SPECIAL SECTION
I N T R O D U C T I O N
T O
MUSUMS S
trictly speaking, a museum is a place dedicated to the muses — the nine (female) divinities of the arts, history, science, and literature who were revered by the ancient Greeks. Though most of us don’t worship those goddesses anymore, the subjects they symbolized live on and are still brought to life daily in the vast array of museums found all over the world. Like so many good things, museums emerged during the Italian Renaissance, specifically in 1471, when Pope Sixtus IV opened the Capitoline Museums in Rome to show off the ancient sculptures he owned. His successor Julius II launched what we know as the Vatican Museums in 1506, but it must be noted that only invited guests — usually of the higher and artistic classes — could enter such venues until the Enlightenment of the late 18th century. That’s when new institutions such as London’s British Museum (opened 1759), Florence’s Uffizi Gallery (1769), and Paris’s Louvre (1793) began permitting less privileged people to come have a look. Chartered by the U.S. Congress in 1846, the Smithsonian Institution inherited that democratic notion thanks largely to its benefactor, James Smithson (1765–1829), a British scientist who never actually visited America. Having grown up in Washington, D.C., I was fortunate to visit the Smithsonian and the capital’s other great museums from a very young age. They have always felt like places to relax and learn in safe, comfortable settings; the exhibits are high in quality and there is no pressure to buy anything, except perhaps a snack or souvenir. What no one could have predicted during my boyhood, however, was how popular museums would become; the American Alliance of Museums reports that 850 million visits now occur annually. That statistic is astonishing, yet it does not capture how central museums have become in our civic life; they are no longer just places to learn, but also places to gather, celebrate, mourn, and have fun. That accessibility is key: the more often we bring our kids to museums to — say — attend a festival, the more likely they are to return as adults to enjoy the collections and exhibitions inside. And speaking of collections, museums deserve enormous credit for working hard to catalogue and post their collections online; they hold these treasures on behalf of the public, and now we have an ever-clearer idea of what they are. This section of Fine Art Connoisseur — our second annual homage to museums — highlights the tremendous quality and public-spiritedness of art museums across North America. We thank our museum colleagues for all they do on the public’s behalf, and we wish them much continued success. Finally, if you know of a museum that should be included in the future, please let us know. We are always grateful for your feedback.
Peter Trippi, Editor-in-Chief, Fine Art Connoisseur
F I N E A R T C O N N O I S S E U R · C O M
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VISIT THE WORLD’S PREMIER
John Fery (American, born Austria, 1859 – 1934), Jackson Lake and the Tetons—detail, c. 1900. Oil on canvas. 18 x 30 inches. JKM Collection®, National Museum of Wildlife Art.
Inspiring Appreciation Of Humanity’s Relationship With Nature Full Restaurant with Views – of the National Elk Refuge
L o c a t e d 2 . 5 m i l e s f r o m t h e To w n o f J a c k s o n
www.WildlifeAr t.or g | 2820 Rungius Road, Jack son, Wyoming FAC_PA_FP Template.indd 1
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Charles M. Russell, Buffalo Hunt [NO. 7], 1895, oil, 21 ⅞ x 34 ⅜ inches
The Bison: American Icon, Heart of Plains Indian Culture
The Russell Exhibition FEBRUARY 16MARCH 15, 2018
The Bison: American Icon, Heart of Plains Indian Culture features more than 1,000 Northern Plains Indian artifacts, such as clothing, regalia, tools, weapons, and works of art highlighting the Northern Plains Indian culture. This comprehensive exhibition tells the story about the historical and cultural role of the bison; for all people in the Northern Plains, between 1800 and 2008. It also expresses the ways in which this legendary animal has emerged as an American cultural icon.
All pieces that will sell at the First Strike Auction and The Russell Live Auction will be on display at the museum as a temporary exhibition to give collectors and art lovers the opportunity of an up-close look.
Charles M. Russell Collection
Charles M. Russell: The Women in His Life and Art will examine Russell’s life and work in the context of the women who encouraged his creativity and helped shape his career. Many of the women closest to him played a role of muse, inflecting his art in their capacity as models, tastemakers, and partners in dreaming. The exhibition features 60 works in oil, watercolor, pen and ink and bronze by Charles Russell that span the length of his career from 1890 to 1926, and several additional works by notable artists who influenced his depictions of women.
The C.M. Russell Museum holds hundreds of paintings, sculptures, drawings, and illustrations that Charlie Russell (1864–1926) created, from childhood to the end of his life. His work is displayed in five galleries, the arrangement of the art shows how Charlie's artistry evolved with time, as well as to celebrate the culture of the American West. Charlie’s subjects were based on Western history, his personal experiences, reflecting themes of a cowboy life, Northern Plains Indian life, and wildlife.
