VOYAGE OF LIFE LIVES ON NOW ON VIEW THROUGH MAY 25
MARCH | APRIL 2025
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
F. X. Matt III, Chair
Christian Heilmann, Vice-Chair
Dietra Harvey, Secretary
Vige Barrie
Rev. Sharon Baugh
Andrew Britton
Dr. Steven J. Brown
William C. Craine
Emma Golden
David T. Griffith
Robert Knight
Betty Krulik
Mark Levitt
Laura Tansey Wetzel
Anna T. D’Ambrosio
President and CEO
Thomas Cole (American, 1801–1848), The Voyage of Life: Youth (detail), 1840. Oil on canvas. 52 1/2 x 78 1/2 in. Museum Purchase, 55.106.
Dear Munson Community,
As I draft my column, it’s the heart of winter. The days are short, and, I must admit, I so dislike getting up in the dark. My mind has been wandering to the refrain from Carly Simon’s ballad “Anticipation:”
Anticipation, anticipation Is makin' me late Is keepin' me waitin’
Spring is on the horizon, and there is much to anticipate at Munson! With the change of seasons, our newly transformed landscape along Genesee Street will burst to life. We’ll share more about the conclusion of this noteworthy project in the months ahead. In the meantime, plan on joining us for our official ribbon cutting on May 15.
Spring will also bloom across the campus through events, exhibitions, and programs. Museum Director Emeritus Paul Schweizer has spent many years carefully researching the national impact of Thomas Cole’s celebrated Voyage of Life series. Now, in the upcoming exhibition Canvas to Culture, we can all gain a deeper understanding of one of our visitors’ favorite artworks.
The Performing Arts and special events lineup promises to warm you up with an international flair—from “Food and Art Unite” to the vibrant Irish music of Danú, there’s something for every cultural palate. And don’t miss “John Waters: The Naked Truth,” an event certain to spark the warmth of laughter through his cutting humor.
Of course, nothing captures the anticipation of the change of seasons like Spring Weekend at Munson, April 4 through 6. Our fourth Art in Bloom exhibition will fill the galleries with fresh floral displays inspired by artworks from the collection accompanied by a series of engaging special programs and workshops. It’s the perfect way to welcome the season and celebrate the beauty of art and nature.
The incredible talent of our Pratt Munson students takes center stage in the First-Year and Sophomore exhibitions opening April 4 and April 12, respectively. In just two years on our campus, these young artists achieve impressive creative growth. If you have never attended a Pratt Munson student exhibition, don’t miss the opportunity to witness the future of art and design in the making. A Members’ Reception for the Sophomore Exhibition will be held on April 12.
As we anticipate the promise of warmer days, join us in experiencing the diverse array of programs Munson offers with our commitment to inspire and delight our community. In the last Bulletin, I invited you to make a New Year’s resolution to try something new at Munson. Some of you have already written to me with enthusiastic comments and helpful suggestions. The next few months will offer many opportunities to engage at Munson, and I look forward to hearing from you.
Let’s make it a season to remember, together.
Anna T. D'Ambrosio President and CEO
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Art and Yoga
Saturdays | 10:30 a.m. | Museum of Art
Museum of Art
Drop-in Fee per Class: $10 Members | $ 15 General Public
Oscar®-Nominated Short Film Weekend
Saturday, March 1 and Sunday, March 2, 10:15 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Museum of Art | Sinnott Family – Bank of Utica Auditorium
Members: One Category $7 | Two Categories $10 | All Three $13
General Public: One Category $9 | Two Categories $13 | All Three $16
Art Story with Utica Public Library
Thursday, March 6, 10:30 a.m.
Museum of Art | Art Odyssey
Free
Concert in the Court: Danú
Thursday, March 6, 7:30 p.m.
Museum of Art | Root Court
$28 Members | $35 General Public | $15 Students
Food and Art Unite
Sunday, March 9, noon to 3 p.m.
Museum of Art | Root Court
$30 Members | $35 General Public | $10 Ages 6 to 12
Free Ages 5 and Under
Tina Mitchell, Artist-in-Residence
Opening Reception: As above, so below Friday, March 7, 3 to 5 p.m.
Museum of Art | Pratt Munson Gallery
The Met: Live in HD: Fidelio by L. Beethoven
Saturday, March 15, 1 p.m.
Museum of Art | Sinnott Family – Bank of Utica Auditorium
$24 Members | $30 General Public | $15 Students
Munson After Dark
Saturday, March 22, 9 p.m.-midnight Museum of Art | Root Court
$15 Members | $20 General Public
Ella Weber, 2017-18 Munson Artist-in-Residence, Artist Talk and Book Signing
Tuesday, March 25, 4 p.m.
