MWPAI Bulletin March/April 2021

Bulletin

Art in Bloom Returns!

April 16 through 18

March/April 2021

MARCH AND APRIL EVENTS Sign up for Updates Continuing with this issue, the Munson-Williams Bulletin will be published bimonthly. Join our mailing list by contacting Karen Stefanski at kstefanski@mwpai.edu to receive updates and announcements for future programs.

March March 6 Saturday Art and Yoga 10:30 a.m.

Virtual or in-person*

March 12 Friday Exhibition: More Than a Tweet: Birds, Art, and Culture On view through August 21

March 13 Saturday Art and Yoga 10:30 a.m.

Virtual or in-person*

March 20 Saturday Art and Yoga 10:30 a.m.

Virtual or in-person*

March 27 Saturday Art and Yoga 10:30 a.m.

Virtual or in-person*

March 29 Monday

April 17 Saturday

Easton Pribble Virtual Lecture Series Richard Friedberg 10:30 a.m.

Exhibition: PrattMWP Sophomore Show On view through May 12 Museum of Art, 1W gallery

Virtual Event

To register: https://richardfriedberg-lecture. eventbrite.com

April April 2 Friday Exhibition: PrattMWP Freshman Show On view through April 25 PrattMWP Gallery, Fountain Elms

April 3 Saturday Art and Yoga 10:30 a.m.

Illustrated Presentation The Victorians: How They Forever Changed the Garden 1 p.m.

Virtual event* Art and Yoga 10:30 a.m.

Virtual or in-person*

April 18 Sunday Art in Bloom: Meet the Designers 3 p.m.

Virtual Event*

Virtual or in-person*

April 24 Saturday

April 10 Saturday

Art and Yoga 10:30 a.m.

Art and Yoga 10:30 a.m.

Virtual or in-person*

Virtual or in-person*

April 16 Friday Exhibition opening: Art in Bloom On view through April 18 Floral Arranging Demonstration and Raffle 1 p.m.

Virtual event*

*Registration for these virtual events is required by contacting the Ticket Office at 315-797-0055.

A link to access the program will be emailed to you after registering.

Cover: Norman Lewis , American, (1909-79), Heroic Evening, 1963, interpreted by Ida Slagle, Professional Florist and Artist, Canastota, for Art in Bloom, 2018

Art in Bloom Spring Comes to the Museum of Art On view April 16 through 18 Celebrate spring with a presentation of exceptional floral designs by local florists, designers, and garden club members!

View spectacular creations inspired by works in the Museum’s collection and interpreted through fresh flowers. This extraordinary weekend also features special events and floral-inspired items at the Art in Bloom Pop-Up Shop.

Fountain Elms Parlor, Catherine Clarke, The Clinton Florist, Art in Bloom, 2018

Art in Bloom Admission

FAMILY ACTIVITIES TO TAKE HOME!

Free for Munson-Williams members and ages 12 and under, $5 general public

ART IN BLOOM GUEST SPEAKER Saturday, April 17, 1 p.m.

Location: Virtual Event The Victorians: How They Forever Changed the Garden Barbara Plantholt Melera, Sharon Springs $5 MWPAI members, Fifth District Federated Garden Clubs of New York members, and CCE Oneida County Master Gardener Volunteers

$10 general public Register at 315-797-0055, a link to access the event will be emailed to you after registering.

Barbara Melera is advisor to Harvesting History, an heirloom horticultural company founded to provide the finest quality horticultural and agricultural products available. For 13 years Ms. Melera was president and CEO of the D. Landreth Seed Company, the oldest seedhouse in America, and has 63 years of active gardening experience.

Ms. Melera’s presentation is presented in conjunction with the Cornell Cooperative Extension Oneida County and the Fifth District Federated Garden Clubs of New York State.

DAILY EVENTS DURING ART IN BLOOM WEEKEND ART IN BLOOM POP-UP MUSEUM SHOP Open Friday and Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Sunday 1 to 5 p.m.

AFTERNOON TEA AT THE TERRACE CAFÉ Daily 2 to 4 p.m.

Reservations required 315-797-0000 ext. 2212

Sponsored by the CCE Oneida County 4H Club

FRIDAY, APRIL 16 FLORAL DESIGNS ON VIEW, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Juried award ribbons displayed on winning designs

FLORAL ARRANGING DEMONSTRATION and RAFFLE, 1 p.m.

Virtual Event

Register at 315-797-0055, a link to access the event will be emailed to you after registering.

