAM’s social media outlets

Cole Contracting has been a fixture in Central Massachusetts for 25 years, and their partnership with the Worcester Art Museum goes back almost as far, beginning with company founder Jim Cole and continuing now that his son, David, is at the helm.

• Invitation to an exclusive Salisbury Society event

Recently, Cole Contracting increased their level of support through sponsorship of the Knights! exhibition. “We value our partnership with WAM,” says Jim Cole. “This is something we are especially proud to do. It makes good sense for the company and for the community we all share.”

Membership includes all the above, plus: Free Admission Month for your employees, discounts at the Shop and Café, private tours, recognition in WAM’s access magazine, Worcester Business Journal, plaques at museum entrances, plus a link to your company on our website, and more.

Pictured: Jim Cole, Cole Contracting, Inc.

• Recognition in WAM’s Annual Report and digital signage • Business Spotlight opportunity in access magazine or WAM website • Discounts and invitations to openings and events, with access to express lines • Membership cards – twice as many as previously offered

Sponsorship of an event, program, or exhibition offers even greater visibility through co-branding, promotion to more than 21,000 e-news subscribers, signage, billboards, and customized benefits. Your partnership is an important investment in the growth of your business and in the corporate and cultural vibrancy of our region.

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To join or learn more: worcesterart.org/Membership/businesspartners. Contact karmenbogdesic@worcesterart.org or 508.793.4326.

“The museum reflects the strength of Worcester’s past and the possibility for its future. If you are interested in investing in community, WAM will never disappoint.”—J. Christopher Collins, Senior Vice President & General Counsel, Unum US

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2013-2014 Salisbury Society As of June 20, 2014 Salisbury Society members provide unrestricted support that strengthens every area of the Museum. In appreciation for this generous level of commitment, Salisbury members are treated to unique behind-the-scenes events, member benefits at over 800 other museums, sneak previews, and a gala celebration. New benefits for 2015 will include international and regional travel opportunities and tours of private collections. The Society has welcomed 19 new members since September 1, 2013.

President’s Circle

($10,000 - $24,999)

Catherine M. Colinvaux and Phillip D. Zamore Jeanne Y. Curtis* Mary and Warner Fletcher Lisa Kirby Gibbs and Peter Gibbs Judy and Tony King Mr. and Mrs. Theodore E. Shasta Clifford J. Schorer

Director’s Circle ($5,000 - $9,999) Herbert and Maura Alexander Kristin and Joseph Bafaro, Jr. Jack and Susan Bassick Karin Branscombe Mr. and Mrs. Vernon Caforio Mr. and Mrs. J. Christopher Collins Mr. and Mrs. David F. Dalton Maria and John Dirlam Diana R. Glimm Dr. Gabriele Goszcz and Douglas Crawford John* and Marianne Jeppson Joan Peterson Klimann C. Jean McDonough Don and Mary Melville Nydia and Charles Moser

Patron ($2,500 – $4,999) Anonymous Member Marie and Mike Angelini Lisa M. Bernat and Abram Rosenfeld Allen and Sarah Berry Mr. and Mrs. H. Paul Buckingham III Mr. and Mrs. Charles H. N. de Végvár Mr. and Mrs. James C. Donnelly, Jr. Antonella and Roger Doucette Allen W. Fletcher Susan and Jay Foley Roberta Goldman Stephen and Valerie Loring Moira and Charlie Manoog

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Mr. and Mrs. Henry T. Michie Mahroo and Barrett Morgan Mr.* and Mrs. Bernard G. Palitz Martha R. and Arthur M. Pappas, M.D. Marlene and David Persky John and Ellen Savickas Michael and Carol Sleeper

