The Ringling Magazine | May – September 2017

The Ringling’s collections are always evolving in exciting and vibrant new ways while honoring the spirit and tradition of the organization and its founders. As we continue developing our collections, and on the heels of celebrating the new Center for Asian Art in the Dr. Helga Wall-Apelt Gallery of Asian Art, it is only natural that The Ringling would leverage its heritage as an important generator and presenter of contemporary art.

The Art of Our Time initiative, launched five years ago, is designed to re-energize The Ringling’s engagement with the incredible diversity of contemporary practices, beyond traditional categories, in play around the world. Built on The Ringling’s legacy of collecting and exhibiting contemporary art and previous directors’ farsighted leadership in the field, it is a key component of who we are and bridges everything we do.

To celebrate the fifth anniversary of the Art of Our Time, Ringling supporters Keith and Linda Monda offered a visionary gift to enhance contemporary programming and name a new gallery for contemporary projects. This new space will enable The Ringling to explore categories of work that we simply have not been properly equipped to present in the past. Also this fall, for the first time, gallery space will be permanently dedicated to, and installed with, selections of 20th- and 21st-century art from The Ringling’s permanent collection.

Thanks to John Ringling’s endowment, we have been able to acquire choice works of art from recent exhibitions, allowing us to shape a contemporary collection that is intimately connected to our exhibition history. Additionally, The Ringling has been the fortunate recipient of generous gifts of studio glass, which will be showcased in the new Kotler-Coville Glass Pavilion that is scheduled to open next year.

This is a watershed moment for The Ringling as our expanding modern and contemporary collections, exhibitions, and performances come into alignment with our facilities and resources. We have been an active supporter of contemporary art across genres through the commissioning of new work, a budding onsite residency program, thoughtful collections growth, and enhanced public programs. Our guiding principle is to provide visitors with an extraordinary experience exploring history, architecture, art, circus, and performance. We hope you will continue to enjoy visiting The Ringling.

5401 Bay Shore Road Sarasota, FL 34243 941.359.5700 ringling.org

Accredited by the American Alliance of Museums

GOVERNOR

The Honorable Rick Scott

FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY

John E. Thrasher President

Dr. Sally E. McRorie Provost

Peter Weishar

Dean, College of Fine Arts

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Steven High

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Michael E. Urette, Chair

Paul G. Hudson, Vice Chair

Nancy J. Parrish, Treasurer

Frances D. Fergusson, Secretary

Madeleine H. Berman

Thomas J. Charters

Daniel J. Denton

Rebecca Donelson

George R. Ellis

Kenneth J. Feld

Darrel E. Flanel

Priscilla M. Greenfield

Patrick J. Hennigan

Jeffrey R. Hotchkiss

Dorothy C. Jenkins

Thomas W. Jennings Jr.

Patricia R. Lombard

Thomas B. Luzier

Michael R. Pender Jr.

Michéle D. Redwine

Margaret A. Rolando

Ina L. Schnell

Judith F. Shank

Jane Skogstad

Howard C. Tibbals

James B. Tollerton

Clifford L. Walters III

Larry A. Wickless

Steven High Executive Director

EX-OFFICIO BOARD MEMBERS

Roberta J. Schaumleffel, Chair, Volunteer Services Advisory Council

Barbara A. Swan, Chair, Docent Advisory Council

ISSN 2165-4085

ensemble

blackbird, photo by Saverio Truglia.

Gajin Fujita (American, born 1972), Sky High, 2007. Gold leaf, arcylic, spray paint, paint marker, Mean Streak on Wood panel, 16 x 48 inches. Museum purchase, 2011.

THE RINGLING MARKS FIVE-YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF ART OF OUR TIME

The Ringling celebrates the five-year anniversary of its vibrant and wide-ranging Art of Our Time initiative to present and commission new works by contemporary artists in the visual and performance fields. The Ringling’s Art of Our Time program is designed to build a fertile environment for artistic inquiry, experimentation, and collaboration; provide a public platform for new works by emerging and mid-career artists; and develop meaningful relationships between artists and audiences that provide a fresh perspective on our shared experiences and diverse world views.