PEOPLE’S CHOICE VOTING

(pick up a ballot and select your favorites)

SATURDAY, APRIL 17 FLORAL DESIGNS ON VIEW, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

PEOPLE’S CHOICE VOTING

(pick up a ballot and select your favorites)

PRESENTATION, 1 p.m.

THE VICTORIANS: HOW THEY FOREVER CHANGED THE GARDEN Virtual Event

Register at 315-797-0055, a link to access the event will be emailed to you after registering.

SUNDAY, APRIL 18 FLORAL DESIGNS ON VIEW, 1 to 4:30 p.m.

MEET THE DESIGNERS, 3 p.m.

Meet the designers virtually and hear how their selected artworks inspired their designs!

Virtual Event

Register at 315-797-0055, a link to access the event will be emailed to you after registering.

3

Museum of Art New Exhibition Takes Wing More Than a Tweet: Birds, Art, and Culture March 12 through August 1 Birds captivate and delight us. Our fascination with them spans centuries, arousing scientific inquiry, artistic expression, moralizing tales, and fashion statements. More than a Tweet features paintings, works on paper, and decorative arts from the Museum of Art collection, many on view for the first time in decades. Explore the multifaceted meanings assigned to these winged wonders as a result of their mesmerizing effect on Americans for more than 200 years. Discover how birds inspire us as symbols that connect us – from the naturalist to the enthusiast, and from those who ponder the mysteries of life to the those absorbed by mysteries of death.

Maker unknown, Europe, Bird Dome, 1840-60, stuffed birds, artificial flowers, glass, wood, 14 1/2 x 9 x 6 in. Museum Purchase, 60.131

Disasters Inspire Powerful Sculptures Terrible Beauty: Richard Friedberg Sculpture On view through May 30 Monumental sculptures representing natural disasters caused by human activity create a forceful presence showcasing Friedberg’s impressive body of work. The artist, compelled by horrific events like the BP Deepwater Horizon wellhead blowout and the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear accident and tsunami, creates sublime works reminiscent of terrible explosions, tidal waves, and smoke that are graceful, elegant, and thoughtfully considered, demanding our attention and respect.

Richard Friedberg, Heavy Seas, 2017, aluminum, 111 x 179 x 182 in., Photograph by Richard Walker.

4

Museum of Art EDUCATION PROGRAMS Relax and Relieve Stress Virtually or In-Person* ART AND YOGA: FOR MIND, BODY, AND SPIRIT All levels Saturdays, 10:30 to 11:45 a.m.

March 6, 13, 20, 27 and April 3, 10, 17, 24 March/April Session (eight classes): $55 Munson-Williams members, $80 general public Any six classes: $45 Munson-Williams members, $65 general public Drop-in fee per class: $10 Munson-Williams members, $15 general public Register at 315-797-0055.

For virtual attendees, a link to access the class or classes will be emailed to you after registering. * In-person yoga may change depending on New York State guidelines.

Experience Art and Yoga at home or in person at the Museum. In-person sessions are limited in participation size and safety protocols include a 10-foot distance between mats; masks must be worn at all times. The classes are also streamed via Zoom.

Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art Mary Murray leads a discussion of artwork from the Museum’s collection, followed by a short poem and one hour of yoga with certified instructor Jeri George.

Those of all levels of ability are welcome.

RICHARD FRIEDBERG IN CONVERSATION WITH ART CURATOR PATTERSON SIMS Thursday, May 6, 6 p.m.

Tickets $10 MWPAI members, $15 general public.

Virtual Event Register at 315-797-0055, a link to access the event will be emailed to you after registering.

VIRTUAL ART STORY

Richard Friedberg, Fire Storm, 2017, aluminum, 168 x 204 x 108 in., Photograph by Richard Walker.

Join us this spring for Art Story - virtually! Contact us for a prerecorded virtual session that includes two interactive book readings and a look at artwork in the Museum's collection.

Contact Jennifer Lorenz Badua, Museum Educator for Student Programs, at 315-797-0000 ext. 2146, or by email at jlorenzbadua@mwpai.edu.

Easton Pribble Visiting Ar tist Vir tual Le c ture Series

Richard Friedberg

Monday, March 29, 10:30 a.m.

Virtual Event Free and open to the public, reservations required at https://richardfriedberg-lecture.eventbrite.com This lecture series is made possible by a bequest from the estate of Easton Pribble, a longtime School of Art faculty member.

Richard Friedberg, Twin Fires, 2017, aluminum, unit one: 101 x 42 x 43 in.; unit two: 111 x 45 x 52 in. Photograph by Richard Walker.