Member ($1,250 – $2,499) John B. and Mary Lou Anderson Julia Andrieni and Robert Phillips Drs. Seta and Diran Apelian Mr. and Mrs. James H. Barnhill Dr. and Mrs. Frederick L. Bayon Elaine W. Beals Whitney Beals and Pamela Esty Lisa and Rod Beittel Ellen Berezin and Lewis Shepard Edward Berman and Kathleen M. McDonough Barbara and George Bernardin Eleanor C. Bernat Richard and Sande Bishop Randolph and Edla Ann Bloom Bollus Lynch, LLP Mr. and Mrs. A. Shepard Boote Karl Lombard Briel Eric Brose and Jan Seymour Dawn and John Budd Douglas P. Butler* George and Tammy Butler Thomas W. Caldwell William R. Carrick Mr. and Mrs. Robert R. Charles Henry J. and Elaine M.* Ciborowski Alexandra Cleworth and Gary Staab Christos and Mary T. Cocaine Paula H. Connolly Mary Cotter-Lemoine and David Lemoine Mrs. Fairman C. Cowan* Tracy A. Craig and Dr. James J. Convery

Chris and Betsy Crowley Mr. and Mrs. David I. Crowley Dix and Sarah Davis Howard G. Davis III Phil and Laurel Davis Margery and Richard Dearborn Marjorie M. Deitz* Henry B. and Jane K. Dewey David DiPasquale and Candace Okuno Tom and Joan Dolan Dr. and Mrs. John A. Duggan Michael E. Eramo and Helen S. Carey* Cathleen C. Esleeck Birgit Faber-Morse Paul and Judith Falcigno Barbara E. Fargo Andrew and Robin Feldman Dr. Marianne E. Felice Allen and Yda Filiberti Mrs. John E. Flagg Patricia A. Fletcher Richard and Joan Freedman Mark and Jan Fuller Kathleen H. Gadbois Paul J. Giorgio Dr. Wayne and Laura Glazier Maureen Lucier Glowik John and Geri Graham Maureen and Bob Gray Drs. Ivan and Noreen Green Joel P. Greene and Ann T. Lisi David R. and Rosalie A. Grenon Dr. Abraham and Linda Haddad Dr. Thomas and Mrs. Patricia Halpin Dr. and Mrs. James B. Hanshaw Amy Harmon and Robert Stefanic Patricia J. Harmon and David Tongel Phyllis Harrington Dr. N. Alan Harris and Dr. Diane Lebel Drs. Lynn and Lura Harrison Mr. and Mrs. James N. Heald 2nd George Hecker Frank Herron and Sandy Urie Jock Herron and Julia Moore Prentiss and Polly Higgins Dr. Janice C. Hitzhusen and Dr. James S. Pease James E. Hogan III Dr. James and Kathleen Hogan Margaret Hunter Mrs. Louis C. Iandoli Prof. Louis J. Iandoli

SAL

Frances and Howard Jacobson Candace M. Jaegle Mrs. Tay Ann Jay Jesuit Community at Holy Cross and Thomas Worcester Drs. David and Kathleen Jordan Rachel Kaminsky John F. and Rayna Keenan Margaret Keith Maureen and William Kelleher Dr. Jean King and Dr. Carl Fulwiler David and Barbara Krashes Tracy and Morey Kraus Saundra B. Lane Mr. and Mrs. Warren C. Lane, Jr. Tristan and Susanne Laurion Dr. and Mrs. Frank Lazarus Rafael Lazo Claude M. Lee III Mr. and Mrs. Dana R. Levenson Thomas J. Logan Mr. and Mrs. Joseph P. Lotuff David Lucht and Susannah Baker Ingrid Jeppson Mach and Dany Pelletier Robert and Minh Mailloux Thomas Manning and Nadine Manning Christian McCarthy Neil and Lisa McDonough Daniel R. McLean and Jon L. Seydl J. William Mees Dr. and Mrs. Glenn A. Meltzer Katie and Louis Messina Thomas Michie Mrs. David J. Milliken* Dr. Satya and Mrs. Supriya Mitra Mr. and Mrs. Andres Jaime Molina Mrs. Anne (Nancy) Morgan

I SBU

Donate now to the WAM Annual Fund! Now that the John Woodman Higgins collection is at WAM, we need your help more than ever to complete its integration. Your support allows us to share this magnificent collection with new audiences in our Knights! exhibition. Donate $150 or more and receive 2 free passes to bring family and friends to see the new home of knights in Worcester.