Charles M. Russell: The Women in His Life and Art MAY 18SEPTEMBER 30, 2018
C.M. Russell Museum | 400 13 th Street North | Great Falls, Montana | (406) 7271939 | cmrussell.org
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S A L M AG U N D I A C e n t e r f o r A m e r i c a n A r t f o r 1 4 7 Ye a r s
EXHIBITIONS | WORLD RENOWNED SPEAKERS | ART AUCTIONS MONOTYPE EVENTS | INTERNATIONAL REACH | AMERICAN MASTERS
Salmagundi artists and patrons have shaped the history of American art since 1871. Join us as we continue to shape the art of the 21st Century. Salmagundi Club 47 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10003 | (212) 255-7740 | www.salmagundi.org
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ON VIEW THROUGH APRIL 1, 2018 For the first time, paintings by Georgia O’Keeffe are shown with photographs and selections from her carefully curated wardrobe, revealing her entire life as a work of art.
#PEMOKeeffe
161 Essex St. | Salem, MA pem.org
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This exhibition is organized by the Brooklyn Museum with guest curator Wanda M. Corn, Robert and Ruth Halperin Professor Emerita in Art History, Stanford University, and made possible by the National Endowment for the Arts. Carolyn and Peter S. Lynch and The Lynch Foundation, Leslie and Angus Littlejohn, Fay, Susan and Appy Chandler, and Mr. and Mrs. J. Taylor Crandall provided generous support. The East India Marine Associates of the Peabody Essex Museum provided valuable support. Tony Vaccaro, Georgia O’Keefe with “Pelvis Series, Red with Yellow” and the desert (detail), 1960. Chromogenic print. Georgia O’Keeffe Museum. Courtesy of Tony Vaccaro studio.
Media partners Promotional partner
Boston Fashion Week/School of Fashion, Boston
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The Surging, Thundering Herd: Vintage Bison Engravings April 5 – June 16, 2018
Exhibition schedule 2018
European artists’ engravings of bison, from 1758 to 1910, include prominent frontier painters Frederic Remington, George Catlin. MAGDA exhibit.
National Park Paintings June 7 – August 4, 2018 FITZ Maurice on a quest to paint the wonders of America’s National Parks. Oil paintings and charcoal drawings from 35 Parks.
Plein Air Paint Out 2018: Glacier June 26 – July 28, 2018 Juried artists paint the iconic landscape of Glacier National Park in this annual plein air event.
Party and Sale: June 23.
Above: Jill Carver , Autumn Celebration, oil Background Image: Brent Cotton , His Favorite Place, oil
Two Sides to Every Story
A Timeless Legacy: Peace Park 2018
August 2 – November 3, 2018
August 14 – December 1, 2018 Acclaimed artists from U.S. and Canada celebrating Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park, part of Glacier’s artistic legacy since 1932.
Art event/Sale: August 11
Beyond Craft: The Art of Ceramics February 15 – April 7, 2018 25 invited Ceramic Masters of Montana create works with artistic meaning, from whimsical to thoughtful social commentary.
Resilience: An Exhibition of Strength and Reverence
Painters Gini Ogle and Francesca Droll depict two different views of the same scenes in the Bob Marshall Wilderness of Montana.
Magical: A Collection of Ordinary Miracles from Northwest Montana December 6, 2018 – February 23, 2019 Photographer Brenda Ahearn’s personal and Daily Inter Lake works, highlighting moments and stories that connect the community through traditional journalism.
April 12 – June 2, 2018 Creative Indigenous Collective artists’ unique perspective through paintings, fashion and film, focusing on the resilience of their cultures through time.
Hockaday Museum of Art Artistic Gateway to Glacier National Park
Above: FITZ Maurice, GLACIER National Park, oil Right: Ben Pease, High Chief, mixed media
302 2nd Ave. East, Kalispell, Montana 59901 | 406.755.5268 | hockadaymuseum.org facebook.com/hockadaymuseum | Twitter: @hockadaymuseum
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From fine art, pop culture and Halls of Fame to Native American artifacts, historical cowboy gear, shopping and dining,
the Museum tells America’s story as it unfolds across the West.
1700 Northeast 63rd Street Oklahoma City, OK (405) 478-2250 nationalcowboymuseum.org
Museum Partners Devon Energy Corp. E.L. & Thelma Gaylord Foundation
Unlocking the Vault: Mysteries and Marvels of the Museum February 9 – May 13, 2018 This exhibition presents a variety of items that have seldom been “out of the vault,” and gives the visitor a unique look at why, what, and how museums collect. Do You See What I See? Painted Conversations by Theodore Waddell February 9 – May 13, 2018 This exhibition will redirect the visitor’s attention to the importance of what you do not see rather than what you do see on the canvas, and the opportunity to see something different in the same painting each time it is viewed. In the Principle’s Office: Tom Ryan the Art Student April 7 – November 11, 2018 Learn the principles of art as Tom Ryan did; the meaning of snow on the shoulders; the difference between hues and values; the importance of anatomy; and the draftsmanship precision of perspective in this unique exhibition. 20th Century Masters August 24, 2018 – January 6, 2019 Traces the art and evolution of many of the most well-known and highly accomplished artists from the twentieth century.
