CELEBRATING 100 YEARS
July August September 2020
FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Dear Friends, Thank you to everyone for the positive feedback about the Museum’s digital content these past few months. The circumstances compelled us to think outside the box – and the Museum building – to engage, educate, and encourage the larger community through the power of art. The Board of Trustees and staff are working to ensure that health and safety procedures are in place when the Museum reopens. Long Island’s Best: Young Artists at The Heckscher Museum and Amanda Valdez: Piecework will be in the galleries. Long Island Biennial, the Museum’s juried competition for artists from Suffolk and Nassau Counties, is scheduled for later this year. Visit Heckscher.org for updates.
The April-June issue of the Museum Magazine was brimming with exhibition, program, and special event information related to the 2020 centennial celebration. Those plans will occur—but in 2021, as we welcome the Museum’s second century! Most importantly, I extend utmost thanks to those who realize that the Museum is in need of financial help at this time. We are grateful to the donors who joined together to offer the amazing challenge grant featured in this issue. This is the definition of generosity. Please donate to this initiative! Help ensure a strong and vibrant future for the Museum. Sincerely,
Michael W. Schantz, Ph.D. Executive Director and CEO
The Heckscher Museum of Art's Centennial Benefit has been postponed until Saturday, October 23, 2021. We look forward to celebrating with our friends at the Crest Hollow Country Club. For more information, please contact Development@Heckscher.org.
COLETTE BUZZETTA JOINS THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES Colette Buzzetta, a resident of Huntington, was appointed to The Heckscher Museum of Art’s Board of Trustees at its May meeting. Colette has been involved with the Museum for over a decade as a donor and as an active member of the Development Committee. She also has served on Celebrate Achievement Benefit committees. The educational value that the Museum brings to the Long Island community is especially appreciated by Colette, who
enjoys learning about and collecting the works of local artists. Colette states, "I've aspired to model the example lived by my late mother to be of service to individuals and organizations in our community-and beyond.” In addition to her involvement with the Museum, she is Secretary to the Board of Trustees of Raynham Hall Museum in Oyster Bay. Colette received her B.A. in accounting from The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. She is the mother of three grown sons and grandmother to Blair.
HECKSCHER AT HOME KIDS EDITION Lead Educator Lisa Sayedi shares her answers about hosting the Kids Edition art activity video series. All videos are available at Heckscher.org. You’re a natural! How was the transition from live to virtually teaching? Working with students of all ages in the Museum makes you very adaptable and keeps you on your toes. With classes in person, everyone is feeling each other's energies. It’s a fun dynamic. Now, I'm talking to a camera and much more aware of the atmosphere I'm creating for people who are tuning in. How do you prepare for the Kids Edition classes? The first step is always finding a meaningful work of art in our collection or on view to use as inspiration. We brainstorm on different materials that most people have in their homes and the project starts to come to life. We try to keep each session new and fun! Will virtual programming on Heckscher.org continue? Yes! The virtual content that we've been creating for Heckscher at Home has always been our aim. Everyone can look forward to the continuation and growth of our online activities. I encourage everyone to stay connected with us on Heckscher.org and our social media pages! H@H Kids Edition: Summer Break Online July 11 through August 15 Each week Educators feature a new project inspired by Mother Nature! Videos premiere on YouTube Saturdays at 10 am, and are available anytime on Heckscher.org Check Heckscher.org for all news and updates on the Museum’s reopening.
AN UNPRECEDENTED ASK FOR UNPRECEDENTED TIMES This year marks the 100th anniversary of The Heckscher Museum of Art's founding, and the coronavirus pandemic appeared just as the centennial celebrations were beginning. Together with many cultural organizations throughout the country, we had to temporarily close our doors and rethink or postpone our planned exhibitions, education programs, and fundraising events. As a result, and despite the Museum’s best efforts, we are facing a significant projected deficit in excess of $500,000. Unless we are able to fill this gap, the Museum will enter its second century with its budget at risk and many of our programs on hold. In response to our current situation and recognizing the immediate needs of the Museum, we gratefully announce a challenge grant of $200,000, initiated by Robin Hadley, The Cunniff Family, The Rauch Foundation/Nancy and Kostas Douzinas, Pien and Hans Bosch, and Andrea B. and Peter D. Klein.
can serve communities as one of Long Island's important cultural and educational resources. These are unprecedented times. It is the moment when we turn to those who hold The Heckscher Museum's best interest at heart. Your donation, as generous as possible, will keep the Museum moving forward with confidence. Every gift will make a difference! To make your online donation today, please visit Heckscher.org/ donate. Or, mail to The Heckscher Museum, 2 Prime Avenue, Huntington, New York 11743. Questions? Contact Development@Heckscher.org.
All donations received before Friday, July 31 will be matched dollar-for-dollar. Your tax-deductible gift will help ensure the stability of the Museum's talented and essential staff, fund arts education programs and exhibitions, and maintain the Museum through 2020. Please make your gift now to guarantee a confident future where the Museum
LONG ISLAND’S BEST TOP ARTISTS Long Island’s Best: Young Artists at The Heckscher Museum, the annual juried competition for high school students, celebrated the top prize winners with a well-attended virtual award ceremony and an online exhibition. There were more than 388 student submissions, representing 58 participating high schools. Jurors selected 100 student entries as finalists. The following students were awarded the top four prizes. Celebrate Achievement Best in Show: Stephanie Lopez, Prismatic Bubble. Acrylic on canvas. Hicksville High School. (cover) Second Place, Judith Sposato Memorial Prize: Matthew Diesing, A Seat at the Table. Oil pastel. John F. Kennedy High School. (upper image) Third Place, The Hadley Prize and Virtual Visitors Choice Award: Micarlys Ramirez, Ydelim in a Green Chair. Acrylic on canvas. Brentwood High School. (lower image) Fourth Place, The Stan Brodsky Scholarship Award: Bridget Buckmaster. Check Mate. Digital Photograph. Northport High School. (back cover) See all 100 student works of art and this year’s award winners on Heckscher.org.
LONG ISLAND’S BEST PRESENTING SPONSOR The Darrell Fund Endowment
ARTISTIC SPONSOR Strong-Cuevas Foundation
PATRON SPONSORS
Patricia and Vincent Mallardi III TD Charitable Foundation The Claire Friedlander Family Foundation RBC Wealth Management The Dr. Lee MacCormick Edwards Charitable Foundation
EXHIBITION CATALOGUE SPONSOR Inna Gellerman, DDS, Gellerman Orthodontics
Bridget Buckmaster. Check Mate, Digital photo, Northport High School, Long Island’s Best.
Visit Heckscher.org for updated news and reopening information.
@HECKSCHERMUSEUM THE HECKSCHER MUSEUM OF ART 2 PRIME AVENUE HUNTINGTON, NY 11743 631.351.3250 HECKSCHER.ORG