HISTORIC CONTEMPORARY AND COLLECTIONS

to be featured in new Center for Asian Art

Stephen Wilberding

In 2009, Steve Wilberding, a long-time museum supporter as well as a prominent philanthropist, donated a magnificent collection of nearly 70 pieces of tribal Turkomen jewelry to The Ringling. Since that time, the collection has been exhibited in the Searing Wing of the Museum of Art and has been loaned to numerous museums, including the Museum of Arts & Sciences, Daytona Beach, FL and the Museum of Fine Arts, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL. Beginning in February 2016, this rare and distinctive collection of folk jewelry will be on permanent display in The Ringling’s new Center for Asian Art in the Dr. Helga Wall-Apelt Gallery of Asian Art.

Mr. Wilberding spent 30 years living abroad, including over five years in Saudi Arabia. He and his late wife Ann (known as Stevie) acquired the Turkomen works directly from tribal traders, particularly Tekke Turkomen people, who traveled from Afghanistan to the large trading community in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

“I have lived in a lot of interesting places, and we liked to collect art and artifacts from wherever we were,” said Mr. Wilberding. “We knew on an instinctual level that the jewelry was significant because of the design and craftsmanship it exhibited but, at the time we were collecting in the mid-1980s, we did not know exactly why. We did realize, however, that the pieces echo a strong cultural tradition while offering spectacular visual richness.”

The jewelry—earrings, tiaras, bracelets, and large breastplates—was everyday attire for the women of these semi-nomadic tribespeople and also an indicator of wealth. “The gift of this incredible and singular collection is a testament to Steve Wilberding’s long-standing support of The Ringling, and allows the Museum to present an even more expansive view of Asian art,” said The Ringling’s Executive Director Steven High.

“I encourage anyone approaching these objects for the first time to take the opportunity to look closely and rely on your own individual response before trying to decipher the iconography. There is such a vitality to the pieces, with

For information on ways you can support Asian art at The Ringling, please contact Anna E. von Gehr, Senior Director for Development at 941.359.5700 x5804 or anna.vongehr@ringling.fsu.edu simple yet elegant shapes and patterns that reflect Islamic architecture and calligraphy as well as vernacular forms,” said Mr. Wilberding.

“The Ringling is a jewel in Sarasota’s cultural crown,” he continued. “I am excited to showcase this unique collection at The Ringling and provide a window into a corner of the world that is little understood.” Mr. Wilberding resides in Nokomis with his wife, Teri Hansen. They both are actively involved with The Ringling and look forward to the opening of the new Center for Asian Art.

Dean and Patty Miller

When Dean and Patty Miller first encountered Zhu Wei’s work over dinner one evening at the Raffles Hotel in Singapore in the mid-1990s, they were thoroughly intrigued and immediately inquired about the artist. Within a few days, the couple became official patrons of his work, having convinced the gallery owner, who represented the popular artist and was out of inventory, to sell them his own painting by Zhu Wei. Over the years the Millers became friends with Zhu Wei, who is based in Beijing, and purchased several additional pieces by the artist.

“What is so compelling and provocative about Zhu Wei’s imagery is his merging of traditional materials—primarily ink on paper— with contemporary style and subject matter,” said Mr. Miller. “His project represents a fascinating intersection of Western and Eastern aesthetics and concerns. We really got hooked.”

During the course of their 15 years of living in Asia—primarily Singapore and Tokyo—the Millers raised a family and immersed themselves in the visual culture of the region. In addition to works by Zhu Wei, they collected an eclectic array of art and antiques from China, Japan, and Southeast Asia, including Buddhist objects.

The Millers, who relocated to Sarasota from Manhattan, have chosen to lend The Ringling the most recent painting, by Zhu Wei, that they purchased for their collection—a monumental composition measuring approximately 8 x 10 feet. The painting will reside on long-term loan among The Ringling’s growing modern and contemporary collection in the new Center for Asian Art in the Dr. Helga Wall-Apelt Gallery of Asian Art.

“The Ringling is profoundly grateful to the Millers for this generous loan that provides audiences with important access to a fresh and captivating voice in contemporary Asian art,” said The Ringling’s Executive Director Steven High.

“We adore The Ringling and were thrilled to learn about the Museum’s plans for the Center for Asian Art,” Mrs. Miller said. “We look forward to sharing this painting—our favorite piece— and allow others to fall in love with and enjoy Zhu Wei’s work, just as we have, in this beautiful new space.”