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Prix de West Invitational Art Exhibition & Sale June 8 - 9, 2018 The National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum hosts a prestigious invitational art exhibition of more than 300 Western paintings and sculpture by the finest contemporary Western artists in the nation with art seminars, receptions, and awards. The exhibiting artists bring a diversity of styles to this significant art exhibition and sale. Works range from historical pieces that reflect the early days of the West, to more contemporary and impressionistic works of art. Landscapes, wildlife, and illustrative scenes are always highlighted in the exhibition. This exhibition is organized by the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum. Reservations for most Opening Weekend events are required; call (405) 478-2250 ext. 219 or visit nationalcowboymuseum.org/prixdewest. Cowboy Crossings Opening Weekend October 4 – 6, 2018 In one of the most significant events to impact the fine art world, the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum hosts the Opening Weekend event and sale for two outstanding exhibitions. The Traditional Cowboy Arts Association (TCAA) showcases the best of saddlemaking, bit and spur making, silversmithing, and rawhide braiding; while the Cowboy Artists of America (CAA) features fine art from members who celebrate the West through painting, drawing, and sculpture.
Galleries open to the public October 6. The TCAA exhibition is on view through January 6, 2019 and the CAA exhibition is on view through November 25, 2018. Reservations for most Opening Weekend events are required; call (405) 4782250 ext. 219 or visit nationalcowboymuseum. org/cowboycrossings. Small Works, Great Wonders November 9, 2018 Small Works, Great Wonders® features a fusion of traditional and contemporary paintings and sculptures at affordable prices. On opening night, enjoy cocktails with more than 100 of the nation’s finest artists, including many from the prestigious Prix de West. Door prizes, cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, and live music paired with beautiful works of art make for a truly special evening. During this unique sales exhibition, purchasers may leave with art in hand at the end of the night. Unsold art will remain on display and available for purchase through November 25, 2018. This exhibition is organized by the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum. Reservations for most Opening Weekend events are required; call (405) 4782250 ext. 219 or visit nationalcowboymuseum. org/smallworks.
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150th Anniversary - Treaty of Fort Laramie March 15 - May 28 A curated selection of rare and historic Alexander Gardner photographs of the 1868 Treaty of Fort Laramie ceremony. 13th Illustrator Show - Gennady Spirin March 15 - April 15 The richly detailed art of Russian-born illustrator Gennady Spirin comes alive at The Brinton’s annual Illustrator Show. Traditional Cowboy Arts Association Spring Roundup April 29 - June 8 The TCAA returns with a wide selection of traditional, intricately carved, hand-crafted leather and silver works. Carrie Ballantyne Comes Home June 3 - July 15 Sheridan artist Carrie Ballantyne presents a major retrospective of her paintings. The show will feature new works and old. Paul Waldum - WY & MT Landscapes June 17 - July 5 Landscape paintings from around Wyoming and Montana by the talented Paul Waldum. Bighorn Rendezvous Art Show & Sale July 22 - August 5 The Northwest Rendezvous Artists and guests return for the annual Bighorn Rendezvous. Event weekend is August 3 & 4. The Brinton 101: Annual Small Works Show November 18 - December 23 Fine art in small formats, The Brinton 101 features over 300 pieces by 101 artists from around the country.
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www.brookgreen.org
Wind on Water Richard McDermott Miller, Bronze 1992
Botanical Sculpture by Trailer McQuilkin Through April 22 An amazing exhibit of 18 native wildflowers in sculpture is on view in the Stanley and Naomi Bleifeld Gallery. The artist uses sheet copper, copper wire, metal primer, oil paints, and natural materials in his work. Art and the Animal January 27 - March 25 Art and the Animal, a juried competition open only to members of the Society of Animal Artists, will be in the Rainey Sculpture Pavilion. www.societyofanimalsartists.com Richard McDermott Miller and his Circle, April 14 - July 29 In partnership with the National Sculpture Society, the exhibit features a retrospective of the artist’s sculpture from 1960 to 2000 and will also include artwork by his friends, students and those he influenced, including painters Philip Pearlstine, Paul Resika, George Nick, Charles Cajori, Donald Holden, sculptors Janice Mauro and Barbara Grossman. National Sculpture Society 85th Annual Awards Exhibition August 11 - October 28 The annual juried exhibition of the National Sculpture Society, presents the work of masters alongside rising stars in American sculpture. Between 45 and 50 new works will be on view. Awards are presented by the Society along with the People’s Choice Award, determined by votes of visitors.
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