Museum of Art | Sinnott Family – Bank of Utica Auditorium
Free
Elizabeth Lemieux Faculty Lecture Series
featuring Kenneth Marchione
Thursday, March 27, noon
Museum of Art | Sinnott Family – Bank of Utica Auditorium
Free
Scott Wallace, Author Presentation and Book Signing
Saturday, March 29, 2 p.m.
Museum of Art | Sinnott Family – Bank of Utica Auditorium
Free
Art Story with Utica Public Library
Thursday, April 3, 10:30 a.m.
Museum of Art | Art Odyssey Free
Spring Weekend and Art in Bloom
Friday, April 4 to Sunday, April 6 Free Members | $5 General Public
Pratt Munson First-Year Exhibition
Opening Reception
Friday, April 4, 3 to 5 p.m.
Museum of Art | Pratt Munson Gallery
Free
Munson Art Market
Saturday, April 5, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Museum of Art | Root Court
Free
Keyboard Conversations®: A Few of Our Favorite Things
Saturday, April 5, 2 p.m.
Museum of Art | Sinnott Family – Bank of Utica Auditorium
$24 Members | $30 General Public | $15 Students
John Waters: The Naked Truth
Thursday, April 10, 7:30 p.m.
Museum of Art | Sinnott Family – Bank of Utica Auditorium
Performance: $44 Members | $55 General Public
Pratt Munson Sophomore Exhibition
Opening Reception
Saturday, April 12, 2 to 4 p.m.
Museum of Art | Root Court
Free
Gallery Talk: Canvas to Culture: Thomas Cole's Voyage of Life Lives On Paul D. Schweizer, Ph.D., Museum Director Emeritus
Sunday, April 13, 2 p.m.
Museum of Art | 1 West Gallery
Free
Art Alive! Family Days with Captain Nemo's Adventure Academy
Thursday, April 24, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Performance: 11 a.m., Clowning Workshop: 1 p.m.
Museum of Art | Sinnott Family – Bank of Utica Auditorium
Free
The Met: Live in HD: Le Nozze di Figaro by W.A. Mozart
Saturday, April 26, 1 p.m.
Museum of Art | Sinnott Family – Bank of Utica Auditorium
$24 Members | $30 General Public | $15 Students
MUSEUM OF ART ON VIEW
Canvas to Culture: Thomas Cole's Voyage of Life Lives On On view through May 25
1 West Gallery | Free Members | $5 General Public
Canvas to Culture features more than 50 works from Munson and other prominent collections inspired by Thomas Cole’s epic, The Voyage of Life (1839–40). Learn how Cole’s four paintings spread from a private gallery to many people’s homes and even the movie palace. Canvas to Culture reveals the generations who adopted Cole’s iconic four stages of spiritual growth as their own.
Sponsored by Mary Ann Gadziala; Christian and Cheryl Heilmann; Elizabeth R. Lemieux, Ph.D.; the Family of F. X. Matt II; Hon. Beverly Tobin (ret.) in memory of Edwin J. Tobin; and Linda and Alan Vincent
Portraits of Flora: Flowers in American Art
March 14 through May 11
2 East Gallery | Free
Munson’s exhibition gallery will be in full bloom with paintings that use plants as symbols in expressive ways. Throughout time, artists have used floral motifs to celebrate, study, and shape our understanding of people and culture, transforming blooms into subjects as distinctive as portraiture. Portraits of Flora invites visitors to consider the art inspired by nature’s most visually spectacular, yet delicate, creations.
Frederick R. Spencer (American, 1806–1875), Portrait of Laura Jane Crouse as a Child (detail), 1843. Oil on canvas. 30 1/4 x 25 in. Gift of Mrs. James W. W. Dimon, 64.108.
Pratt Munson Sophomore Exhibition
April 12 through May 17
Balcony Galleries | Free
Opening Reception: Saturday, April 12, 2 to 4 p.m.
Celestial Bodies: Sculpture by Karen LaMonte
June 27 through fall 2025
2 East Gallery | Free Members | $10 General Public
Celestial Bodies: Sculpture by Karen LaMonte explores the extraordinary world of one of the most celebrated sculptors of our time. With her monumental figures in cast glass, her award-winning kimonos and ghostly figures in porcelain, bronze, and glass, along with recent work in marble, LaMonte has continually traveled through challenging mediums for her creations.
Funding for Munson’s 2024–25 exhibition series is provided by Christian and Cheryl Heilmann; Elizabeth R. Lemieux, Ph.D.; the Family of F. X. Matt II; and Linda and Alan Vincent. Funding for this exhibition is provided by Deborah and Michael Zahn.
Thomas Cole (American, born England, 1801–1848), The Voyage of Life: Youth, 1840. Oil on canvas. 52 1/2 x 78 1/2 in. Museum Purchase, 55.106.
ON VIEW
PRATT MUNSON GALLERY
Artist-in-Residence Exhibition
Tina Mitchell: As above, so below
March 7 through 27
Opening Reception: Friday, March 7, 3 to 5 p.m.
