WHAT WILL YOU DISCOVER?
MEMBERS MAGAZINE
AUTUMN 2013
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MUSEUM STORE JACOB LAWRENCE’S GENESIS SERIES BOOKBINDINGS FROM THE GILDED AGE NEW IN THE GALLERIES BEHIND THE SCENES FAMILY FUN PUBLIC PROGRAMS MUSEUM NEWS
our mission The Walters Art Museum brings art and people together for enjoyment, discovery and learning. We strive to create a place where people of every background can be touched by art. We are committed to exhibitions and programs that will strengthen and sustain our community. The Walters Art Museum is open Wednesday–Sunday, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. and until 9 p.m. on Thursdays.
board of trustees 2013–2014 Chair andrea b. laporte President douglas w. hamilton, jr. President-Elect ellen n. bernard Vice-President thomas s. bozzuto Vice-President guy e. flynn Vice-President nancy r. sasser Vice-President mary baily wieler Treasurer frank k. turner, jr. Secretary julia marciari-alexander — julianne e. alderman peter l. bain calvin h. baker neal d. borden h. ward classen rosalee c. davison james h. degraffenreidt, jr. michael de havenon cynthia l. egan christine m. espenshade jonathan m. fishman bruce w. fleming kris anne gitlin michael b. glick sanford m. gross neil a. meyerhoff bailey morris-eck mark mullin jennifer murphy charles j. nabit judy witt phares lynn homeier rauch george k. reynolds, iii john r. rockwell bernard selz gail l. shawe judith van dyke — ex-officio members the honorable stephanie rawlings-blake the honorable bernard c. young the honorable martin j. o’malley the honorable kevin kamenetz the honorable ken ulman adam borden mary j. demory margaret z. ferguson adele kass elizabeth koontz rebecca lawson yvonne e. lenz tom noonan diana ulman — trustees emeriti robert s. feinberg samuel k. himmelrich, sr. cynthia r. mead william l. paternotte adena w. testa jay m. wilson — director’s advisory council eddie c. brown constance r. caplan philip d. english laura l. freedlander sir paul ruddock the honorable paul sarbanes benjamin b. zucker
The Walters Magazine, Vol. 66, No. 3 Published by the Trustees of the Walters Art Gallery, Baltimore Editor charles dibble Designer tony venne Art Photography susan tobin Please send membership questions to membership@thewalters.org
cover & above: The Book of the Faiyum, detail / W.738 / Museum Purchase, 1949 / Photo: Gregory Vershbow, 2013
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Please send editorial comments to magazine@thewalters.org
LETTER FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Dear Members, This fall at the Walters, we hope that you, our members, will take great pleasure in harvesting the bounty of our upcoming season. Together, we will have the opportunity to explore the art and culture of the rich lands of ancient Egypt’s Faiyum region, enjoy the sumptuous bookbindings of the Gilded Age, and revel in the power of the Genesis story as told by one of the twentieth-century’s greatest American artists, Jacob Lawrence. Through these exhibitions, you will enjoy not only fantastic works of art on loan to us but also the wonders of our permanent collection. The Walters has the most comprehensive collection of ancient art between Richmond and Philadelphia, and I have heard from many of you that your earliest memories of the museum involve our mummies. The upcoming show Egypt’s Mysterious Book of the Faiyum springs from an extraordinary papyrus in our permanent collection. Through this groundbreaking exhibition and its related programs, we hope that you will reconnect with the crocodile god Sobek and share and create great memories of Egyptian encounters at the Walters. Our capacity to present art in meaningful ways depends on the deep and continued generosity of YOU—our members, donors, and lenders. It is fitting to take this moment to thank each of you for your financial commitment to the museum. Thanks to you, we met ambitious goals and finished the fiscal year strong. Giving, however, is more than money: many of you give of your time as volunteers in a variety of capacities, and some of you lend works from your personal collections to share them broadly with our visitors. In that vein, I am especially grateful to have on loan this fall the remarkable Genesis series by Jacob Lawrence from the collection of Eddie C. Brown and C. Sylvia Brown. Fall is also a time of reflection and sowing for the future. As we contemplate the great accomplishments of the museum’s past in order to form a vision for the future, we invite you to share your ideas and will keep you involved in and informed of our progress. As I have heard since my arrival, your individual connections to the Walters are varied and deep. It will be a pleasure to work with you to create a strong future. See you at the Walters!