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Mr. and Mrs. John C. Mr. and Mrs. Peter S. Morgan Stimpson Philip and Gale Morgan Katy and Peter James and Patricia Moynihan SO C Sullivan IET Y Jim Mullen and Nola Anderson Mr.* and Mrs.* William Frederic and Victoria Mulligan F. Sullivan Robert* and Charlene Nemeth Anne Tardanico Drs. Dominic Nompleggi and Ann E. George and Sheila Tetler Brown Tony and Martha Tilton Dr. and Mrs. Joseph C. Oakley Lee and Owen Todd Edward Osowski George and Lynne Tonna Deborah Penta Luke M. Vaillancourt and Anna John and Patricia Peterson Vaillancourt Mrs. William O. Pettit, Jr. Judith Vander Salm Mr. and Mrs. N. William Pioppi Herb and Jean Varnum Cynthia and Stephen Pitcher Helen G. Vassallo, Ph.D. Marc S. Plonskier and Heni Mark G. Wagner, Ph.D. and Monica Koenigsberg Wagner Elefterion The Plourde Family Charitable Trust Matthias Waschek and Steve Taviner Drs. Phyllis Pollack and Peter Metz Kristin Waters Candace and Richard Race Roger and Elise Wellington George Rand James A. Welu Arthur and Debra Remillard Mr. and Mrs. Stephen D. Wentzell Luanne Remillard Mark and Barb Wetzel Martin S. Richman and Joanne R. Barbara Wheaton DeMoura Peter and Shirley Williams Linda and Ted Robbins Joanne and Douglas Wise Mr. and Mrs. Henry B. Rose Sue and David Woodbury Peter and Anne Schneider Ken and Dorothy Woodcock Carol L. Seager John Worcester Richard Sergel and Susan Baggett Jeanice Sherman and Dwight Johnson Dr. Edward C. Yasuna * Deceased Troy R. Siebels Dr. Shirley S. Siff and Robert M. Siff Vivian B. Sigel* Dr. and Mrs. Jang Singh Dr. and Mrs. Mitchell H. Sokoloff John J. and Kristina M. Spillane Andrew Spindler Mark Spuria Through August 10, 2014

Stencil-dyed Japanese Folk Art Calendars

In this exhibition you will see a selection of folkart style calendar prints designed by Keisuke Serizawa (1895–1984) and Takeshi Nishijima (1929–2003). Made for the Western market, these postwar calendars were produced using stencils, paste resist, and natural dyes. Primarily textile artists, Nishijima and Serizawa were part of the Mingei (People’s Art) movement, a 20thcentury effort to preserve and revive traditional Japanese handcrafts displaced by industrialization. In addition to the colorful calendars, stencil-dyed prints by other famous artists will be included. The prints were donated by Judith and Paul Falcigno. Nishijima, Takeshi, Plum Blossoms, Kyoto; hand stencildyed print, ink and color on handmade mulberry kōzo paper; gift from the Judith and Paul Falcigno Collection, 2010.194-3

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Salisbury Society News SALI

SBU R

WA M SO C

IET Y

Malcolm Rogers Ann and Graham Gund Director, MFA, Boston

Philippe de Montebello Director Emeritus, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Fiske Kimball Professor, Institute of Fine Arts, New York University, Membre de lâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Institut de France

