Summer 2019
exhibitions
Comin’ Back to Me: The Music and Spirit of ‘69 —A Tribute to Marty Balin CHANGING EXHIBITION GALLERIES JUNE 23 - SEPTEMBER 22, 2019
Presenting Sponsors: Jeff and Lynn Pierson
Comin’ Back to Me: The Music and Spirit of ’69 pays tribute to artist and rock music icon,
Marty Balin (American, 1942-2018)—the founder, lead vocalist and hit songwriter for the legendary 1960s rock band Jefferson Airplane, and hit song maker for Jefferson Starship. Balin was instrumental in transforming the local music scene in the HaightAshbury district of San Francisco, California, into the soundtrack of the counterculture movement. This psychedelic fusion of electrified folk, rock and roll, blues and soul, known as the “San Francisco Sound,” defined a generation. In the late-1960s, the nation was on the precipice of change. A perfect storm of conflict and activism sparked a seismic shift in western culture that would forever change the American musical and cultural landscape. Nearing the end of a tumultuous decade, 1969 was a pinnacle year for politics and war, space exploration and two of the most unforgettable moments in 1960s music history. Three days of peace at the Woodstock festival was followed by tragedy at the Altamont Speedway Free Festival, and Marty Balin was at the center of it all.
Marty Balin, Grace Slick (Double Grace), date unknown, acrylic on canvas, 32 1/2 x 32 1/2 in., courtesy of Susan Joy Balin.
Celebrating the fiftieth anniversary of 1969, this exhibition looks back on a pivotal time in American history through the eyes of one of the influential singer-songwriters of a generation. Named after one of Balin’s most popular hit songs, Comin’ Back to Me dives deep into his personal archives to reveal the artist behind the music.
Combining his passion for music and painting, Balin translated the sounds of psychedelic riffs and explosive vocals into a visual playground of color and expression. Through his paintings of the rock legends and friends who inspired him, such as Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Grace Slick, Jerry Garcia and promoter Bill Graham, he captured the spirit and energy of rock music. To complement Balin’s paintings, the exhibition Marty Balin, Jimi Hendrix (Jimi at Monterey), 1996, acrylic on canvas, 30 x 40 in., courtesy of Susan Joy Balin.
Marty Balin, photograph by Susan Joy Balin.
David McKirdy: From the Collection Lothar and Mildred Uhl Works on Paper Gallery EXTENDED THROUGH AUGUST 11, 2019
UPCOMING EXHIBITIONS Deborah Masters: Spirits
Rattner and Surrealism
October 6 - January 5, 2020
The spirit world comes alive through Deborah Masters’ monumental suspended sculptures and mixed-media work. Evoking ancient cultures, Masters’ signature style mixes folk art with personal experiences.
Rattner Gallery ONGOING
Elemental: Fine Crafts from the Collection
ALTARed States: From the Collection
Fine Craft Gallery ONGOING
October 6 - January 5, 2020
Sculptures, painting, photography and mixed–media work from the permanent collection present an other-worldly perspective on spirituality, iconography, and altar pieces.
Made in Florida: The Art of Giving Made in Florida Gallery THROUGH AUGUST 9, 2020
Images from top to bottom: Deborah Masters, Big Spirits Series, 2000-2017, mixed-media with found objects, dimensions vary, courtesy of Deborah Masters and Katherine T. Carter & Associates; Melanie Walker, Parrot, 1992, distressed negative —gelatin silver print, 12 x 12 in., LRMA, St. Petersburg College, gift from artist —The Museum Project, 2018.2.6.
includes artifacts from his personal collection such as instruments, photographs, awards and original psychedelic concert posters from his father, Joe Buchwald, who was a lithographer for famed San Francisco poster company Tea Lautrec Litho. Adding context to Balin’s experiences are a video compilation and photographs by Mel Finkelstein of events in 1969. Friends of Balin have graciously contributed to the exhibition, which includes iconic photographs by Herb Greene, catalog cover artwork designed by legendary poster artist, Dennis Loren, and a catalog essay by rock music critic and author, Joel Selvin.
Take a trip back in time in our black-light “Chill Lounge” and share memories of the ‘60s on a glow-in-the-dark graffiti wall, view vintage psychedelic posters from the LRMA collection, and experience a liquid light show created by Bob Pullum of Universoulightforms. In the late ‘60s, Pullum co-founded the Brotherhood of Light and produced lightshows for numerous acts such as Jefferson Airplane, Janis Joplin and The Who. With a musical career spanning more than five-and-a-half decades, Balin played an important role in the evolution of rock music. As a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee and Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award recipient, he wrote numerous chart-topping hits as a key member of Jefferson Airplane and Jefferson Starship in the 1960s and 1970s that earned both Gold and Platinum status. He continued to have a successful music career until his death in 2018.