Julia Marciari-Alexander Executive Director
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wo papyrus rolls, together measuring nearly twenty feet, form the centerpiece of this fall’s special exhibition. Looking closely at the elaborate detail in black, and occasionally red, ink, it is hard to imagine that lines that appear fresh to our eyes were inscribed nearly 2,000 years ago. Ancient Egyptian scribes covered the surfaces of these long rolls with a copy of the Book of the Faiyum, a mysterious text that describes Egypt’s Faiyum region as a center of prosperity and religious ritual. The book celebrates the ancient Egyptian crocodile god Sobek and his special relationship with the Faiyum. Divided and sold in the 19th century, sections of the Book of the Faiyum currently reside at the Walters Art Museum, the Morgan Library & Museum in New York, and the Egyptian Antiquities Museum in Cairo. Egypt’s Mysterious Book of the Faiyum reunites the Morgan and Walters sections for the first time in 150 years. This exhibition offers a new look at ancient Egypt. First, it goes beyond the usual exhibition subject matter of mummies and tombs, preparations for the afterlife, and the famous pharaohs. Egypt’s Mysterious Book of the Faiyum explores ancient Egyptian artistry, mythology, and religious iconography. Second, the exhibition focuses on a period thousands of years after the Pyramids at Giza or Tutankhamun’s rule. The Book of the Faiyum dates to some time between the late 1st century BCE and the second century CE, when the Romans ruled Egypt. The exhibition, centers on the Faiyum, an oasis in the desert to the West of the Nile. This region is most famous among scholars of ancient art for the so-called Faiyum portraits, which are some of the only panel paintings surviving from the ancient Roman tradition (see page 8). Lake Moeris, the centerpiece of the Faiyum, was also the source of its prosperity. The modern name Faiyum, derived from the ancient Egyptian word “Pa-yom,” meaning “the sea,” is a testament to Lake Moeris’s great size. In satellite images of Egypt, THEWALTERS.ORG × 5
EGYPT’S MYSTERIOUS BOOK OF THE FAIYUM the green Faiyum contrasts starkly with the beige desert surrounding it; as a result, the oasis somewhat resembles a leaf of ivy branching off of the green stem of the Nile Valley. When 19th-century scholars and enthusiasts first saw the Book of the Faiyum, some thought it represented the legendary Egyptian labyrinth, described by ancient Greek and Roman authors including Herodotus, Strabo, and Pliny the Elder. Egyptologists today, however, recognize the maplike features of the papyrus as a depiction of Lake Moeris and the canal that feeds it. This bird’s-eye view of the region is only visible once the entire composition is revealed—a feat that requires a large display area. Most ancient Egyptians would have encountered the Book of the Faiyum one short section at a time; readers often held papyrus rolls in one hand, while using the other to unroll the text across their laps. Egypt’s Mysterious Book of the Faiyum displays approximately 80 works of ancient Egyptian art, including statues, reliefs, parts of coffins, papyri, and jewelry. Moving through the galleries, as if traversing the lake or walking through the narrative of the book itself, visitors will encounter works of art that portray the divine figures illustrated in the book. Most prominent among these gods is Sobek, the crocodile god. The ancient Egyptians both feared and revered the crocodile,
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one of Egypt’s most voracious and deadly animals. Lake Moeris was a popular habitat for crocodiles, and as a result the Faiyum region became a religious center for the worship of Sobek. Temples of Sobek often were home to sacred crocodiles, which were mummified after they died. Egypt’s Mysterious Book of the Faiyum brings together a number of rare depictions of Sobek, drawn from prestigious museum collections. The Book of the Faiyum offers a window onto cultural, intellectual, and religious life in a unique ancient Egyptian place. Over the course of many centuries, the ancient Egyptians depicted the gods and myths seen in the Book of the Faiyum countless times. Stories of divine creation and the sun god’s nightly regeneration, featured prominently in the book, frequently appeared in ancient Egyptian art. The Book of the Faiyum, however, creates a local context for universal narratives, tailoring them to suit the Faiyum’s specific history and geography. The story of the Ogdoad, eight primeval gods who took the form of snakes and frogs, provides a good example of this. One section of the Book of the Faiyum illustrates these gods in an act of creation: creating Lake Moeris by digging it out with their own hands. The complex, layered imagery of the Book of the Faiyum continues to challenge scholars today. This exhibition encourages reflection on the mysteries surrounding the Book of the Faiyum, including why it was made and for whom.