An evening with Philippe de Montebello On Friday, May 30, Salisbury Society members were treated to a very special gala evening with Philippe de Montebello, director emeritus of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. In an engaging and candid conversation with Worcester Art Museum Director Matthias Waschek, Mr. de Montebello reflected on his 31 years leading the Met and on how art museums can transform themselves to adapt to a changing world. “Philippe de Montebello is the most renowned museum director of our day, and it is indeed a privilege and honor to have him here tonight, sharing his thoughts about the future of art museums,” said Mr. Waschek. After the program, Salisbury Society members joined Philippe de Montebello and Museum of Fine Arts Ann and Graham Gund Director Malcolm Rogers, for a tour of the new Knights! exhibition and the [remastered] galleries, followed by cocktails. Society members at the President’s Circle level then enjoyed an intimate dinner with our distinguished guests. Salisbury Society members are committed to supporting the Worcester Art Museum at a philanthropic level and enjoy special and exclusive member benefits. Learn more at worcesterart.org/Membership/salisbury-society. Photo: Dany Pelletier

Upcoming Salisbury Society event August 14, 2014, 5:30pm Salisbury Art Series: Courtly Love: Sweet Surrenders and Bitter Endings Presented by Antonella Doucette

Matthias Waschek Director of the Worcester Art Museum Connect with us

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Studio Classes: The Art of Learning Register now for summer! Classes start in August Engage your creativity and explore the world of art this summer. August adult workshops and weeklong youth programs are still enrolling! Register today at worcesterart.org/classes

Adult Art Classes: Fall Open House Thursday, September 4, 2014 5:30-7pm View studio demonstrations, talk with instructors, and discover which WAM art courses resonate best with your creative spirit! Summer Youth Art Exhibition Reception Sunday, September 7, 2014 1:30-3:30pm View drawings, paintings, sculpture, photography, computer animation, and more created in our summer youth art classes â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and meet the young artists.

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Travis Simpkins Avant garde on duty Finding a career that can ignite your creativity is every artist's dream. For Travis Simpkins, Central Control room guard at WAM, guarding others' creations serves as an inspiration for his own. For the past 16 years, Simpkins has been in one role or another at the Museum: restoration assistant, education assistant, part-time guard, and his current role monitoring WAM's security, climate control, and fire systems, ensuring the overall safety of the collection. All helped shape the professional artist he has been since 1999. This 34-year-old freelance illustrator and portraitist, educated at Anna Maria College and later under the tutelage of photorealist artist James Frederick Mueller of Arizona, works independently on portraits for clients throughout the U.S. and Europe. Simpkins also creates sketches of works within the collection. Having a special place in his heart for WAM—and not just because he met his fiancée, Janet, here—Simpkins keeps its goals and aspirations in mind, even when away from the Museum. For example, in 2010 Simpkins connected his friend and collector, the late Paul Falcigno, with the Museum. This led to Falcigno’s gift of over 300 Japanese prints, including 94 woodblock prints by the artist Yoshida To shi. “As a result, the Worcester Art Museum can now claim the distinction of having one of the largest collections of Yoshida's naturalistic works in the United States,” Simpkins says. When asked what he likes best about the Museum, this artist and museum guard mentions the third floor American Galleries and marble busts in the Roman Gallery. But he says his absolute favorite thing about the Museum is the diverse talent of the staff. “Beyond their everyday duties, there are visual artists, musicians, photographers, writers, sculptors, designers, actors, poets, craftsmen, dancers, entrepreneurs and animators—a really wonderful group.”

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Discover

Art + Market Art, craft, food, music and more! Saturdays, July 12 - September 20, 2014, 10am-2pm Trinity Lutheran Church parking lot, 73 Lancaster Street. Visit these other Worcester markets: REC Farmers Market (Saturdays,10am to 2pm) at 104 Murray Street Canal District Farmers Market (Saturdays,9am to 12pm) at 138 Green Street.

Explore

Knights! Come face to visor with armor from around the world. Interactive Arms and Armor Demonstrations Every Sunday at 12:30 and 2:30pm / Free with Museum admission.

Create

Summer Art Classes Paint, draw, photograph, and sculpt your way through summer! Learn more and register at worcesterart.org/classes.

Experience Family-Friendly Fun all summer long! Touch, try on, and “tour” the museum with Helmutt, WAM’s new top dog!