Vintage newspaper collage
of Marty Balin and Jefferson This exhibition was organized by the Leepa-Rattner Museum of Art Airplane, courtesy of Susan Joy Balin. in collaboration with Susan Joy Balin and her sisters Donna Wendler and Alana Levande and was made possible with generous support from presenting sponsors Jeff and Lynn Pierson. We thank the following contributors to this special exhibition: legendary poster artist, Dennis Loren, music critic and author, Joel Selvin, photographer Herb Greene, and Bob Pullum of Universoulightforms.
Celebrate the ‘60s this Summer During June, LRMA is partnering with the Florida Holocaust Museum to promote 1960s music icons: Marty Balin and Bill Graham. The exhibition Bill Graham and the Rock & Roll Revolution is on view through June 30, 2019. Renowned music impresario, Bill Graham, was an influential figure in the 1960s music scene as a concert promoter and manager for the most iconic artists of the twentieth century, including Jefferson Airplane. For more information, please visit www.flholocaustmuseum.org Enjoy 1960s rock n’ roll at the Palladium’s Side Door Summer concert series. Featured bands from July through August include Coo Coo Ca Choo, Soul Legend Latimore and the Allman Brothers Celebration featuring original Allman drummer Jai Johanny Johanson. For more information, please visit www.mypalladium.org
Chill-Out Festival
Support LRMA and start feelin’ groovy on Saturday, July 13, 2019. This special event will feature a performance by the tribute band, Peace of Woodstock, and a selection of delicious bites from local food trucks.
happenings summer 2019
June
22 Saturday
Members’ Preview Reception for Comin’ Back to Me: The Music and Spirit of ‘69 —A Tribute to Marty Balin
6:00 - 8:00 p.m., free for members; $10 for nonmembers RSVP by June 14 to 727-712-5762 or at the Visitor Services Desk Preview the special exibition Comin’ Back to Me and enjoy music, a selection of beverages and hors d’oeurvres, and special programming at 6:30 p.m. Dress in 1960s threads! Dennis Loren, Comin’ Back to Me: The Music and Spirit of ‘69 —A Tribute to Marty Balin, 2019, poster design, 11 x 6 1/2 in., courtesy of the artist.
23 Sunday
Comin’ Back to Me: The Music and Spirit of ‘69 —A Tribute to Marty Balin opens to the public On view through September 22, 2019
Gallery Talk Featuring Susan Joy Balin and Jennifer Edwards
3:00 p.m., Special Exhibition Galleries, included with admission
Susan Joy Balin and Marty Balin, photograph courtesy of Susan Joy Balin.
Susan Joy Balin, wife of the late Marty Balin, and his daughter Jennifer Edwards, will enrich visitors with memories and insights about Balin’s life as an artist and his paintings in the tribute exhibition Comin’ Back to Me. Enjoy refereshments and socializing after the talk.
For up-to-date information on these and other exciting programs at the Leepa-Rattner Museum of Art, visit www.leeparattner.org or call 727-712-5762.
26 Wednesday
Leap into Art at LeepaRattner!
3:30 p.m., Challenge of Modern Art Interactive Gallery, included with admission (free for children) Great for ages 4-8, this program features books about art read by Marisa Steuer, Head of Youth Services at Palm Harbor Library. LRMA staff lead a related art activity. June’s theme is The Color of Our Dreams and the books are Color by Ruth Heller, Vincent Can’t Sleep by Barb Rosenstock, and They Say Blue by Jillian Tamaki.
29 Monday
ABC (Art, Books and Community) Reading Club 11:30 a.m., Challenge of Modern Art Interactive Gallery, included with admission
Palm Harbor Library Director Gene Coppola leads this art-centered discussion program held at the museum. July’s book selection is the Museum of Modern Art’s publication by Elizabeth Alexander, Jacob Lawerence: The Migration Series. Alexander is a poet, essayist, and a former chair of the AfricanAmerican Studies department at Yale University. Bring a bagged lunch and enjoy!
August
28 Wednesday
Leap into Art at LeepaRattner!
3:30 p.m., Challenge of Modern Art Interactive Gallery, included with admission (free for children) Great for ages 4-8, this program features books about art read by Marisa Steuer, Head of Youth Services at Palm Harbor Library. LRMA’ staff lead a related art activity. August’ s theme is Art Mysteries and the books are What is This? by Antje Damm and Who Stole the Mona Lisa? by Ruthie Knapp.
31 July
Leap into Art at LeepaRattner!