This exhibition emerges from a partnership with the Roemer- und Pelizaeus-Museum in Hildesheim, Germany, and its director and chief executive officer, Prof. Dr. Regine Schulz. As a result, the exhibition will display a number of the treasures of ancient Egyptian art from the Roemerund Pelizaeus-Museum’s esteemed collection. Egypt’s Mysterious Book of the Faiyum will travel to the Roemer- und Pelizaeus-Museum and the ReissEngelhorn-Museen in Mannheim, Germany. —Marden Nichols, Assistant Curator of Ancient Art The exhibition has been generously supported by grants from The Selz Foundation, the Women’s Committee of the Walters Art Museum, Transamerica, the John J. Leidy Foundation and by gifts from Frances and Rick Rockwell, Douglas and Tsognie Hamilton / Hamilton Associates, the Peter Bowe and Barbara Stewart Fund, Nancy and Henry Hopkins, Diana and Frederick Elghanayan, and an anonymous donor.
previous page & left: The Book of the Faiyum, detail / W.738 / Museum Purchase, 1949 / Photos: Gregory Vershbow, 2013 Right: Statue of Taweret / ca. 180–100 BCE / red granite / Acquired by Henry Walters
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The Walters “Faiyum Portraits” Created almost 2,000 years ago in the region of Lake Moeris in the Faiyum oasis, portraits of Greco-Roman Egyptians remain vivid and compelling works of art. Commonly referred to as “Faiyum Portraits” because many have an archeological connection to the region, these paintings were originally placed atop mummies as depictions of the deceased. In preparation for the exhibition Egypt’s Mysterious Book of the Faiyum, Walters conservators looked more closely at the five portraits in the Walters collection, one of which is highlighted here. The portrait of a bearded man (figure 1) was painted on a wood panel, less than 3 milimeters thick—roughly the thickness of two pennies. Faiyum portraits were made especially thin so that they could conform to the convex shape of the mummy to which they were secured with linen wrappings and resin; remnants of those original wrappings are visible in the lower corners of this portrait. The panel is made from linden or lime wood, a species not native to Egypt today but that may have been cultivated in the area of the Faiyum in ancient times.
figure 1. Mummy Portrait of a Bearded Man / ca. 170–180 CE / Acquired by Henry Walters
figure 2. X-radiograph (detail) of figure 1
The remarkable images are painted entirely in beeswax, an ancient technique known as encaustic. Using mineral pigments and natural dyes mixed into the wax, the artist created an extraordinarily compelling likeness. Walters conservators studied the unusual technique using nondestructive imaging methods. The bold lines used to create the face and the background were made with a dense material that appears white in x-radiographs (figure 2); in this case lead-based pigments were used to color the wax. (The presence of lead was confirmed by Walters conservation scientist Glenn Gates using nondestructive x-ray fluorescence.) The x-radiograph also shows a variety of fine tool marks created with small spatulas in the area of the face and neck, whereas the background consists of broader, more painterly brush strokes. An image digitally composed from more than 48 photographs taken with different angles of light reveals the texture and high relief left by applying the wax with a variety of tools (figure 3). Because the wax needed to be worked while warm, artists creating these portraits needed to work quickly and confidently. The Walters is fortunate to have five examples of this rare type of portraiture; the portrait of a bearded man is an extremely beautiful and well-preserved work that gazes at us from remote antiquity, revealing its secrets along the way. —Julie Lauffenburger, Assistant Director for Conservation and Technical Research and William B. Ziff, Jr. Conservator of Objects —Elizabeth La Duc, Graduate Intern in Objects Conservation
figure 3. Raking-light photograph (detail) of figure 1
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EXHIBITION-RELATED EVENTS MEMBERS OPENING
FALL FORUM DISCUSSION
EGYPTOMANIA FILM SERIES
Saturday, October 5 6–9 p.m. See the exhibition before anyone else and get an insiders’ view during an auditorium presentation with Assistant Curator of Ancient Art Marden Nichols and special guest speakers.
Sunday, October 27 Noon–4 p.m. Join distinguished speakers as they discuss topics surrounding Egypt’s Mysterious Book of the Faiyum, including early explorers of Egypt, the cultural and historical context of looting, and the European and American fascination with ancient Egypt that developed in the 19th century following Napole0n’s Egyptian campaign. The audience is encouraged to participate in this engaging dialogue.