Taste

Café and Sip Enjoy a delicious lunch in WAM’s beautiful outdoor café. Wednesday – Saturday: 11:30am to 2pm

Visit

FREE First Saturdays Free admission, first Saturday mornings of the month, 10am – noon.

Blue Star Museums Free admission for active-duty military personnel and their families.

EBT Card $2 per person cash admission

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g n i m Co this Art Talk: Tory Fair

Fall

Thursday, August 21, 6-7pm Held in conjunction with the exhibition, “You are Here,” artist Tory Fair discusses her piece, Full Length Mirror, and other works. Sponsored by the Amelia & Robert Hutchinson Haley Memorial Lectures Fund. Free with Museum admission.

Open House for Educators Thursday, September 25, 4-6:30 p.m. Learn about our educational resources, including tours, workshops, professional development, public programs, exhibitions, library, and more. Refreshments, tours, and hands-on activities. Open to K-12 teachers, home school families, and college faculty. Free.

Senior September FREE admission on Wednesdays Each Wednesday in September, seniors (ages 65 +) enjoy free admission and a 10% discount in the Museum Shop! Docent tours take place at 11:30am. Sponsored by Tufts Health Plan Medicare Preferred.

Voting Days NEW! Tuesday, September 9 Tuesday, November 4 The Worcester Art Museum will be an official polling site for Ward 3 Precinct 2. Tours of the collection will be offered during voting hours.

Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) Community Day Saturday, November 1, 10am-5pm Celebrate this traditional Mexican holiday WAM-style! Stay tuned for more details about this post-Halloween event. Free with Museum admission.

Polly Apfelbaum On view October 8, 2014 Polly Apfelbaum’s exhibition for the Worcester Art Museum will focus on the 1990s and will include a selection of her rarely seen early synthetic velvet and fabric dye works which developed into her now-iconic floor installations (or “fallen paintings”), exemplified by Blow-Up (1997) in the Museum’s collection. It was during these important formative years, experimenting with various applications of dye (poured, blotted, stamped) and different organizing systems of color (geometric units, organic spills), that Apfelbaum began to challenge the conventional boundaries between painting and sculpture and discovered methods of activating both the space and the viewing experience. Her choice of velvet opened the work up to an array of associations from clothing and craft to gender and class. Because they have no fixed configuration (individual elements are not permanently adhered to one another or the floor and are reorganized each time they are installed), Apfelbaum’s works resist the historic qualifiers of finish and permanence and instead embrace a sense of immediacy and possibility. This project is supported by the Don and Mary Melville Contemporary Art Fund. Polly Apfelbaum, Blow-Up (detail), 1997, stretch velvet, fabric dye. Charlotte E.W. Buffington Fund, 2000.75 © Polly Apfelbaum

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Drop-in Tours

Group Tours

Audio Tours Available at the Visitor Services Desks at the Lancaster and Salisbury Street Entrances. Now offered in English and Spanish. A self-guided audio tour of some of the Museum’s greatest treasures is available for rent (free for Members).

Adult Group Tours Docent-guided group tours are available for prearranged groups of 10 or more; guide included with Museum admission.

Zip Tours Saturdays, noon Delve into one artist or work of art in these, fast-paced 20-minute tours. Free with Museum admission. Admission is free for all the first Saturday of each month between 10am-noon.

Youth / Student Group Tours All tours meet at the Lancaster Street entrance.

Sunday Tours Sundays, 1-2pm Join one of our talented Museum docents for an overview of the Museum collection. Free with Museum admission. Tours of the Month Select Wednesdays and Saturdays, 2pm Get an in-depth look at the Museum’s collection in these special docent-led tours. Free with Museum admission. July: Mythology of Plants Wednesday, July 16 & Saturday July 19: 2pm Join museum docent Ginny Powell-Brasier to explore the intimate connections between Greek and Roman mythology and the botanical world. August: How to Read an Abstract Painting Wednesday, August 13 & Saturday, August 16: 2pm Discuss the evolution of abstract art and how to make sense of it. Docent Paul Steen will lead the conversation in the museum’s vibrant twentiethcentury galleries. September: American Expressions Wednesday, September 17 & Saturday, September 20: 2pm Join a study of American paintings spanning the Civil War through WWII while viewing a selection of masterpieces with docent Susan Gately.