3:30 p.m., Challenge of Modern Art Interactive Gallery, included with admission (free for children)
July
4 Thursday
Great for ages 4-8, this program features books about art read by Marisa Steuer, Head of Youth Services at Palm Harbor Library. LRMA staff lead a related art activity. July’s theme is Crazy for Crayons! and the books are The Day the Crayons Quit by Drew Daywalt, A Day with No Crayons by Elizabeth Rusch and Crayons: From Start to Finish by Samuel G. Woods.
Focus Friday is on hiatus for the summer and will return on September 6th. LRMA thanks all the docents who presented programs during the 2018-2019 season. Focus Friday is supported in loving memory of Dr. Marcia Makris.
Independence Day Museum closed.
13 Saturday
Chill-Out Festival at LRMA Featuring Peace of Woodstock
Chill-Out this Summer at LRMA
Save the Date!
5:00 - 8:00 p.m., Fine Arts Building and Museum Galleries, Advance Tickets $25 per person, $30 at the door Escape from the heat at this allages indoor event related to the special exhibition Comin’ Back to Me and the 50th Anniversary of the renowned Woodstock music and art festival. Enjoy hands-on art activities, gallery tours, food trucks, and a performance by the tirbute band Peace of Woodstock at 6:30 p.m.
September 21, 2019
For ticket information visit leeparattner.org/chillout
Celebrate Museum Day with us! This annual, nationwide event hosted by Smithsonian magazine, provides free admission to participating museums. We will have events, art activities and more for all guests! Stay tuned for more details this summer!
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membership Thank you to our members The Leepa-Rattner Museum of Art gratefully welcomes its newest, renewing and upgrading members as we go to press. Thank you for supporting Leepa-Rattner Museum of Art! PATRON LEVELS: Partners in Art Edward & Barbara Hoffman Patricia Miller Jim Avery Charles DeGrandpre Gary & Carol Zino Contributors ($250) Joan Gardner Annie Harris Jerry Leaders MaryAnn McCoy Sylvia Soloman Friends ($125) Anna Billiris John Burlew Michael & Elizabeth Coachman Philip Edelstein Krisula Gause Marjorie M. Golub Annette Gordon Jack King Leanore Schneider SUPPORTER LEVELS: Family ($75) Paul Barrera
Jerald Blizin Regina Colbree Susan Crabtree Dr. Rodrigo Davis Guy Drexinger Bruce Eckard Gay Gagnon Ronald Gardner Frank Giambalvo Marc Ginsburg Edwin Glorius Richard Gordon Kenny Henderson Tim Henning Sylvia Hicks Arthur Hirsch Laura Knox Thomas Kramer Joan Lawler Cheryl Levin Michele Manos Beverly Matthews Nancy & Susan Maurer Terry Parcheta John Parris John Patrick Anthony Pientka Cherly Riley Anna Watt Katherine Woods
Individual ($50) Andrew Beath Melissa Benitez Jo Ellen Bryant Helen Collins Cece Connable Janice Cummings Barbara Doyle Michael Du Ponte Vickie Foster Nancy Hensel Bill Heyser Deborah Hill Leslie Jeffery Catherine Joslyn Diane Kraska Jean Ligon Terry Lynford Gayle MacKinnon B.J. Massey Patricia Merry Lawrence Milne Susan Mueller Dimitrios Paizis Joseph Pervall Shirley Raby Kim Radatz Francine Raffel Dulcie Ribbans Heather Rippert
Gainor Roberts Marjorie Roseen Juliana Salamone Ellen Scheible Linda Stanko David Stein Partricia Toscano Michael Walbolt Sharon Wallenberg Richard Wilson Law Hughes SPC Student/Faculty Christina Anger Linda Berghoff Mirva Cuevas Evelyn Dunfer Leslie Hafer Ramona Kirsch Judith Macdonald Marlys Meckler Diane Salmon Jeremy Sawyer Roger Watts
Member Benefits LRMA membership offers a variety of benefits including: - Unlimited FREE admission! Visit anytime. - Invitations to Members’ Preview Receptions. - 10% discount in Isabelle’s Museum Store. - Reciprocal free admission to select museums and attractions.
To become a member visit leeparattner.org/membership
museum staff
LRMA Welcomes New Director
Dr. Teresa Wilkins, Director (727) 712-5225 Christine Renc-Carter, Curator (727) 712-5210 Patricia Buster, Education Coordinator (727) 712-5226
Leepa-Rattner Museum of Art is pleased to welcome Dr. Teresa Wilkins as our new Museum Director.