MAJOR GIFT AND NEW PERMANENT GALLERIES HONOR THE OCCASION

initiative was conceived to fulfill this promise by supporting contemporary artists through its budding residency program as well as performances and exhibitions that transform audience expectations. “The Ringling is one of those rare places where the performance and visual arts converge, where genres are interconnected, and new original work is enabled,” said Dr. Matthew McLendon, Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art. “Through the Art of Our Time, we are establishing The Ringling and Sarasota as a major player in global, multidisciplinary cultural pursuits.”

Dwight Currie, Curator of Performance, adds, “The Art of Our Time allows The Ringling to present timebased and durational art in a way that reframes the art of the past and brings our historic collections to life in new ways.”

At the core of The Ringling’s mission is the promise to serve as a powerful generator of creative ideas and innovative partnerships. The Art of Our Time

The Ringling International Arts Festival (RIAF)— which last fall celebrated its seventh season in the Historic Asolo Theater—and Joseph’s Coat,

a signature Skyspace by internationally-renowned artist James Turrell unveiled in 2011, exemplify The Ringling’s expanded commitment to contemporary visual and performance art. The Ringling’s Art of Our Time initiative was launched in order to revitalize a program of contemporary art and performance that began in the 1940s under the leadership of A. Everett “Chick” Austin Jr., The Ringling’s first director.

Earlier this year Keith Monda and his wife, Linda, announced a major gift of $500,000 to support The Ringling’s Art of Our Time programming and name a new gallery of contemporary art. The Keith D. and Linda L. Monda Gallery of Contemporary Art, a prominent 2,400-square-foot space in the Museum of Art, will showcase exciting new projects by living artists. A multisensory site-specific installation by American artist Anne Patterson will inaugurate the Monda Gallery this fall. Steven High adds, “This generous gift from Keith and Linda Monda is a profound investment in, and endorsement of, contemporary art at The Ringling, reflecting our institutional heritage and identity."

“Linda and I are thrilled to be able to make this commitment to support The Ringling’s significant Art of Our Time initiative,” said Keith Monda, “From exhibitions to performance, contemporary discourse has become ever more integral to The Ringling’s programmatic reputation for thoughtful risk-taking and remarkable discoveries. We are especially pleased to be able to impact young people through this gift to assist in fostering a lively and enriching environment at The Ringling that allows them to experience the unexpected and find inspiration and motivation through contemporary art and culture.”

The Monda Gallery, an intentionally raw and flexible space located in the West Wing of the Museum of Art, is one of six spaces that combined will total more than 9,500 square feet of gallery space at The Ringling devoted to the display of 20th-and 21st-century works of art. This marks the first time that The Ringling will present modern and contemporary art on such a broad scale and on a permanent ongoing basis.

“The Monda Gallery is expressly designed to offer a blank slate for today’s most creative visual and time-based practitioners,” said McLendon. “This extraordinary gift

Photos, left to right Sofia Maldonado, ConcreteJungleDivas, 2010, courtesy of Magnan Metz Gallery, New York; Sanford Biggers, Codex: Quilt #12 (from the Constellation Series) (detail), 2012, repurposed quilt, fabric treated acrylic, spray paint, cotton fabric, photo by Giovanni Lunardi, all work copyright Sanford Biggers, 2012; Codex (installation, detail), The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art, photo by Giovanni Lunardi, all work copyright Sanford Biggers, 2012. 2012

from the Mondas is a tremendous affirmation of our multiyear strategy to increase The Ringling’s engagement with contemporary voices. I am so gratified that many more genre-defying 21st-century artists, often overlooked and outside the mainstream, will now have an even broader platform.”

In addition to the Monda Gallery, four prominent galleries in the Ulla R. and Arthur F. Searing Wing, dedicated to modern and contemporary art, will open this fall. The Kotler-Coville Glass Pavilion will join these new spaces in the fall of 2017.

The Kotler-Coville Glass Pavilion will serve as a key site for experiencing the Art of Our Time, further strengthening The Ringling’s identity as a significant presenter of cross-

disciplinary time-based and visual art. In addition to showcasing its stunning collection of American and European studio art glass, the Kotler-Coville Glass Pavilion will provide many essential functions that will enhance the captivating contemporary performance series in the Historic Asolo Theater: a new dedicated entrance and reception areas for theater audiences and expanded rehearsal space and accommodations for the performing artists.