Al Momia: The Night of Counting the Years Saturday, December 7 1–4 p.m. Digitally restored in 2009, Al Momia (1969) is considered one of the greatest Egyptian films ever made. Based on a true story, the film follows the difficult decision of two brothers either to follow the tradition of illegally looting ancient tombs in Thebes in order to sustain their tribe or to alert authorities to their tribal elders’ secret. Elliott Colla, associate professor and chair of Arabic and Islamic studies at Georgetown University, will lead a discussion after the film. Running time: 103 minutes. Not Rated.
OPENING-DAY TALK Sunday, October 6 2 p.m. Exhibition curator Marden Nichols will introduce this exciting show, which reunites the major sections of a 2,000-year-old exquisitely illustrated papyrus from Greco-Roman Egypt for the first time in more than 150 years, and includes approximately 80 ancient works of art related to the papyrus’s magical themes.
EGYPTIAN FAMILY FESTIVAL Saturday, October 26 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Sail up the Nile River to the mysterious land of the Faiyum. Hop along the backs of crocodiles as we come together to explore the marvels of ancient Egypt! Tell tales of gods and goddesses, help build a palace, and learn traditional dances. Discover a new alphabet and write secret messages on papyrus! Make artwork deserving of the pharaohs and enjoy exciting performances all day! Visit the special exhibition, Egypt’s Mysterious Book of the Faiyum, today for free.
MUSIC FROM AN IMAGINARY LANDSCAPE Sunday, November 24 2–3:30 p.m. Music from an Imaginary Landscape features the live premiere performance of two musical compositions written in response to Egypt’s Mysterious Book of the Faiyum. One piece, by New York composer and ethnomusicologist Daniel Thomas Davis, reimagines the Book of the Faiyum as a musical guidebook to the imaginary landscapes of the ancient papyrus. The other world-premiere composition, written for the occasion by Baltimore composer Judah Adashi, recasts the City of Baltimore itself as a magical terrain. Dr. Davis’s music has been performed by the Detroit Symphony, the London Sinfonietta, and cellist Lynn Harrell. Dr. Adashi serves on the faculty of Peabody Conservatory and directs Baltimore’s acclaimed Evolution series.
Bubba Ho-Tep Thursday, December 12 6–7:45 p.m. Bubba Ho-Tep (2002) is a cult classic that tells the “true” story of what really became of Elvis Presley. Starring Bruce Campbell as Elvis, and Ossie Davis as a man claiming to be John F. Kennedy, the story begins at the Shady Rest Retirement Home in Texas, where both are now spending their days. When mysterious deaths start occurring in the home, it’s up to these two old legends to show they have what it takes to defeat a 3000-year-old soul-sucking mummy! Running time: 92 minutes. Rated: R Agora Thursday, December 19 5:30–8:30 p.m. An historical drama set in Roman Egypt, Agora (2009) centers on philosopher and mathematician Hypatia (Rachel Weisz). The film tells the story of Alexandria and its people in the last days of the Roman Empire, torn between religion and science, on the brink of a new era. Moulie Vidas, assistant professor of religion and the program in Judaic studies at Princeton University, will lead a lively discussion after the film. Running time: 141 minutes. Rated: R
Head of a Crocodile / Egyptian / 380–30 BC / dark blue glass / Acquired by Henry Walters, 1931
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MUSEUM STORE Members enjoy a 10% discount. Shop online at thewalters.org or visit our store.
Egyptian Art / The Walters Art Museum This lavishly illustrated book surveys more than seventy works, ranging from the early Dynastic to the Greco-Roman period, from the Egyptian collection of the Walters Art Museum. An introductory essay traces the development of the collection— one of the most important in the United States—and section introductions provide an overview of political, religious, and cultural developments during each of the major periods of Egyptian history. Individual object descriptions describe how these works were made and used. Hardcover $45.00 / Members $40.50 Softcover $24.95 / Members $22.45
Egyptian Tie The Rosetta Stone, dated about 200 b.c. and deciphered by the French scholar Jean-Francois Champollion in the early 19th century, is a key document in our understanding of 4Egyptian hieroglyphs. Our Rosetta Stone tie, 100% silk and fully lined, reproduces hieroglyphs from the original stone on a dramatic black background. A bestseller in our Museum Store! $42.95 / Members $40.45 10 × THEWALTERS.ORG
Egyptian Amulet Bracelet This beautiful amulet bracelet represents some of the most revered symbols of Egyptian art and religion. The ankh, hieroglyphic symbol for life, promised the wearer endurance; the scarab represented resurrection and eternal life; the cat, associated with the goddess Bastet, protected women and was associated with joy and family closeness—all exquisitely rendered on this 7½" bracelet by Museum Reproductions. $79.95 / Members $71.95
Crocodile Puppet The Crocodile Stage Puppet features an easily animated mouth and operable arms. Design details include soft sculpted plush with molded claws and teeth and a lot of fun to snap! 13" tall. For ages 3 and up $32.95 / Members $29.65
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JACOB LAWRENCE’S GENESIS SERIES SEPTEMBER 14, 2013– APRIL 13, 2014
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he Walters is pleased to present Jacob Lawrence’s Genesis series (1990), on loan from the collection of Eddie C. Brown and C. Sylvia Brown, Baltimore. The eight silk-screens, which represent Lawrence’s interpretation of passages from the Book of Genesis in the King James Bible, blend the artist’s modernist aesthetic with his characteristic focus on black subjects. The series reflects Lawrence’s youthful memories of passionate sermons about the Creation given by ministers such as the Rev. Adam Clayton Powell Sr. at the Abyssinian Baptist Church in Harlem, where Lawrence was baptized in 1932.