Tina Mitchell’s exhibition explores our foundational understanding of primary colors alongside architectural spaces both interior and exterior, real and imagined within a framework of childlike playfulness and material exploration. Mitchell brings together drawing, painting, fibers, craft, and installation in this vibrant exhibition.
The 2024–25 Munson Artist-in-Residence program is made possible with the generous support of Sunithi S. Bajekal.
Pratt Munson First-Year Exhibition
April 4 through 24
Opening Reception: Friday, April 4, 3 to 5 p.m.
CURATOR'S CORNER
NEW
GIFTS TO THE MUSEUM
The Museum of Art recently received a generous gift of six contemporary works on paper by some of the most important artists of the late 20th century from Jan and Robert Andersen of New York City. The Andersens have been collecting prints and drawings for many years and first began donating to the Munson collection in 2012 with their gift of Pages, a portfolio of 12 intaglio prints by Robert Mangold. That initial gift added work by an important artist to the Museum that had not previously been represented. In this new donation, all but one artist in the group, Robert Rauschenberg, had not previously been represented either, further developing Munson’s growing survey of Modern American art.
Graphic art by notable figures of the Pop Art era, Jim Dine and Ed Ruscha, along with a complex geometrical etching by Al Held, Straits of Malacca, will enhance the Museum’s iconic painting by Andy Warhol from the same era on view in the Modern painting gallery. Also included in the Andersen gift is Joel Shapiro’s untitled relief print, which is a simple composition in grand scale of two rectangles dancing in a very flat pictorial space. The Andersens’ example of Robert Cumming’s Adirondack Chair is a striking monotype with an equally dynamic composition.
Such generous support by the Andersens follows on from the transformative gifts and bequest of Edward Wales Root in the 1950s and continues to build a world-class collection of the art of our time at Munson for future generations to enjoy.
– Mary Murray, Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art
Al Held (American, 1928–2005), Straits of Malacca, 1987. Etching on paper. 41 3/4 x 51 1/2 in. Gift of Jan and Robert Andersen, 2024.9.
PERFORMING ARTS
2025 SPRING SEASON
CONCERT IN THE COURT DANÚ
Traditional Irish Ensemble
Thursday, March 6 | 7:30 p.m.
$28 Members | $35 General Public | $15 Students
Danú stands as one of today's foremost traditional Irish ensembles. Their electrifying sold-out concerts across Ireland are legendary, showcasing high-energy performances that seamlessly blend ancient Irish melodies with vibrant new compositions.
Gold Sponsor: Preferred Mutual Insurance Company Silver Sponsor: PJ Green, Inc.
2025 OSCAR®-NOMINATED SHORT FILM WEEKEND
Saturday–Sunday, March 1–2, 10:15 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Members:
One Category $7 | Two Categories $10 | All Three $13
General Public:
One Category $9 | Two Categories $13 | All Three $16
Experience the year's most spectacular short films on the big screen just before the Oscar winners are announced. Each short film nominee is released in one of three feature-length compilations according to their category of nomination: Live Action, Animation, and Documentary. Each collection will be shown separately over the course of the weekend with time in between for discussion and refreshments.
Sponsored by Honorine Wallack and Baird Wealth Management
KEYBOARD CONVERSATIONS®
A Few of Our Favorite Things
Saturday, April 5 | 2 p.m.
$24 Members | $30 General Public | $15 Students
Join acclaimed concert pianist Jeffrey Siegel as he performs beloved masterpieces by Chopin, Rachmaninoff, Debussy, and Brahms accompanied by his signature insightful commentary with each selection.
Sponsored by Dr. Lorna Grant, Drs. Douglas Hurd and Cynthia Parlato-Hurd, and Dr. and Mrs. Robert Menotti.
ART ALIVE! FREE FAMILY DAYS
Thursday, April 24 | 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Captain Nemo's Adventure Academy
Performance: 11 a.m. | Clowning Workshop: 1 p.m.
Captain Nemo lives to excite kids about our watery-blue planet and highlight for us landlubbers the vital interdependence of all living things.
Join Munson and the Utica Children's Museum in creating a community art installation during Art Alive! to be displayed at the Utica Children's Museum, opening soon.
An American Sign Language interpreter will be on stage at the 11 a.m. performance.
Funding for Art Alive! is provided by the MetLife Foundation, Sheila and Ron Cuccaro, and by Rona Lucas, in memory of Roslyn and Irving Levine.
TICKETS
ON
JOHN WATERS: THE NAKED TRUTH
Filmmaker and Cultural Icon
Thursday, April 10 | 7:30 p.m.
Performance: $44 Members | $55 General Public
John Waters, the prolific and provocative filmmaker, author, and celebrated counter-culture icon, shares stories from his life in the arts. His all-new, fast-moving, part-confessional, part-inquisitional comic spoken word show salutes the new gender-guerilla generation of today for doing the impossible – actually making him nervous.