Artist Richard Friedberg was born in 1943 and raised in Baltimore. He attended Antioch College and Yale University and in 1968 moved to New York City to sculpt and teach fine arts at Hunter College. His first one-man show opened the following year at the Tibor de Nagy Gallery and his work has been shown in galleries throughout the United States and Europe. In addition to Hunter College, Friedberg has taught at the California Institute of the Arts and Fairleigh Dickinson University.

5

PrattMWP and School of Art Paint, Draw, and Sew in Spring Classes and Workshops Register now at 315-797-8260 or mwpai.org IN-PERSON COURSE: Spring Studio Painting 18 + | All Levels | Chris Cirillo Thursdays, March 4 through April 22, 9 a.m. to Noon Painters develop your skills while investigating painting as a form of expression. Beginners to experienced painters welcome.

VIRTUAL MINI-COURSE: Drawing Objects with Color 16 + | All Levels| Janet Loren Hill, Artist in Residence Tuesdays, April 6 through 20, 6 to 8:30 p.m.

Working from still-life objects, learn techniques to represent the object’s form, value structure, and temperature shifts using built up layers of conte crayon.

IN-PERSON WORKSHOP: Life-sized Figure Drawing 18 + | All Levels | Yulia Levkovich Saturday, March 6, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Go big or go home! Draw life-sized figures on six-foot lengths of paper.

Instruction focuses on proportion, line quality, observation of the standing figure, and modeling of form. Nude models will be used. All materials are provided.

IN-PERSON WORKSHOP: Clothing Alterations and Repairs 18 + | All Levels | Niki English Saturday and Sunday, March 27 and 28, 9 a.m. to Noon Revitalize a vintage garment or update the fit of an old favorite look.

Learn basic sewing techniques to alter existing clothing to fit your body.

Participants learn to alter hemlines, take in or let out seams, as well as creative ways to reinterpret a vintage garment into a modern silhouette.

PrattMWP Gallery COLLEGE OF ART AND DESIGN The PrattMWP Gallery is located in Fountain Elms

PrattMWP Freshman Exhibition April 2 through April 25

The PrattMWP Gallery is pleased to host the talented students of the 2020-21 PrattMWP Freshman Class in a multimedia exhibition.

Free and Open to the Public • Gallery Hours: Tuesday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m, Sunday 1 to 5 p.m.

Ava Schlesman, positive and negative shape project, cut paper

6

Andrea Lastimosa, color vibration project, acrylic

London Roddy-Jones, digital photography

PrattMWP and School of Art PrattMWP Gallery COLLEGE OF ART AND DESIGN The PrattMWP Gallery is located in Fountain Elms

Current Exhibition:

Douglas Degges and MaryKate Maher On view through March 11 Douglas Degges is an artist and educator currently based in Stafford Springs, CT, where he is an Assistant Professor of Art in Painting and Drawing at the University of Connecticut. In his studio practice, Douglas finds painting and drawing to be great vehicles for slowing down and reflecting on the speed at which images are produced and consumed at a time where we have immediate access at our fingertips.

Douglas Degges Website: www.douglasdegges.com

Douglas Degges, untitled, graphite on paper, 7.5 x 5.5 in., 2020

MaryKate Maher is a visual artist currently living and working in NYC. The genesis of MaryKate’s practice lies in researching and mining the textures of nature and the post-industrial landscape.

Maher fabricates objects to resemble smooth river rocks, sections of concrete, chunks of marble, and knotted wood burls, incorporating a heterogeneous blend of man-made and naturally occurring debris.

These fabricated objects become foundational to her sculptural process.

MaryKate Maher Website: www.marykatemaher.com Free and Open to the Public

MaryKate Maher, Red(shard) detail, resin, imitation gold leaf, aluminum, acrylic paint, 34.5 x 7.5 x 3.75 in., 2021

Gallery Hours: Tuesday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m, Sunday 1 to 5 p.m.

PrattMWP Sophomore Exhibition April 17 through May 12 Museum of Art, 1W Gallery We are pleased to present the annual exhibition of juried student work in the Museum of Art. Please join us as we celebrate the achievements of the PrattMWP College of Art and Design Sophomore Class of 2021.

Free and Open to the Public

Maria Xioufaridou, Home (detail), digital illustration, 2020

Abby Xu, digital photography, 2020

7

Development CARES Act 2021: Charitable Tax Incentives Extended When planning your 2021 donations to Munson-Williams, remember that the CARES Act provisions for Charitable Giving have been extended into 2021. The new charitable income tax deduction for cash gifts to qualifying charities is $300 for single filers and $600 for married couples filing jointly, regardless of whether you itemize deductions or take the standard deduction.

