Right: Barbra Streisand in black sneakers and beret turned more than afew heads. According to reports, she bought heartily.
the New York State Historical Association in Cooperstown. In addition, four of the Museum's brochures won recognition in the American Association of Museum's 1985 Museum Publications Competition. An Award of Distinction was given to the "Winning Moves: Painted Gameboards of North America" exhibition kit and Awards of Merit were won by "Continuity and Change" exhibition checklist and the programs for "The Academy: Part One" and "The Academy: Part Two:' Congratulations to all those involved in producing these prize-winning publications.
Below: Director Robert Bishop with Trustees Barbara Johnson and Karen Cohen, and Peter Cohen, Chairman and CEO ofShearson Lehman Brothers Inc. Mr. and Mrs. Cohen were Honorary Chairmen ofthe Benefit.
MARIAN WILLARD JOHNSON 1904-1985
The Museum wishes to thank those who made the evening such a success, particularly Honorary Chairmen Mr. and Mrs. Peter Cohen and Mr. and Mrs. Dwight Faulkner; Benefit Committee Chairmen Cynthia V.A. Schaffner and Karen S. Schuster; Exhibition Curator Milt Simpson; and Walking Tour Guides Davida Deutsch and Helaine Fendelman. For filling the bags supplied by Art and Auction Magazine, we thank Kron Chocolatier Inc.; Laurent-Perrier U.S., Inc.; Ralph Lauren; Crabtree & Evelyn; and Perugino Chocolates. We offer our appreciation to Craftsmen Litho of Waterbury, Connecticut for donating the printing ofthe invitations, and to Sanford L.Smith, producer of the Fall Antiques Show. Special thanks, also, to Myra Shaskan for her hours of ticketing; to Hunter
Thomas and Lucy Fagot for their work at the bookshop; and to members of the Friends Committee Phyllis Tepper, Irene Goodkind, Jackie Helder, Helaine Fendelman,Sheila Steinberg, Hildegard Vetter, Tom Cuff, Sandy Nolan, and Daryl Farber.
PUBLISHING PRIZES The Museum of American Folk Art is proud of its printing and publishing program, so it's particularly pleasing to be recognized by the Museum community for our work in these areas. The Museum's catalogue The Jewish Heritage in American Folk Art is the winner of an honorable mention for a catalogue of distinction in the arts, in the 1985 Henry Allen Moe Prize, awarded by
The Museum of American Folk Art was saddened to learn of the death of Marian Willard Johnson on November 3, 1985, at her home in Patterson, New York, at the age of 81. Johnson was a Founding Trustee ofthe Museum and a member of its Board of Trustees from 1961, when the Museum was granted a Provisional Charter, until 1971, when she became a Trustee Emeritus. She served as Vice President from 1961 to 1969. Marian Willard Johnson was founder and director of the Willard Gallery in New York City for more than 30 years. Highly respected in the art world, she was known for her gifted eye, quiet dignity, and resistance to art world trends and fashions. Indeed,she was one of the first to recognize the place of folk art in American art history and to present folk art as art rather than antiques. Born in New York in 1904, Johnson was graduated in 1922 from the Chapin School. While visiting Switzerland to attend lectures by C.G. Jung, she became familiar with the work of Paul Klee. After returning to New York, she opened her first gallery in 1936 as an outgrowth of her interest in the artist's creative process. Johnson introduced the works of Lyonel Feininger, Morris Graves, Mark Tobey and Richard Lippold, among others. In 1974, Johnson passed the gallery's directorship to her daughter Miani Johnson Wirtz, of New York City. In addition to Wirtz, she is survived by her husband Dan Rhodes Johnson, another daughter Danna Rhodes Dunning, of Patterson, and two grandchildren. 65