Sponsored by Deborah and Michael Zahn
FILM SERIES
Wednesdays and Fridays | 2 and 7:30 p.m.
Join us each week for new foreign, independent, and awardwinning films. Film selections are announced a week before the first series of the month.
$7 Members | $9 General Public | $5 Students
Discounted multi-film passes are available. Student tickets: call 315-797-0055
Film tickets and descriptions: munson.art/films
Sponsored by M&T Bank and by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Kathy Hochul and the New York State Legislature
CONCERT IN THE COURT NELLA
Latin Grammy®-winning singer
Saturday, May 31 | 7:30 p.m.
$28 Members | $35 General Public | $15 Students
Venezuelan singer Nella, a Latin Grammy® winner, captivates with her powerful voice and blend of folkloric and Andalusian influences. She has sold out shows worldwide and collaborated with stars like Alejandro Sanz, Luis Enrique, and Jennifer López. Nella also contributed original songs to Everybody Knows, starring Javier Bardem and Penélope Cruz, blending tradition and innovation in world music.
Gold Sponsor: Preferred Mutual Insurance Company Silver Sponsor: PJ Green, Inc.
THE MET: LIVE IN HD: FIDELIO, L. BEETHOVEN
Saturday, March 15 | 1 p.m.
Fidelio has been called a hymn to freedom and human dignity. Its uplifting spirit made it the obvious choice for several important productions marking the end of World War II. Beethoven creates hierarchies among his characters, from the earthly to the exalted, which are instantly recognizable in their music.
THE MET: LIVE IN HD: LE NOZZE DI FIGARO W.A. MOZART
Saturday, April 26 | 1 p.m.
Le Nozze di Figaro is a remarkable marriage of Mozart’s music at the height of his genius and one of the best librettos ever set. Librettist Lorenzo Da Ponte focused less on the original topical references and more on the timeless issues embedded in the frothy drawing-room comedy.
$24 Members | $30 General Public | $15 Students
The Met: Live in HD broadcasts at Munson are sponsored by Elizabeth R. Lemieux, Ph.D.
Celebrating Spring Weekend APRIL 4–6
Munson is celebrating spring with a weekend full of activities, including the popular Art in Bloom exhibition showcasing local floral designers’ creations inspired by works in the Museum of Art, floral workshops
Art in Bloom
April 4 to 6, Museum of Art
Free to Members, Ages 12 and Under | $5 General Public
and demonstrations, high tea at the Terrace Café, and an uplifting concert filled with beloved masterpieces by renowned composers with acclaimed pianist Jeffrey Siegel.
Art in Bloom presents vibrant, locally produced floral creations inspired by works of art in the Museum of Art’s collection in a juried exhibition—including People’s Choice—of designs by florists, design professionals, artists, and garden club members.
Hours: Friday, April 4, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Saturday, April 5, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Sunday, April 6, noon to 4:30 p.m.
Guided Tours: Friday and Saturday at 1 and 2 p.m., Sunday at 1 p.m.
Pop-up Shop: All weekend
Closing Reception and Awards Presentation: Sunday at 3 p.m.
Workshops and Demos
Free with Art in Bloom admission, unless otherwise noted
Principles of Garden Design Workshop
Judith Fetterly, Garden Designer and Consultant
Friday, April 4, 11 a.m.
Through this presentation, learn how ordinary gardeners can have an extraordinary garden starting with some basics and ending with an exploration of design principles.
Learn how to use herbs to make a garden that appeals to all the senses, the different ways you can grow herbs, what they need to thrive, and what choices are available.
$5 per person (limited to 30 participants)
(price includes Art in Bloom admission and materials)
Lavender Wreath Demonstration
Monica Cody, Farmstead 1868 Lavender Farm
Friday, April 4, 3 p.m.
Gain insights into selecting and preparing lavender for crafting, arranging sprigs for a balanced and professional look, and tips for preserving lavender wreaths for months to come. When completed, the wreath will be available to purchase.
Wearable Floral Jewelry Workshop
Julie Young, Floribunda Designs
Saturday, April 5, 10 to 11:30 a.m.
Explore a variety of techniques for how to transform beautiful blooms into wearable art while you craft a one-of-a-kind floral bracelet. No prior experience is needed.
$25 Members | $35 General Public (limited to 12 participants) (price includes Art in Bloom admission and materials)
Utica Creative Reuse: Kids Craft
Saturday, April 5, 1 to 3 p.m.
Join Utica Creative Reuse for a fun floral craft using recycled materials.
Felted Forest Mushrooms with Mallory Zondag
Sunday, April 6, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Pratt Munson | Studio Building room 320
Learn how to sculpt with wool through needle felting during this fun, three-hour workshop. Open to all levels. Ages 16+.