Your philanthropy will support community engagement, educational programs, exhibitions, and events. Make a gift that supports the transformational impact of the arts.

For more information, please contact Karen Stefanski at kstefanski@mwai.edu or 315-797-0000 ext. 2104.

Welcome New and Returning Board Members Betty Krulik, Christian G. Heilmann, and the Rev. Sharon Baugh have been named to the Board of Trustees.

Ms. Krulik, who is based in New York City, is a private dealer, art advisory and appraiser who has handled the sales of important American and European art, from the Hudson River School to American Modernism and Post War masters. She has 40 years of experience in the handling of American and European 19th- and 20th-century art and has sold to and on behalf of major collectors and museums throughout the United States. Ms. Krulik is a past member of the Museum of Art's Advisory Committee.

Mr. Heilmann, who recently moved back to the area, is a recently retired U.S. Trust Vice Chairman where he served as a special advisor to the firm’s President and Leadership Team. Prior to his appointment as Vice Chairman, he was most recently U.S. Trust’s Chief Fiduciary Executive and a Managing Director of Bank of America, National Association, where Mr. Heilmann served as Chairman of the Bank’s Fiduciary Risk Oversight Committee from 2010 -2016.

Rev. Baugh is pastor at Hope Chapel AME Zion, Utica, ministering to the spiritual, emotional, physical and financial needs of the church and its community. She has previously held pastorates in Lackawanna and Jamestown, NY. Rev. Baugh also serves on the Museum of Art’s African American Community Partners committee.

Trustee Mark Levitt returns to the board. He served from 2010 to 2019 and was Vice Chair from 2016 to 2019. Mr. Levitt is a founding partner of Levitt & Gordon and has been serving the community as an attorney for more than 40 years. He has earned a reputation for his wealth of knowledge of corporate, real property, and land use and planning law. Mr. Levitt currently serves as a mentor for the Oneida County Bar Association.

The new and returning trustees will join the board of 13 that governs Munson-Williams, working towards the Strategic Plan goals of providing exceptional experiences, community engagement, and strengthening and building capacity. Trustees are appointed to an initial term of three years.

8

Performing Arts Performing Arts and Film Series Returning Soon Dear Friends and Patrons: Based on projections for vaccine distribution, the 2021-22 Performing Arts season is moving forward and we are planning a full schedule of concerts and family events, along with accompanying community outreach activities. A complete schedule will be announced in late spring, including artists that we did not get to enjoy due to the pandemic shut down. We look forward to the "Classic Meets Cool" music of Barron Ryan, the family-fun antics of SMIRK and Tim Kubart, and the return of concerts with commentary by Jeffrey Siegel.

The Metropolitan Opera is actively pursuing their own options for a return to live programming for the season. As soon as they reach a decision, we will share that with our dedicated Live in HD opera audience.

Jeffrey Siegel

The Film Series will be able to resume when the Oneida County positivity rate drops below 2% over a 14-day rolling average for an extended period.

SMIRK

All performance and film events will adhere to all of the health and safety precautions and capacity limitations that are in place at the time.

—Bob Mortis, Director of Performing Arts

Barron Ryan

Library Offers Curbside Service Year-Round The Art Research Library continues its contactless curbside service.

Phone or email to schedule a pickup or return time: 315-797-0000 ext. 2123 or Library@mwpai.edu.

Library staff are also available to assist members and the public with art research on site or remotely. Scans of articles or essays can be sent by email or USPS. In addition to an extensive art book collection, the Library DVD collection also features many movies shown in the MWPAI Film Series.

Your membership grants you full and free borrowing privileges from the book, music CD, and DVD collections. The book and DVD collections are available for the public to use on site.

Library hours during the spring semester: Monday through 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 8 p.m.

Search the catalog online at mwpai.org/visit/library.

Visit the Library or schedule curbside pickup – Library@mwpai.edu or 315-797-0000 ext. 2123.

9

Enhance your visit!

Welcome Spring with Discounts at the Museum Shop The Museum Shop is heralding the return of spring by offering 20% off (30% for members) all coloring books, paper dolls, and art activity kits Tuesday, March 2 through Saturday, March 20.

Curbside service or mailing purchases can also be arranged by calling 315-797-0000 ext. 2155.

As we celebrate the return of Art in Bloom, April 16 through 18, the Museum Shop has planted new merchandise for customers to create their own bouquet of products. This selection includes coloring books, boxed notes, jewelry items, scarves, vases, porcelain mugs, puzzles, and much more! We will have new prints and cards from local artists as well. Visit the shop today and see for yourself what’s blossoming!

Members receive 10% discount on any non consignment merchandise.