The Mondas, Kotlers, and Covilles join Gulf Coast Community Foundation, which has served as the lead sponsor of Art of Our Time for the past four years, in supporting the Museum’s efforts in bringing challenging contemporary visual and performance art to the community. “Ensuring vibrant, high-quality arts is critical to keeping our region competitive and continuing to welcome people of all ages. The Ringling's Art of Our Time program really sets Sarasota apart, and it rewards those of us who live here,” said Gulf Coast Community Foundation President and CEO Mark Pritchett.

As a dynamic art museum built on a legacy of global cultural history, The Ringling is dedicated to collecting, exhibiting, and engaging with the art of our time through visual arts, performance, research, and educational programs. Steven High adds, “The community can now be assured that there is a prominent and permanent place for world-class modern and contemporary art here at The Ringling. We are happy to invite the community to visit us often and enjoy the largest collection of visual and performance art in our region.”

2013

2014

The Ringling seeks to raise $5 million over the next five years to support Art of Our Time programming. If you would like to become involved in ensuring the long-term success of this important initiative, please contact: Anna von Gehr

Senior Director for Development

941-359-5700 x 5804 or anna.vongehr@ringling.fsu.edu

Photos, left to right: Kate Weare Company, photo by Keira Heu-Jwyn Chang / Garden. R. Luke Dubois, Fashionably Late for the Relationship, 2007-08. Beth Lipman (American), Sideboard with Blue China, 2013. Glass, wood, paint, glue, light, 118 x 302 x 23 in. Museum Purchase with funds from Daniel J. Denton. Trenton Doyle Hancock, Knowledge From Samantha, 2015. Acrylic and mixed media on canvas. 76.2 x 106.7 cm. Image courtesy of artist and James Cohan Gallery. Vanessa German (American, born 1976), Just Do It, 2014. Mixed media assemblage, 69 3/4 × 15 × 24 1/2 in. (177.2 × 38.1 × 62.2 cm). Photo by Giovanni Lunardi.

Photo by Justin Skarowski

Photo courtesy of artist

Photo by Steve Ullathorne

Photo by Steph Mackinnon

Photo by Juho Rahijärvi

Photo by Saverio Truglia

Photo by Jamie Kraus

UP CLOSE: RINGLING MEMBER JOHN FISHER

With nearly 18 years and more than 17,000 hours of volunteering under his belt—more accumulated hours by far than any other volunteer at The Ringling—John Fisher is an essential member of The Ringling family and has a wealth of institutional memory.

John, who moved to Sarasota in 1996 after 34 years in customer service at Kansas City Power and Light, became a member of The Ringling in 1997 and first began volunteering in 1998 as a tram driver. The bulk of his volunteering has been serving as a docent and assisting with various projects in Membership.

“Everything was a lot different at The Ringling when I started,” said John. “It has been particularly exciting to witness the growth, the new construction, and the updating of the grounds over the years.”

“People have asked what I most enjoy about my volunteering at The Ringling, and without question it is engaging with the delightful people I encounter—my fellow volunteers, the dedicated staff, and of course the visitors,” shared John.

“John is one of the most supremely dedicated volunteers we have ever had at The Ringling,” said Hollie Corbitt, Volunteer Program Coordinator. “He is also unique in that he is one of the few docents who has trained to conduct tours through multiple venues, which include the Circus Museum, the Museum of Art, and Ca' d’Zan.”

As a result of John’s remarkable service at The Ringling, he has been the recipient of the outstanding volunteer award from the Florida Association of Museums and has been recognized for excellence in customer service by the Visit Sarasota County Convention and Visitors Bureau.

“One of my most memorable experiences was when a gentleman on one of my tours shared that he didn’t like or understand art before his visit but that he changed his mind as a result of the tour and that he would definitely be back,” said John. “That was tremendously gratifying.”

A SEASON FOR OUR MEMBERS

Make your plans to experience these Member-exclusive events that highlight The Ringling’s special exhibitions, dynamic performances, and stimulating programs.

CIRCLE EVENTS

MAY 3, 9:30 – 10:30 AM

COFFEE AND CONVERSATION

WITH EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR STEVEN HIGH

Join us for an informal update on the latest happenings at The Ringling, with a special preview of the programming for 2017.