$75 Members | $80 General Public | $10 Material Fee (price does not include admission to Art in Bloom)
Floral Arranging Demonstration
Brianna Goodwin, Blooms and Blossoms
Sunday, April 6, 2:30 p.m.
Brianna Goodwin will create a floral arrangement to be given away during the Closing Reception.
Performance
Keyboard Conversations®: A Few of Our Favorite Things
Saturday, April 5, 2 p.m.
Acclaimed pianist Jeffrey Siegel returns to perform beloved masterpieces by Chopin, Rachmoninoff, Debussy, and Brahms, bringing them to life through his insightful commentary on each selection.
$24 Members | $30 General Public | $15 Student
Funding for Keyboard Conversations is provided by Dr. Lorna Grant, Drs. Douglas Hurd and Cynthia Parlato-Hurd, and Dr. and Mrs. Robert Menotti.
Other Highlights
High Tea at the Terrace Café
Friday, April 4 and Saturday, April 5, 1 to 3 p.m.
Sunday, April 6, noon to 3 p.m.
Reservations can be made by calling 315-768-7037.
Terrace Café will also open for lunch Friday and Saturday.
Join us at a reception to celebrate the outstanding floral creations of the talented Art in Bloom designers. Hors d’oeuvres will be served with a wine and beer cash bar. Jury and People’s Choice awards will be announced during this time.
ON VIEW NOW THROUGH MAY 25
Many regular Munson visitors return to see Thomas Cole’s Voyage of Life each time they come to the Museum. The monumental series of four paintings by one of America’s first landscape artists is at once overwhelming and hopeful with passages that are both terrifying and familiar.
Canvas to Culture: Thomas Cole’s Voyage of Life Lives On focuses on the legacy of these landmark paintings in American art and culture. The project has been organized and curated by Paul Schweizer, the Museum’s Director Emeritus and an expert on the works of Thomas Cole. Schweizer dedicated an earlier exhibition and book to the original series in 2014 that concentrated on Cole and his contributions to American art history. In Canvas to Culture, the focus shifts toward the artists who were influenced by Cole’s project after his death in 1848, ensuring their reputation as icons of American art and emblems of American culture. Those who already love Cole’s
series—especially his enchanting Youth panel—will be unsurprised by its immense popularity throughout the 1800s. Dozens of paintings, prints, photographs, slides, and even the first “talkie” motion picture illustrate the continued interest in the series from its first public exhibition in 1840 through the early 1900s. The many copies that were produced exist in multiple mediums and styles, from academic panel paintings to cartoon caricatures.
This exhibition explores works based on The Voyage of Life made for the broad public and by untrained artists and famous artists alike. Cole always wanted his paintings available to
all, but in his time, large oil paintings were available almost exclusively to the wealthy elite. After his death, organizations such as the American Art-Union and Currier & Ives produced much more affordable and reasonably sized prints based on The Voyage of Life, helping make them famous and encouraging their popularity.
At the same time, casual and untrained artists began to make copies of both Cole’s paintings and the prints. Within the exhibition and the accompanying catalog, art viewers will see different approaches by many artists who took Voyage of Life as inspiration.
Image above: Thomas Cole (American, 1801–1848), The Voyage of Life: Youth (detail), 1840. Oil on canvas.
The copies and their translations in other mediums do more than just prove that Munson’s paintings were popular. Like today, each new generation of artists used new technologies to make art that felt right for their moment. Cole’s style of narrative, moralizing painting, became unpopular by the 1900s, but it never fully disappeared. Rather, making popular stories with morals shifted to the work of filmmakers and TV studios.
New Catalog! Canvas to Culture: Thomas Cole’s Voyage of Life Lives On Available for purchase at the Munson Museum Shop
Limited Edition Box Set: $32.95
Single Catalog $18.95
Paul D. Schweizer traces the legacy of Thomas Cole’s epic Voyage of Life series in his new book, Canvas to Culture: Thomas Cole’s Voyage of Life Lives On. Designed as a companion to his earlier volume documenting the history of Cole’s original paintings, Schweizer’s extensive research shows how Cole inspired generations of American artists even after his death.
Popular and mass media often repeat Cole’s technique of using a changing river landscape to help an allegorical story make visual and spatial sense. Cultural products as diverse as Disney’s “it’s a small world” ride, the 1972 film Deliverance, and Joni Mitchell’s 2021 music video for “River” all continue this motif of a moralizing journey down a river. Cole and his contemporaries brought art out of the private gallery
with mass media, just as many artists today display work on social media. Ultimately, Cole helped establish the American tradition of maintaining and remixing stories across distinct times, mediums, and styles.
Canvas to Culture: Thomas Cole’s Voyage of Life Lives On will be on view in the first floor gallery off of the Root Court until May 25.