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Tours are $5.00 per student for prearranged school tour groups on either docent-led or selfguided tours.* Chaperones are FREE. Admission is free for Worcester Public School students and their chaperones. Our tours are tailored to meet your specific needs, goals, and interests. They are guided by trained and dedicated volunteer docents who will assist students of all ages develop their visual and thinking skills while engaging in inquiry and observation at the Museum. Use our special exhibitions and permanent collections to support your curriculum through tours, hands-on workshops, teachers resources, and other events. We look forward to working with you to create a fun and enriching experience for your students at WAM. Whether introductory or a special themed tour of our collections or special exhibitions, a WAM tour supports and enriches curricula in many areas including art, language arts, social studies, math, and foreign languages. * Includes Museum admission.

Make the most of your WAM visit! Programs for all ages

Adult Programs

Arms & Armor Demonstrations Sundays at 12:30 and 2:30pm Join us for this fun interactive program about different kinds of arms and armor used by Roman soldiers, Celtic warriors, Medieval knights, and beyond!

Nude Drawing Thursdays from 2-5pm The nude takes center stage among our old masters. Try your hand at drawing a live nude model with the guidance of our expert faculty among masterworks by Veronese, El Greco, and Rembrandt.

Drawing Club Through August 27 Wednesdays, 1-3pm Drop-in and draw in a different gallery each week. Discover our art and make it your own. Supplies will be provided, or bring your own. All ages welcome. Gallery location rotates; check with the visitor services desk upon arrival. One-Day Artist Residencies Use the WAM collection as inspiration for your own art. We invite you to sketch, draw, write, or photograph in the Museum galleries as part of our “work-of-artin-a-day” program. Then share a photo of your work on our Flickr and Facebook sites. Send your photo to katrinastacy@worcesterart.org. Art Cart Wednesday-Sunday, in the Galleries Did you know? We staff interactive Art Carts throughout the WAM galleries. Watch for posted hours when you visit. WAM’s Art Carts are filled with fun, informative, interactive activities that are suitable for all ages.

Family Programs Family Tour Saturdays 10:30-11:00 AM *Beginning in September, Family Tours take place first Saturdays only. Explore the museum galleries with your family on a docent-guided discovery tour. Learn fun facts, hear stories, and enjoy sharing observations together. Tours last approximately 30 minutes. Families @ WAM Make Art Saturdays 11-11:30am *Beginning in September, Make Art takes place first Saturdays only. Stay after your family tour (begins at 10:30 am), or drop-in for this fun intergenerational time in the galleries or studios. Get inspired by our art and try making something uniquely yours. Materials will be provided. Come rediscover your childlike sense of free-spirited play! Children’s Story Time Through August 29 Fridays 11-11:45am Our popular preschool story time occurs every week this summer, with a wonderful series of readings in WAM's galleries. Listen to an age-appropriate story read by a museum educator and view a related work of art. Meet in the Lancaster Street Lobby. All listed programs are free with Museum admission.

Background image: Morioka, Kansuke, 1982, A.P, photo serigraph; gift of Morioka Kansuke via The Wise Collection, 2011.389

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Back Row: Paul Steen, Sturbridge; Susan Gately, Worcester; Janet Graeber, Worcester; Katrina Stacy, Assistant Curator of Education. Middle Row: Mark Mancevice, Worcester; Robert Luyster, Shrewsbury; Katy Sullivan, Princeton; Arlene Pedjoe, Holden; Kathryn Balistrieri, Templeton; Patricia Karpacz, Westborough. Front Row: Bob Fancy, Worcester; Sandy Congdon, Worcester; Pamela Miller, Worcester; Irene Bastardo, Worcester; Karin Komenda, Holden; Joan Bress, Worcester. Not pictured: Lee Bourgault, Ashburnham; Mary Dowling, Lancaster; Steven Ledbetter, Worcester; Henry Rose, Worcester; Peggy Snow, Holden.