Michele DiMattia, Collections Manager (727) 712-5262
Dr. Wilkins brings to the Museum over 12 years of museum and university experience. Previously, Dr. Wilkins served as the corporate and foundation relations manager for the Tampa Museum of Art, membership manager at the Museum of Fine Art, in St. Petersburg, Florida, exhibits coordinator at the Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum in Clewiston, Florida, and assistant curator at the Indiana University Museum of Art in Bloomington, Indiana.
Cristina McCormack, Staff Accountant (727) 712-5203 Al Scalzo, Development Officer (727) 712-5232 Beth Chernes, Communications Specialist (727) 302-6758 Beth Becker, Visitor Services Coordinator (727) 712-5227
Dr. Wilkins earned her B.A. in Art History from the University of South Florida and her M.A. in Art History from the University of Hawaii (Manoa). She earned her Ph.D. from Indiana University (Bloomington) in Art History and Anthropology.
Larry Fineout, Preparator (727) 712- 5212 Nina Rivera, Education Assistant (727) 712-5220 Michael Karavas, Accounting Support Assistant Doreen E. Saccardo Allie Benites-Giron, Visitor Services Associates (727) 712-5762
Board of Directors Leepa-Rattner Museum of Art, Inc. Anna Billiris, Chair Gary Zino, Vice Chair Vonda Woods, Treasurer Mary Mitchell Avery ----Dr. Clifford Brock Eric Clark Jason Dunkel Dr. David Edmonds Bill Foster, SPC Trustee Housh Ghovaee Bill Heyser Edward C. Hoffman, Jr. William Schumacher Evelyn M. Bilirakis, Director Emerita
Ex-Officio Board Members Dr. Tonjua Williams., President, SPC Dr. Rodrigo Davis, Provost, SPC Tarpon Springs Campus Dr. Teresa Wilkins, LRMA Director, Board Secretary
MISSION STATEMENT The mission of the Leepa-Rattner Museum of Art is to collect, conserve, exhibit and protect the works of art entrusted to its care and stewardship. Through its exhibitions, programs and expanding collection of 20th and 21st century art, the museum strives to engage and inspire our diverse community by providing opportunities for education, enlightenment, interpretation and research to students, scholars and visitors. St. Petersburg College is committed to equal access/equal opportunity in its programs, activities, and employment. For additional information visit www.spcollege.edu/eaeo/.
from the
director
Dear Friends, I want to personally thank you for the warm welcome you’ve extended to me as the new Director of LRMA. I am honored to be a part of such an amazing family of individuals honoring where our Museum has been and capturing the possibilities before it to lead us into the next stage of growth. This is an exciting time for all of us, and I look forward to sharing each new venture with all of you. Although the campus is quiet during these Summer months, make no mistake – there’s much going on at LRMA. On June 22, join us for the opening of our new exhibition Comin’ Back to Me: The Music and Spirit of ’69— A Tribute to Marty Balin. Celebrate the 50th anniversary of 1969 through the eyes of rock music legend Marty Balin – founder, lead vocalist and hit songrwriter of Jefferson Airplane, and hit song maker for Jefferson Starship. In July, make sure to take part in our Summer Chill-Out Festival featuring music by the band Peace of Woodstock. Escape the heat at this all-ages indoor event and celebrate the iconic music and art festival’s 50th anniversary. Enjoy hands-on art making activities, gallery tours, live music, and a food-truck rally. I hope you enjoy all that LRMA has to offer this summer. As always, thank you for your continued support and I look forward to meeting each and every one of you here at the Museum! Warmly, Teresa Wilkins, Ph.D. Director … the art of shopping!
Proud member of the Museum Store Association
ST PETERSBURG COLLEGE PO BOX 13489 ST PETERSBURG FL 33733-3489
Marty Balin, Janis Joplin with Feather, 2008, acrylic on canvas, 43 x 33 in., courtesy of Susan Joy Balin.
summer 2019
JUNE | JULY | AUGUST Public Hours
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday: 1-5 p.m. Closed Mondays and major holidays. Special Closings this summer: July 4 – Independence Day
LRMA is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums, Washington, D.C., a distinction held by only 6% of all U.S. museums.
Visitor Comments
Location
Tarpon Springs Campus of St. Petersburg College 600 E. Klosterman Road Tarpon Springs, FL 34689
Admission
Adults – $10 Seniors – $8 Free for members, students with ID, children 17 and under, and active duty military. Docent tours every Sunday at 2 p.m. (included with admission).
Leepa-Rattner Museum of Art 727-712-5762 (LRMA) www.leeparattner.org
“We really enjoyed our time here from beginning to end. Front desk ladies were friendly, exhibits fascinating, and children’s area extremely impressive. I’m so glad we came here today. I will be telling others about our positive experience here today. Thank you so much!”
“What a wonderful treasure to discover!!“
Thank you to our Partners in Art and community sponsors.