Art Talk by Paul D. Schweizer, Ph.D. Museum Director Emeritus
Canvas to Culture: Thomas Cole’s Voyage of Life Lives On Sunday, April 13, 2 p.m.
Museum of Art | 1 West Gallery
In this gallery talk, Paul D. Schweizer, Ph.D., museum director emeritus, will discuss some of the highlights of the pictures' voyage through eight decades of American culture.
Light refreshments and book signing to follow.
Image above: James Smillie (American, born Scotland, 1807–1885) after Thomas Cole, The Voyage of Life: Youth , 1856 (this later impression published by Lucius A. Elliot, Boston). Engraving with etching. 15 3/8 x 22 7/8 in. Gift of Mrs. Erving Pruyn, 60.154.
DONOR SPOTLIGHT
RON AND SHEILA CUCCARO
Ron and Sheila Cuccaro are well-known figures in Utica. Ron, a self-made businessman, and Sheila, a medical administrator, have had distinguished careers. Despite their busy schedules, they have always found time to serve their community. Their interests align closely with the needs of Utica’s struggling families, newcomers, and those facing financial challenges. They are passionate advocates for the Community Foundation, where Ron served as board chair during a pivotal time in the organization’s history.
“ We are very fortunate to be able to ‘give back’ to our community by helping to expose the world of arts at Munson to young people who may not otherwise have the opportunity.” – Ron Cuccaro
Their values also align with Munson’s mission to support families and community-focused initiatives. The Cuccaros are particularly enthusiastic about Art Alive! and Munson’s free summer art classes for kids. They are quick to ask, “How can we help?” and provide meaningful support that strengthens these programs. In the summer of 2024, they funded an intern dedicated to kids art classes, helping a program that had become both popular and fully enrolled. They also support Art Alive! initiatives and attend family events to see the impact of these programs firsthand.
For those who manage community programs, the Cuccaros offer two gifts: they provide essential support and bring infectious joy in discussing the programs, validating both the efforts of the organizers and the events themselves.
As Munson continues to expand its outreach, we hope to find more individuals like Ron and Sheila to strengthen our programs and build lasting partnerships. For now, we take a moment to appreciate this warm, generous couple and share in their infectious smiles.
We all have the opportunity to leave our mark on the places we love. If you have something in mind for Munson, please reach out to John Murphy to discuss your options and how Munson can bring them to life at jdmurphy@munson.art or 315-927-8523.
GIFT PLANNING
An estate gift can be a simple tool to make a significant impact for Munson. It can be as easy as designating Munson as a beneficiary on your retirement account for a set dollar figure or a portion of the residual funds, and you will have established your own legacy at Munson.
While gift planning tools come in many forms, the key to them all is understanding what you wish to support at
Munson—one of our many outstanding programs, a studio or space that is important to you, or the full range of programs we offer. We are happy to talk through your options at any time.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
John Murphy, Director of Development and Donor Relations 315-927-8523 or jdmurphy@munson.art
CELESTIAL BODIES
On view June 27 through fall 2025
Members Preview June 26 | 5:30–7:30 p.m.
Register at munson.art/lamonte-RSVP
NEW BOARD MEMBER
ANDREW A. BRITTON
With the new year, Munson welcomed a new trustee. Andrew Britton was elected to Munson’s Board of Trustees at their December meeting for a three-year term that began in January.
Britton had a long and successful career in banking and financial services, most recently serving as Division Chief Operating Officer of the Texas Mountain South Division of Bank of Merrill until his retirement in 2022. During his professional career, Britton excelled in managing teams, developing talent, and strategic planning and execution with 17 years in banking and over 19 years in the advisory sector where he partnered with financial advisors to serve high-net-worth clients and addressed operational excellence in his role as COO.
Always active in both the professional and civic communities where he lives, Britton’s overriding desire is to make a difference in people’s lives. Throughout his career, he has been actively associated with over 50 organizations in leadership
SCULPTURE BY KAREN LAMONTE
including Delta Tau Delta Fraternity, Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS (DIFFA), Junior Achievement, Rotary, Young Life, March of Dimes, Young Men’s Business League, and Volunteers in Action, among others.
Britton lives in New Hartford with his husband, David Grey, a Utica native. They have been actively involved with Munson in recent years, including sponsoring last summer’s American Landscapes exhibition. When asked, “Why Munson?” Britton is quick to respond, “Munson is a leader in the arts and provides access to everyone in the community to enjoy and learn.”
Munson will benefit from his professional expertise as a member of the finance committee as well as his dedication to helping Munson fulfill its mission.
Funding for Munson’s 2024–25 exhibition series is provided by Christian and Cheryl Heilmann; Elizabeth R. Lemieux, Ph.D.; the Family of F. X. Matt II; and Linda and Alan Vincent. Funding for this exhibition is provided by Deborah and Michael Zahn.