JUNE 15, 5:30 – 9:00 PM

CIRCLE EXHIBITION PREVIEW AND DINNER

PHANTOM BODIES: THE HUMAN AURA IN ART

Dr. Matthew McLendon, The Ringling’s Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art, joins Circle Members for this preview of this exceptional exhibition of paintings, photography, videos, sculpture, and installations by leading contemporary artists.

Dinner will follow in Muse at The Ringling.

MEMBER EVENTS

JUNE 16, 5:00 - 7:00 PM

MEMBERS PREVIEW

PHANTOM BODIES: THE HUMAN AURA IN ART

Dr. Matthew McLendon, The Ringling’s Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art, will provide an overview of this exceptional exhibition of paintings, photography, videos, sculpture, and installations by leading contemporary artists.

JOHN RINGLING'S 150TH BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION

SAVE THE DATE!

ALL MEMBERS INVITED

MAY 31, 5:30 – 7:00 PM

$40 per person

Join the Board of Directors of The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art Foundation in a celebration of John Ringling’s 150th birthday.

Details to come

CELEBRATING THE CENTER FOR ASIAN ART

Please join us for the grand opening of The Ringling’s newest addition to its storied campus. The Center for Asian Art in the Dr. Helga Wall-Apelt Gallery of Asian Art fosters the exploration of historical and contemporary Asian art through exhibitions, research, and programs, while celebrating the breadth and depth of Asian art and culture.

The 25,000-square-foot Center for Asian Art includes galleries dedicated to rotating installations of The Ringling’s Asian art holdings, a 125-seat lecture hall, an object and print study room, and open storage space to increase public access to the collections.

“The new Center for Asian Art represents The Ringling’s long-term investment in the arts of Asia. We look forward to sharing with our supportive community of visitors, donors, collectors, our wonderful Friends of Asian Art group, students, scholars, and museums worldwide what this robust and exciting resource will make possible today and in the future,“ said Steven High.

On May 15, through engaging performances, storytelling, art-making activities, games, demonstrations, and gallery guides, visitors of all ages can experience the deep cultural traditions and vibrant contemporary directions of one of the most diverse and exhilarating regions in the world. In addition, a variety of foods will offer a culinary tour of Asia.

Among the highlights of the day will be a scavenger hunt in the galleries, a performance of Taiko Japanese drummers, a pan-Asian martial arts demonstration, a family yoga workshop, a kimono presentation, and a live exhibit of silkworms.

Building on relationships with Asian cultural organizations cultivated over many years of presenting Asian-themed exhibitions, programs, and performances, the festival creates additional opportunities to connect with new audiences and introduce visitors to The Ringling’s commitment to Asian art.

“We look forward to inaugurating this significant new resource with everyone in the Gulf Coast communities,” said Maureen Zaremba, Curator of Education. “The educational opportunities and increased public engagement with the arts and cultures of Asia afforded by the new Center are truly spectacular.”

Support for the community festival is provided by:

Saks Fifth Avenue • Bank of America

SUMMER CIRCUS SPECTACULAR celebrates 10 YEARS

IN THE HISTORIC ASOLO THEATER

Step right in! The most spectacular summer entertainment in Sarasota, presented in partnership with The Circus Arts Conservatory, celebrates a decade in The Ringling’s Historic Asolo Theater. This incredible theatrical production of circus artistry dazzles and amazes audiences of all ages every year, providing thrilling, hilarious, and affordable family entertainment. From jugglers to clowns, acrobats to aerialists, the circus comes alive in a whole new way when presented onstage.

“Our wonderful collaboration with The Circus Arts Conservatory allows us to honor the rich circus tradition of Sarasota while engaging the marvelous stars of today who we can call our own,” said Deborah Walk, Assistant Director, Legacy & Circus. “The combination of a modern circus in a historic theater is a handshake across time."

Founded in 1997 by internationally-acclaimed circus artists Pedro Reis and Dolly Jacobs-Reis, The Circus Arts Conservatory presents an annual one-ring, five-star European-style big top and extensive year-round training and community outreach programs, in addition to the performances at The Ringling.