Museum Shop Hours Tuesday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday 1 to 5 p.m.

Terrace Café returns in March The Terrace Café by O’Connor’s reopens Tuesday, March 23 with a new spring menu!

10

MUNSON-WILLIAMS-PROCTOR ARTS INSTITUTE BOARD OF TRUSTEES William C. Craine, Chair F. X. Matt, III, Vice-Chair Robert Knight, Secretary Rev. Sharon Baugh Dr. Steven J. Brown Michael D. Cominsky Emma Golden Donna Harkavy Dietra Harvey

Christian Heilmann Betty Krulik Mark Levitt C. Sonia Martinez Richard Griffith, Trustee Emeritus John B. Stetson, Trustee Emeritus

Anna D’Ambrosio, 6 President & CEO

In Memoriam Michael D. Damsky 1933-2020 We honor the life and legacy of Board of Trustees Member Emeritus Michael D. Damsky.

Mike actively served on the Board from 1990 to 2015, as Chair from 1998 to 2002 and Vice Chair from 2012 to 2015. He also served on the Development, Marketing, and Finance Advisory Committees. His selfless dedication and service enriched Munson-Williams and our entire community. Mike also served on a number of community boards including St. Luke's Hospital, the Sitrin Home, the Jewish Community Center, and Utica College, where he cofounded the Young Scholars Liberty Partnerships Program to motivate diverse and talented students with potential to stay in school, earn a New York State Regents Diploma with Advanced Designation, and attain a post-secondary education.

Ellen S. Cramer 1928-2021 Ellen Cramer's presence was larger than life. She was right at home in her role as Docent and Tour Coordinator in the Museum Education Department, a position she held for 20 years. Ellen was the consummate host, whenever possible she was at the door to greet the thousands of groups she scheduled. Having been a docent herself for five years, Ellen spent many hours listening, advising, and sympathizing with the docents’ achievements and challenges. Her coworkers benefited from her wisdom and experience in matters of work and home, and her extensive knowledge of her hometown, Utica. In our admiration of Ellen, we also marveled at her ability to surprise us, including the time that she charmed Brad Pitt into taking a photo with her at a family wedding reception in LA; and when she performed, in costume, a number from the Broadway hit, Mama Mia, for one of many New Year’s party competitions she helped engineer. We miss Ellen, and her vibrant presence remains with us through our memories.

MUNSON-WILLIAMS-PROCTOR ARTS INSTITUTE INFORMATION AND HOURS Hours Museum of Art including Fountain Elms: Tues.-Sat. 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Sun. 1-5 p.m.

Performing Arts Ticket Office: Mon.-Fri. 10 a.m.-5 p.m., one hour before performances and 30 minutes before films. Phone: 797-0055 or 1-800-754-0797 PrattMWP Gallery: Tues.-Sat. 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Sun. 1-5 p.m.

Museum Shop Hours: Tues.-Sat. 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Sun. 1-5 p.m.

School of Art Offices: Mon.-Fri. 8:45 a.m.-4:45 p.m.

Art Research Library: Mon.-Thur. 9 a.m.-9 p.m., Fri. 9 a.m.-5p.m., Sat. Noon-5 p.m., Sun. 3-8 p.m.

For information, call (315) 797-0000 (Voice and TDD)

Munson-Williams-Proctor Arts Institute is a fine arts center serving diverse audiences through three program divisions—Museum of Art, Performing Arts, and School of Art. The Institute also offers an Art Library, an active membership program, a Museum Shop, and outstanding rental facilities ideal for public programs and private events.

Munson-Williams receives funding from the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature.

The following areas are accessible to the physically challenged: Museum of Art Galleries, Auditorium, and Sculpture Court, Art Odyssey: Interactive Gallery, Museum Shop, Art Library, Performing Arts Office, School of Art Gallery, Studio D, and the Pottery Studio, the Academic Center, and Student Center.

11

PrattMWP

College of Art and Design 310 Genesee Street Utica, New York 13502 315 797-0000 mwpai.org

Coming this Summer!

Emma Amos: Color Odyssey June 19 through September 12 Emma Amos, Baby, 1966, oil on canvas, 45 x 50 1/8 inches, Whitney Museum of American Art/Studio Museum in Harlem. Purchased jointly by the Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, with funds from the Painting and Sculpture Committee; and the Studio Museum in Harlem, Museum purchase with funds provided by Ann Tenenbaum and Thomas H. Lee 2019.1a-b

Arts Festival returns July 27, through August 1 Entries for the Sidewalk Art Show will be accepted Friday, July 9, and Saturday, July 10.

An entry form is available at mwpai.org.