Meet the Docent Class of 2014 Congratulations to our twenty new docents, who recently completed a rigorous 18-month training program! The 13th docent class in WAM history, this highly-selective group is the first to learn about the Higgins Armory Museum objects, now on view in Knights!

Docent reflections Karin Komenda

Irene Bastardo

I can think of no better way to learn about the collection at WAM and to excite others about the art—especially the young who enter the museum wide-eyed and eager to learn—than by becoming a docent.

Becoming part of the Docent Class of 2014 actually began in 1958, when my sixth grade class made its first class trip to WAM. I walked into a world I didn’t know existed!

Sometimes, when you talk about a piece—point to certain features or discuss the implied meaning of the symbolism— you hear that “aah,” and know you have opened someone’s eyes. They walk away with a greater appreciation of a work of art. That is a very rewarding experience. I love giving preschoolers a tour. They are eager to play discovery games, such as “name the animals you see in the picture.” Their attention span is limited, so I try to be flexible in what I talk to them about. Sometimes we just sit and read a story appropriate to their age. There are several works of art I keep going back to look at and learn more about. I love how Alice Neel captured the appropriate expressions of both—“Julie and Aristotle”— considering the brown spot under Julie’s left foot. 48 Learn more at

W O R C E S T E R A R T. O R G

Over the course of my lifetime I often wondered how I could incorporate the Museum into my world, outside of the visits I made when time allowed. After all, my life was centered around raising a family, paying the mortgage, and holding down a full time job. Then in December 2012, a small article appeared in the newspaper—WAM would be forming a new docent class the following month. I thought to myself—at last! It has been a dream come true. My kids now grown and my husband having passed away, my life needed a new focus. Even though I still work full time, I see my docent training as just beginning this next phase of my life. I am so thankful for the wonderful professors, teachers, and veteran docents we have had the opportunity to study with. It is their passion for art that stays with me as I continue learning and studying. I hope my love for art, in turn, will trickle down to others as I make my way as a docent in the years to come!

We are grateful to the following foundations for their generous support of the Worcester Art Museum: The Patrick and Aimee Butler Family Foundation – Unrestricted General Operating Support Sherman Fairchild Foundation – Small Museum Conservation Program Hoche-Schofield Foundation – Higgins Armory Collection Integration LLH/LHM Foundation – Unrestricted General Operating The Manton Foundation – Higgins Armory Collection Integration The Rockwell Foundation – Higgins Armory Collections Integration E. Rhodes & Leona B. Carpenter Foundation – Japanese Art & Poetry Exhibition Christian A. Johnson Endeavor Foundation – Exhibition, Education, and Outreach Programming J. Irving and Jane L. England Charitable Trust – Unrestricted General Operating Support

Greater Worcester Community Foundation for various Exhibition and Education Outreach Programs

Highland Street Foundation Free Fun Fridays

Institute of Museum and Library Services Museums for America: American and European Painting Digitization

René & Karin Jonckheere Fund Conservation of the Last Judgment tapestry

The Kirby Foundation Free Summer 2013

The Henry Luce Foundation Assistant Curator of American Art

Massachusetts Cultural Council Cultural Investment Portfolio: Partner Cultural Facilities Fund

The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation Curator of American Art

National Endowment for the Humanities Sustaining Cultural Heritage Collections; Collection Sustainable Storage Initiative

National Endowment for the Arts ArtWorks: Teen Artists at WAM

The European Fine Art Foundation Conservation of Hogarth Portrait Pair

TJX Foundation Free First Saturday mornings 10am-noon

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Job Adriaensz. Berckheyde, The Baker, about 1681, oil on canvas, Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Milton P. Higgins, 1975.105