“Staging world-class circus performances in the magnificent Historic Asolo Theater is as special for the

artists as it is for the audience,” said Reis. “We always look forward to entertaining young and old, new and seasoned circus-goers at the Summer Circus.”

“The Summer Circus Spectacular in the Historic Asolo Theater has grown dramatically every year, from three weeks and 9,000 attendees in the first year, to seven weeks and 19,000 seats sold last year,” said Dwight Currie, Curator of Performance at The Ringling. “Among the attendees are hundreds of camp kids. For many of them this is their first visit to a museum and first circus experience.”

The one-hour performances are designed as an introduction to the wonders of the circus. Every year has a different cast, so if you’ve seen it once, you haven’t seen it all!

Mr. Robb, 2013

Elayne Kramer, 2012

Dancing Gauchos, 2010 Alvarez Family, 2015

Dolly Jacobs, 2007-2016

REIMAGINING THE MUSEUM

The reinstallation and reinterpretation of The Ringling’s exceptional collections of European art in the original 21 galleries in the Museum of Art has been a major focus of the work of Dr. Virginia Brilliant, Ulla R. Searing Curator of Collections, for the last two years, and represents a new and transformative vision for the Museum of Art.

“The current arrangement, which is based chronologically and has not been revised since the 1980s, does not convey to visitors what is special about our holdings,” said Steven High. “By reimagining the Museum of Art’s entire suite of galleries, we will bring John Ringling’s vision into the 21st century and enhance the visitor experience for generations to come.”

When John Ringling died in 1936, he stipulated that his collection not be sold but otherwise granted an enormous amount of freedom, hoping and expecting that his Sarasota legacy would grow and change.

With this in mind, Brilliant, together with former Metropolitan Museum of Art designer Jeff Daly, has planned an ambitious scheme, working from the premise that meaningful encounters with individual works of art should be the centerpiece of the visitor experience, and that the Museum of Art should be welcoming to visitors and present its collections in accessible and engaging ways. The two surveyed recent successful museum installations of similar material—including the Wallace Collection, Metropolitan Museum, Yale University Art Gallery, and the Rijksmuseum— particularly where modern design principles have been brought to historic buildings and collections. “This reinstallation project represents an entirely

OF ART’S

GALLERIES

new vision for the Museum of Art, one designed with visitor engagement in mind,” said Brilliant. “The reinstalled galleries will present audiences with key art historical themes, not only through the selection and arrangement of the works themselves, but also by using the most modern methods and materials of museum design.”

Brilliant’s first task was to take a critical look at the collection. Though The Ringling’s European painting collection is not comprehensive, it does boast great depth in particular areas.

So it made sense to begin reorganizing the collection with an eye toward emphasizing its greatest areas of strength. For example, the magnificent collection of Italian Renaissance altarpieces will have its own gallery, which will evoke the nave of a church. The Ringling’s phenomenal collection of Italian Baroque paintings will be divided between the two distinct strands of this period—the dramatic naturalism of Caravaggio and his acolytes and the harmonious, monumental classicism of the Carracci and their followers—and will include works of art created in Italy but often by French, Dutch, or Flemish artists. Other galleries will be organized thematically, for example, to showcase The Ringling’s still life paintings, with the intent that each will be its own “focus show.”

The reinstallation also offers an opportunity to show collections that aren’t currently on view. The Ringling’s holdings of Cypriot antiquities—more than 2,000 pieces in total—are of great importance and third in size among American collections. In the new installation this collection will have its own dedicated gallery.

The reinstallation project also endeavors to show works of art to best advantage and situate them in appropriate and beautiful contexts through much improved lighting, complementary wall colors, modern casework, and graphics. Through subtle signals and cues, each gallery will guide visitors to the two or three objects that should not be missed. New object labels are a critical piece of the reinstallation project and will provide new information about the works in the galleries to further engage and educate visitors.

To support this significant project, please contact:

Anna von Gehr Senior Director for Development 941-359-5700 x 5804 or anna.vongehr@ringling.fsu.edu

Left: Gallery 8 after reinstallation. Below: Astor Créme Salon after reinstallation.