Jacob Lawrence tells stories of a community and its heroes. He is the first major artist of the 20th century who was technically trained and artistically educated within the art community of Harlem, a predominantly African American neighborhood of New York City. Born in Atlantic City, New Jersey, Lawrence moved to Harlem with his mother and siblings at the age of 13; his studies with professional artists and his participation in Harlem’s art schools and community art centers provided him the opportunity to experiment with the flat geometric forms, simple patterns, and bright primary colors that eventually became characteristic of his style. Lawrence’s interest in history, fueled by repeated visits to the 135th Street Public Library (now the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture), resulted in several series focused on heroes of the African American community, including The Life of Frederick Douglass (1939) and The Life of Harriet Tubman (1939–40). In 1941, Lawrence became the first African American artist to be included in the permanent collection of New York’s Museum of Modern Art, which purchased 30 paintings from his iconic Migration of the Negro series (1940–41).
Jacob Lawrence / And God Created All the Beauty of the Earth / Genesis Series, plate 6 / Collection of Eddie C. Brown and C. Sylvia Brown, Baltimore / © 2013 The Jacob and Gwendolyn Lawrence Foundation, Seattle / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York
The recipient of numerous honors and accolades, Lawrence was awarded the National Medal of Arts by President George H.W. Bush in 1990, the same year he created the Genesis series. When Lawrence died in Seattle in 2000, the New York Times called him “one of America’s leading modern figurative painters.” Jacob Lawrence’s works are included in virtually every major collection of 20th-century American art worldwide. —Jacqueline Copeland, Deputy Director for Audience Engagement
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SECTION HEADER EXHIBITIONS
BOOKBINDINGS FROM THE GILDED AGE OCTOBER 26, 2013– MAY 18, 2014
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uring the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, fine bookbinding enjoyed an extraordinary period of creativity and artistic expression. Bookbinding is a craft with a long and storied history, dating back to the very invention of the book. For centuries, the binder’s work was not only to contain and protect a set of pages but also to create a covering that would please the reader and convey something about what could be found inside. Books bound by hand in this tradition were individual and often highly personal objects, and Gilded Age bookbinders and binding designers reached new heights of opulence and lavish decoration. Henry Walters was a bibliophile as well as an art collector, and many of the books found in this exhibition belonged to him personally (evidenced by the HW monograms worked into the cover design). Their subjects range from literature and poetry to art catalogs and essays on what makes for a good “modern” bookbinding. In fact, many of these volumes are the products of extraordinary collaboration—skillfully designed and printed on the best paper, produced in limited editions, and illustrated and engraved by famous artists of the day. And, of course, covered in custom-made bindings that turned the book into a portable decorative masterpiece.
