You Belong Here!

It’s hard to believe that we are more than halfway through the year and summer is coming to an end. There are so many wonderful new exhibitions, educational programs and events in the next half of the year—and we know that you will want to be part of all the fun!

We have spent the first half of the year working to implement our new strategic plan Intentional Momentum . If you have not had the chance to read this exciting strategy to broaden and expand the DAI’s reach, you can find the full plan on our website, in the Spring 2023 Member Magazine. I invite you to join us as we work to make the museum accessible to everyone. https://www.daytonartinstitute.org/about/ member-magazine/

Over the next three years and going forward, you will continue to see your DAI make stronger connections in the community by bringing programs to people where they are and by being even more present at community events, programs and festivals, sharing the message that all are welcome at the DAI. We will continue to build meaningful partnerships with communities that have traditionally been underrepresented at the museum. We believe the DAI is for and should represent everyone—no matter their gender, race, religion, orientation, education, ability or socioeconomic background. It is one of our daily goals that everyone feels welcome and has a sense of belonging.

I invite you to be present at your DAI and share the experience. Bring a friend. Give a membership to someone who has never been or may be going through a difficult time. Give a membership to a family, so that you can open the wonders of the world to young people.

Art is the oldest common language that has shared the world’s triumphs and tragedies. Art brings history and stories to life and sparks imagination, and the museum is a great place for gathering and dialogue. I invite you to be part of our Intentional Momentum as we work to create the DAI for the next 100 years! I hope to see you soon at your museum.

Warm regards,

Events

• Dates still available for 2023 & 2024

• NEW! Intimate Wedding Package

• Versatile spaces and flexible set-ups

• Timeless and chic venue for your special day

Create memories that last a lifetime!

The Dayton Art Institute combines a world-class art museum and stunning architecture to create the area’s premier destination for weddings and special events. Our versatile and adaptable elegant event spaces accommodate everything from an intimate wedding for 30, to a seated dinner for 300 or a cocktail reception for 600. Your guests will be surrounded by masterpieces from around the world and across the ages, creating an unforgettable experience. Our Intimate Wedding Package offers unrivaled value that includes the venue, hors d’oeuvres, champagne, tables and chairs, linens and flowers for the couple. Contact us today to design your dream wedding that fits you and your style perfectly.

Call 937-223-5277 ext. 337 for more information.

Gallery 120–121

Washi Transformed

New Expressions in Japanese Paper and Born of Fire

Contemporary Japanese Women Ceramic Artists

Washi Transformed explores the astonishing potential of washi, traditional Japanese paper, in 33 highly textured two-dimensional works, expressive sculptures and dramatic installations. In this exhibition, nine Japanese artists go far beyond the folding traditions of origami and explore the seemingly infinite possibilities of the medium, giving this ancient artform renewed relevance in the realm of international contemporary art. The breathtaking creativity of these artistic visionaries deepens our understanding of how the past informs the present, and how it can build lasting cultural bridges out of something as apparently simple and ephemeral as paper.

The exhibition is complemented by a display of contemporary Japanese ceramics in the Focus Exhibition Born of Fire: Contemporary Japanese Women Ceramic Artists. In it, fifteen remarkable women artists break barriers and forge new ways of creating and thinking about ceramics that reflect changes occurring in contemporary Japanese art and society. The works are drawn from the renowned collection of Carol and Jeffrey Horvitz, the largest collection of contemporary Japanese ceramics outside Japan, and express the influence of nature, innovations in ceramic-making techniques and a wide array of practices.

Washi Transformed: New Expressions in Japanese Paper was organized by Meher McArthur and is toured by International Arts & Artists, Washington, D.C. Born of Fire: Contemporary Japanese Women Ceramic Artists is organized by the Crow Museum of Asian Art of The University of Texas at Dallas.

A full-color catalogue accompanies the exhibition and is available to purchase in The Museum Store and online.