MARLOW COOK A DEDICATED AND PASSIONATE LEADER

Marlow Cook worked passionately and tirelessly to serve his community and country throughout his life. Cook dedicated his life’s work to public service and his illustrious career included serving in the Navy, in the Kentucky House of Representatives, as the County Judge of Jefferson County, as a United States Senator, and as an international corporate lawyer in Washington, D.C. During his six years in the United States Senate, he championed the Equal Rights Amendment and successfully led the confirmation of two Supreme Court justices.

From 1997 to 2009 he brought his strong determination as well as his love of the arts to the Board of The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art Foundation, holding the positions of Treasurer, Vice Chair, and Chair. Known as a man of principle, generosity and kindness, The Ringling’s staff members fondly recall Cook’s sense of humor and warmth, noting that he would sometimes “get the most mischievous glint in his eye when he had a new idea.”

Cook used his considerable talents to help facilitate the partnership between The Ringling and Florida State University in 2000. Steven High commented that "My conversations with Marlow were always inspiring and without a doubt his leadership and relationship-building skills were the principal force

behind restoring The Ringling. Marlow's work was instrumental in building its financial position and securing the resources needed for the necessary improvements and restoration, helping to put The Ringling on the path to what it is today.”

“When we got into negotiations as to which institution was the appropriate partner for the Museum, Marlow was thrust into the middle of it all. He worked diligently to ensure that the entire negotiation process was handled properly by both sides and proceeded smoothly,” said Robert Blalock, who served on the Board of Directors with Cook and for whom the The Ringling’s Johnson-Blalock Education Center is named. “His tireless spirit and tremendous energy is what made it possible and I can honestly say that without Marlow’s wonderful effort, the partnership would not have happened.”

Cook supported and believed in all aspects of The Ringling. A man of great character and conviction, his impact on The Ringling will undoubtedly be felt and appreciated for many future generations.

Marlow and Nancy Cook

INSIDER ACCESS TO THE ARTS IN AMERICA’S HEARTLAND

Join fellow art and culture enthusiasts on an exclusive Members-only trip September 21-25 to America’s heartland. A small group will experience the world-class art, stunning landscapes, and fantastic architecture found in Bentonville, Arkansas and Kansas City, Missouri.

The journey begins at the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, which features works by leading artists from the colonial era to present day. The architecturally-elegant building, designed by renowned architect Moshe Safdie, unites the beauty of nature and the power of art. Christopher Jones, Assistant Curator of Exhibitions at The Ringling, will accompany the group on a private tour of the museum and grounds.

After a day spent touring the museum and grounds, guests will travel on to Kansas City. The morning of September 23rd begins with a tour of the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, which is internationally recognized as one of the finest general art museums in the country, boasting a collection of more than 35,000 works. The day continues at the Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art where guests will have a chance to view a premier collection of emerging and established artists.

The last full day includes a visit to the Kauffmann Center for the Performing Arts. The afternoon is spent at leisure, though options abound, including the Plaza Art Fair. Now in its 85th year, the fair showcases more than 200 artists and designers from across the country and has become a top-ranked art event.

Before returning home, guests will visit the Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art, where they will be greeted by Louise Bourgeois’ 11-foot sculpture of a spider. Inside the museum, more iconic examples of modern and contemporary work await. The final venue is the house and studio of Thomas Hart Benton, whose artwork will have been seen in several museums during the trip.

You will not want to miss this exciting trip, providing insider access to numerous culturally-significant institutions. To keep the group intimate and provide the highest level of service, space is limited.

RESERVATIONS

212.514.8921 or trips@arrangementsabroad.com

MEMBERS WILL EXPERIENCE NOT ONLY THE BEST IN THE ARTS BUT ALSO IN LODGING AND DINING.

Accommodations in Bentonville are at the 21c Museum Hotel, which was named one of the best hotels in the country by Condé Nast Traveler. Members will be treated to a special lunch at Crystal Bridges’ critically-acclaimed Eleven.

In Kansas City guests will stay at The Raphael, voted one of the best hotels in the world by readers of Travel & Leisure, who also proclaimed Kansas City to be the third best city in the country for foodies.

View from gallery bridge to north lawn with Lowell’s Ocean, steel sculpture by Mark di Suvero; photography by Timothy Hursley. Courtesy of Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, Bentonville, Arkansas.