Le Roi des Aulnes. Erlkönig / Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (author) / Léon Gruel (binder) / Paris / 1904, Acquired by Henry Walters
A variety of techniques and approaches to bookbinding can be seen in the exhibition in the Walters’ Manuscripts Gallery. Some bindings sought to reproduce the best of historical binding styles in as technically masterful a way as possible; these are shown next to their original inspirations. Others sought to experiment with new artistic styles, with influences from the Arts and Crafts and Art Nouveau movements in evidence. Still more took the binder’s craft into arenas of pure fantasy, with exotic materials— silk, porcelain, even genuine Rembrandt etchings—incorporated into the bindings, or adopting fanciful formats such as the triple back-to-back binding, in which three volumes are bound together, sharing two covers between them. Finally, the exhibition of approximately 20 books explores at the legacy of this remarkable period in the history of the book, when Art Deco took over as the stylistic touchstone and what is known as the designer binding movement emerged and, indeed, is still practiced today. —Diane Bockrath, Archivist / Librarian
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NEW IN THE GALLERIES
Installing The Story of Helen Paris and Helen Departing for the Island of Cythera / attributed to Antonio da Negroponte ca. 1450–70 / Acquired by Henry Walters, before 1915
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n late August a large (about 5 by 7 ¾ feet) 15thcentury Italian painting on panel, Helen and Her Entourage Departing for the Island of Cythera, will be installed in the gallery known as the Knight’s Hall.
In the 1400s, large paintings on mythological subjects highlighting beautiful women—such as Botticelli’s Birth of Venus (now in the Uffizi Gallery, Florence)—were favored for decorating the homes of wealthy Italians. The Walters, full of surprising resources, owns such a series: three large panel paintings depicting a key episode in the ancient Greek romance of Paris and Helen. Besides Helen and Her Entourage Departing for the Island of Cythera, the series comprises Helen Eloping with Paris and The Reception of Helen at Troy. Thanks to the generous support of the American Council on Italian Matters of Maryland, the conservation carried out by Eric Gordon, Karen French, and Pamela Betts (assisted by multiple interns) on the first panel, begun in 2010, is now finished. While there remains work to be done to clarify the authorship of this fascinating series, there are other paintings—one in Hungary and another in Melbourne, Australia—by the same hand, and it is clear from the style of painting and the sumptuous clothing that the artist worked in the environs of Venice about 1450–70. According to the ancient poets, Venus, goddess of love promised Paris, prince of Troy (in what is now Turkey) that he would marry the most beautiful woman in the world: Helen, queen of the Greek city-state Sparta. Paris went to Sparta and was kindly received by Helen’s husband, King Menelaus. While Menelaus was on a trip, Helen and a party of her courtiers, including Paris, made an excursion by boat
to the nearby island of Cythera, dedicated to Venus. Here we see the courtiers (in elegant Renaissance court fashions, marked by brocades, pearls, and fine handkerchiefs) having strolled through one of the city gates toward the shore, where their ship awaits to take them on this pleasure outing. The young people are led on by the dancing steps of a gaily dressed court jester, shaking a tambourine. Jesters played many roles, including court fool, and his role here is made clear by the hood with donkey ears. With a fool as the leader of the revels, the results are likely to turn ribald! Indeed, on Cythera Paris talked Helen into eloping. They sailed to Troy, where Paris’s father, King Priam, received them as a couple. The Greeks attacked and destroyed Troy to get Helen back. In the 1400s in Italy, the new delight in illusionistic painting created a taste for installing large paintings (called spalliere) above shoulder height into the paneling or plastered surface of the wall so that the scenes looked like views through a palace window or through the columns of a pavilion. Ancient stories came alive before your eyes as if taking place in spaces continuous with your own. By the 1500s, tastes changed, and framed paintings that could be easily moved were preferred. Please come see the first of these large paintings for yourself and the beginning of this exciting project! —Joaneath Spicer, James A. Murnaghan Curator of Renaissance and Baroque Art This project was generously funded by the American Council on Italian Matters of Maryland.