ART TALKS
Ella Weber, 2017–18 Munson Artist-in-Residence Book Tour: The Deli Diaries
Tuesday, March 25, 4 p.m.
Artist talk and book signing Free | Museum of Art | Sinnott Family – Bank of Utica Auditorium ellaweber.com/the-deli-diaries
Elizabeth Lemieux Faculty Lecture Series: Ken Marchione
Thursday, March 27, noon
Free | Museum of Art | Sinnott Family – Bank of Utica Auditorium
Ken Marchione, professor of drawing and painting and chair of Academic Affairs at Pratt Munson College of Art and Design, has been a working artist for 40 years. Inspired by a recent trip to Europe, his current work is focused on the idea of public art and the concept of who or what is a “witness.”
Scott Wallace, Author and Photographer Book Tour: Central America in the Crosshairs of War Saturday, March 29, 2 p.m.
Artist presentation and book signing Free | Suggested Admission: $10 Museum of Art | Sinnott Family – Bank of Utica Auditorium scottwallace.com
WELCOME NEW MUSEUM DOCENTS
Congratulations to Suzanne Brown, Gail Lewis, and Helen Schwartz, who have joined the ranks of the Museum Docents after having completed training that began in March 2024!
ABOUT THE DOCENT PROGRAM
Docents introduce visitors of all ages to a world of discovery by presenting tours on the Museum’s outstanding permanent collection and exciting special exhibitions. Docents are people of all ages who enrich their own lives as they use new skills to also enrich the lives of others. You don't need to have prior knowledge of art history, public speaking experience, or teaching credentials to be a docent.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Myah Darby, educator for docents and tour programs 315-927-8547 or mdarby@munson.art
APPLICATION DEADLINE: June 30, 2025
Helen Schwartz, Gail Lewis, and Suzanne Brown
ARTIST-IN-RESIDENCE
2025–26 CALL FOR APPLICATIONS
Munson’s Artist-in-Residence (AIR) program is an education-based residency that allows one emerging artist to live, work, and teach on the Munson and Pratt Munson College of Art and Design campus in Utica for one academic year. Artists receive financial support, housing, meals, a studio, and an exhibition in the Museum of Art.
The 2025–26 Artist-in-Residence should be an emerging artist or recent visual arts MFA graduate interested in working in art education in community arts and college curricula while receiving support to develop a vibrant, self-directed studio practice.
PROGRAM DISCIPLINE: Photography
DEADLINE: Monday, March 17
APPLY: munson.art/artists-in-residence
PROGRAMMING INCLUDES: presenting a public lecture teaching community arts education classes holding a public open studio event designing and implementing accessible community projects with various Munson departments
SELECTION CRITERIA: visual quality of artwork written proposals trajectory of career potential to thrive living in Utica and working within the AIR program parameters
Munson’s 2025–26 Artist-in-Residence program is sponsored by Robert and Tatyana Knight and by Rona Lucas, in memory of Roslyn and Irving Levine.
COMMUNITY ARTS
SECOND SESSION KIDS CLASSES
Saturday morning classes begin on March 22!
Ages 4+5 | Art Explorations I
Ages 6–8 | Art Explorations II, Drawing + Painting
Ages 9–12 | Young Artists Drawing + Painting
Ages 9–12 | Young Artists Clay + Sculpture
Ages 9–12 | Young Artists Stop-Motion Animation
*Ages 10–14 | After-school Art Journal (NEW! Tuesdays, 4 to 6 p.m.) Wednesdays, March 20 to April 24
ADULT CLASS SPOTLIGHT
MINI-COURSE | CUSTOM CHAIN MAKING WITH LUKE TOWNE Mondays, 6–9 p.m. | March 24–April 21
$180 Members | $195 General Public
Learn how to fabricate everything in your jewelry from jump-rings/links to constructing custom chains from a variety of chainmail weaves.
MINI-COURSE | FIGURE DRAWING
Wednesdays, 6–9 p.m. | March 26–April 30
$120 Members | $140 General Public
Drawing the human figure is an enjoyable and powerful exploration that serves as a universal link to the culture of artists and art.
Need-based
Felipe López, 2023–24 Munson Artist-in-Residence
FOOD + ART UNITE AT
MUNSON
SUNDAY, MARCH 9 | NOON TO 3PM
Celebrate the rich global palette and cultural cuisine enjoyed in Utica at a food tasting and multicultural event at Munson. Sample dishes from area restaurants, and enjoy live music at this event for all ages.