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BEHIND THE SCENES
Literacy in the Arts: A Study of Emerging Language and Literacy Learning in the Museum
The Walters has advanced as a leader in the field of museum education with creative and innovative programs based in sound educational pedagogy. The museum has offered early childhood programs for more than 30 years and serves nearly 40,000 children and their families annually— including over 3,000 early learners. Early childhood programs at the Walters are developed for children from birth through age eight, utilizing best practices for child development and family learning, as well as aligning with local and national curriculum standards for school readiness. We are committed to providing quality early learning experiences that support children’s cognitive and emotional development, while activating their imagination and creativity. —Emily Blumenthal, Head of Family & Community Programs As the Carol Bates Fellow in Education for the 2012–2013 academic year, I conducted an assessment of early childhood programs at the Walters Art Museum by developing and conducting a case study. The research focused on the impacts of early arts experiences in a museum setting on children’s cognitive development, particularly language and literacy learning. This case study measured the effect of the Walters Art Museum’s ArtKids Preschool Program on emergent learners’ language and literacy development. The ArtKids Preschool Program is a series of free, 90-minute early childhood workshops for children ages three to five and their adult caregivers that are designed to provide a foundation for success in school. The thematic, hands-on experiences combine a story, direct contact with works of art in the museum galleries to stimulate object-based learning, a related art activity, and extension materials to continue learning at home. Data were collected from 14 × THEWALTERS.ORG
October 2012 to May 2013 by studying 40 ArtKids participants’ language and literacy competencies related to reading and writing skill acquisition and by measuring their vocabulary acquisition through pre- and post-tests. The results of the case study were promising, with 92.5% of the subjects interviewed scoring positively on the vocabulary acquisition post-test and 82.5% of the subjects displaying behavior exhibiting evidence of procurement of the competencies observed. These overwhelmingly positive results suggest that early arts experiences in a museum setting produce a measurable increase in the cognitive development of emergent learners’ language and literacy competencies. Art museum programs such as the ArtKids Preschool Program provide the environment and experiences necessary for young children’s relevant skill acquisition, and ultimately produce stronger literacy learners. —Kimberley McGrath, Carol Bates Fellow in Education We are committed to supporting language and literacy learning through the arts for all ages. Other art and literacy programs and resources at the Walters include · Children’s Literature in the Galleries · Family Art Center Reading Corner · Integrating the Arts Web Resource · Guided K–12 School Tours, including Telling Stories in Art and Creativity and the Common Core · Common Core Connection Lesson Plans, available online · Literacy and the Arts Teacher Workshops
FAMILY FUN MONUMENT LIGHTING Thursday, December 5 5–8:30 p.m. Celebrate the holiday season and the annual lighting of the Washington Monument at the Walters during this free, family-friendly event! Enjoy seasonal performances, music, refreshments, holiday films and special winter-inspired kids’ art activities. At 7 p.m., the Washington Monument will be set aglow, followed by fireworks. Warm up at the Walters!
SCOUT MUSEUM DAYS: SECRETS OF EGYPT $10 / scout Online pre-registration required Brownie Girl Scouts Museum Day Saturday, November 2 1–3 p.m. Cub Scouts Museum Day Sunday, November 3 1–3 p.m. Jr. & Brownie Girl Scouts Museum Day Saturday, Nov. 16 1–3 p.m.
DROP-IN ART ACTIVITIES
EGYPTIAN FAMILY FESTIVAL
Saturdays & Sundays 10 a.m.–3 p.m. Drop in, make, and take a fantastic piece of art home with you! Create innovative and artistic projects as a family. Check out our monthly themes!
Saturday, October 26 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Sail up the Nile River to the mysterious land of the Faiyum! Hop along the backs of crocodiles as we come together to explore the marvels of ancient Egypt. Tell tales of gods and goddesses, help build a palace, and learn traditional dances. Search for crocodile hatchling eggs throughout the museum and chant with our friendly Egyptian lion cub, Waltee. Discover a new alphabet and write secret messages on papyrus! Make artwork deserving of the pharaohs and enjoy exciting performances all day. Visit the special exhibition, Egypt’s Mysterious Book of the Faiyum, for free!
September October November December
Books! ¡Libros! Livres! Mummies & Myths Egyptian Mysteries Marvelous Music
PLUS! Bring the whole family to the Walters for special holiday art activities! Thanksgiving Break Activities November 29 10 a.m.–3 p.m. Winter Break Activities December 26–29 & January 1–3, 10 a.m.–3 p.m.
Daisy Girl Scouts Museum Day Sunday, Nov. 17 1–2:30 p.m. Spend your afternoon discovering daily life and sacred rituals, come face to face with deities, and decode the secret messages left behind by scribes. Guided by a museum educator, your scouts’ voyage through desert storms and along the world’s longest river will showcase the gods, traditions, and relics of the ancient civilization of Egypt. Meander into our studios to create a work of art inspired by the treasures found in our galleries. Daisy Girl Scouts will work toward their Tulip Petal, Brownie Girl Scouts will work toward their Potter badge, Junior Girl Scouts will work toward their Playing the Past badge, and Cub Scouts will work toward their Art Academics Pin or Belt Loop during this interactive, two-hour exploration!