Admission to this event includes the cost of viewing the exhibition Canvas to Culture: Thomas Cole's Voyage of Life Lives On
CO-HOSTS
SPONSORS
NEW AT THE MUSEUM SHOP
Featured Artist: Fleurs De Jardin Jewelry
PARTICIPATING RESTAURANTS
Angie Ferguson (Haudenosaunee)
Anthony Amodio Catering (Italian)
Cantina Catrin (Mexican)
Ecuamex Deli-Restaurant (Ecuadorian)
Five Points Public House (Irish)
Friends Bakery (Dominican)
Joey's@307 (Italian)
Lafa (Lebanese)
Los Amigos (Mexican)
Marib Restaurant (Yemeni)
Munja Cafe (Turkish/Bosnian)
Paco's Empanadas House (Puerto Rican)
Piggy Pat's Smoke and Ale House (Barbecue)
Savage Pizza (Italian)
Taqueria Al Pastor (Mexican)
Zeina's Café and Catering (Lebanese)
Where: Munson Museum of Art 310 Genesee St., Utica, N.Y.
Admission: $30 Members
$35 General Public
$10 Children ages 6 to 12 FREE under 5
Tickets available at munson.art/foodandart
Fiona Dejardin creates wearable works of art that combine intricate beadwork with modern style. Each piece reflects her passion for vibrant color, organic form, and detail. Using high-quality glass beads, semi-precious stones, and artisan techniques, Dejardin crafts jewelry that feels both timeless and uniquely personal.
Whether you're drawn to bold statement pieces or delicate accents, her collections are perfect for those who celebrate individuality through artful design. Discover her work in the Munson Museum Shop or visit her website: dejardinbeads.com.
Members receive 10% off!
Non-consignment merchandise
STUDENTS EARN GRAPHIC DESIGN RECOGNITION
Pratt Munson College of Art and Design is proud to announce the outstanding achievements of its students in the 2024 GDUSA American Graphic Design Awards. Under the mentorship of Professors Cindy Buckley Koren and Leah McDonald, the following students from Pratt Munson clinched prestigious awards in typographic and brand design: Anniella Pettingill, Mai Anh Doan, Joey Huang, Xinyu Hu, Theo Chan, Alena Revinskaya. These students are now in their junior year on Pratt Institute’s main campus in Brooklyn, N.Y.
PRATT MUNSON STUDENT BRANDS UTICA HEART RUN AND WALK
Pratt Munson student Nanoka Umehara, a communications design major from Japan, had her logo selected for America’s Greatest Heart Run & Walk in Utica for this year’s event. Each year, Professor Leah Macdonald encourages her students to submit designs, and the public votes on a winner.
“ Having an opportunity to design for a big event is very inspiring. It was a great learning experience for me as a designer to understand what it's like to make the logo.”
– Nanoka Umehara
Across the Universe, Type Specimen, Anniella Pettingill
Neo Kashi Blind Box Project, Joey Huang
Leah Macdonald, Pratt Munson Instructor of Graphic Design; Nanoka Umehara '27; and Lucy Jang '27
SATURDAY, JULY 12 TO SUNDAY, JULY 20
Car Show and Fountain Elms
Invitational: Saturday, July 12
SIDEWALK ART SHOW CALL FOR ENTRIES
OPENS MAY 1
munson.art/call-for-entries
Building on the positive experience of moving the Sidewalk Art Show indoors last year, we will continue this format again this year. With the completion of the Genesee Street Front Landscape project, additional programming will be held in front of the Museum of Art as well as the Sculpture Grove.
AFTER DARK
SATURDAY, MARCH 22 | 9PM TO MIDNIGHT
Music | Dancing | Drinks
$15 General Admission | munson.art/after-dark-march
Sponsored by the MetLife Foundation
PLAN YOUR SPECIAL EVENT AT MUNSON
In addition to serving the community as a dynamic hub of artistic activity, Munson helps you make memories with accommodations perfectly suited for events from business meetings and corporate events to weddings and baby showers.
TYPES OF EVENTS
Weddings
Corporate events
Private dinners
Presentations or lectures
Bridal or baby showers
Receptions
Photo shoots
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Jerry Plows
Events and Visitor Services Manager 315-927-8517
jplows@munson.art
munson.art/munson-events
INFORMATION AND HOURS
Museum of Art, including Fountain Elms
Tuesday to Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Sunday, noon to 5 p.m.
Performing Arts Ticket Office
Monday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Doors open one hour before performances and 30 minutes before films.
Tickets: 315-797-0055, 1-800-754-0797, or munson.art
Pratt Munson and Community Arts Offices
Monday to Friday, 8:45 a.m. to 4:45 p.m.
Art Research Library
Monday to Thursday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Saturday, noon to 5 p.m., Sunday 3 to 5 p.m.
The following areas are accessible to the physically challenged: Museum of Art Galleries, Fountain Elms, Sinnott Family – Bank of Utica Auditorium, and Root Court, Art Odyssey: Interactive Gallery, Museum Shop, Art Library, Performing Arts Office, School of Art Gallery, Studio D, and the Pottery Studio, the Academic Building, and Student Center.