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PUBLIC PROGRAMS THE WILLS OF FAMOUS WOMEN & THE LESSONS THEY TEACH US
galllery talk
Thursday, October 3 6–7 p.m. Marilyn Monroe, Princess Diana, and Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis led very different lives. Yet after their deaths their wills became the subject of intense scrutiny. Join us as we discuss the charitable giving of these and other famous women. Learn how the language in their wills helped, and sometimes hurt, the pursuit of their philanthropic goals. Michael E.S. McCarthy of U.S. Trust will discuss how gifts were distributed to family and friends, what happened to real estate holdings, and what provisions were made for charity. See the wills of these famous women, and gain valuable lessons from the administration of these estates.
Thursday, November 7 6–7 p.m.; Meet at 5:45 Join exhibition curator Jacqueline Copeland in a tour of, and conversation about, Jacob Lawrence’s Genesis series (1990), on loan from Eddie C. Brown and C. Sylvia Brown’s Baltimore collection. The eight colorful works in Lawrence’s distinctive style illustrate passages from the Book of Genesis in the King James Bible, reflecting the artist’s youthful memories of passionate sermons given by ministers at the Abyssinian Baptist Church in Harlem, where he was baptized in 1932.
PEABODY ON THE COURT MUSIC SERIES Fridays October 4, November 1, December 6 12–1 p.m. The fall Peabody on the Court Music Series will feature composer John Belkot on October 4, classical guitarist Jonathan Zwi on November 1, and musicians from Peabody Conservatory’s Early Music Department on December 6. The free concerts are presented through a partnership with the Peabody Institute of The Johns Hopkins University.
This Page: Leaf from a Qu’ran / W.569 / Acquired by Henry Walters; Peabody on the Court; The Hearst Mansion. Facing Page: Waltee Illustration by Brian Ralph
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JACOB LAWRENCE’S GENESIS SERIES
ISLAMIC ART: MIRROR OF THE INVISIBLE WORLD Thursday, November 14 6:30–8:30 p.m. Islamic Art: Mirror of the Invisible World is a fascinating, 90-minute film chronicling 1,400 years of Islamic cultural history. This documentary by Baltimore filmmaker Robert Gardner sheds light on the history of the Islamic world and on Islamic society today. Join us for this special film screening and post-film discussion with professors from Towson University and Goucher College. the 33rd annual theodore l. low lecture
MARY LEVKOFF: WILLIAM RANDOLPH HEARST, THE COLLECTOR Sunday, November 17 2–3:30 p.m. Of the many marvelous works of art at the Walters, about three dozen once belonged to mining and newspaper magnate William Randolph Hearst, one of the most prodigious American art collectors and perhaps the most controversial. This lecture by National Gallery of Art curator Mary Levkoff, author of Hearst the Collector, will chronicle Hearst’s collecting, from his acquisitions and their opulent displays in his grand residences to their dispersal during the Great Depression. Book signing to follow; books will be available for purchase in the Museum Store.
ESPECIALLY SECTION FOR MEMBERS HEADER MEMBERS TOURS Members have the opportunity to join a Walters’ expert for an intimate tour. Please meet us in the first floor lobby. These are members-only tours. If you’re not a member yet, you can join on the day of the event. Tour schedules and topics are subject to change. Registration is not required. For questions please call Lia Epley, Membership Coordinator, at (410) 547-9000, ext. 283. The Colors of Autumn in East Asia Thursday, September 12 6 p.m. Robert Mintz, Chief Curator and Mr. & Mrs. Thomas Quincy Scott Curator of Asian Art
DON’T MISS YOUR CHANCE TO MAKE A TAX-FREE GIFT!
Earlier this year the American Tax Payer Relief Act reinstated a provision allowing individuals to distribute funds from an Individual Retirement Account (IRA) directly to a charity, commonly known as a Qualified Charitable Distribution. If you are 70½ or older, you know that you are required to withdraw a minimum amount from your IRA each year. These funds are considered taxable income even if you have no immediate use for the money. A charitable IRA rollover is a wonderful way for you to use distributed funds as a gift to the Walters and receive a tax benefit at the same time.
Under the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012, you can make tax-free distributions up to $100,000 directly from your IRA for qualified charitable purposes until December 31, 2013. Making your gift is a simple process. Have your minimum IRA distribution (or a portion thereof) sent directly to the Walters and then document it as a qualified charitable distribution when you file your taxes. The qualified distribution will not be treated as taxable income by the IRS and can count toward your mandatory annual withdrawal. Many individuals use charitable beneficiary designations of their retirement benefits as part of their estate planning. Some of you may even have the Walters listed as a beneficiary on one of your retirement accounts. The charitable IRA rollover provides you with similar tax benefits as a beneficiary designation but allows you to see your generosity at work now.
Putting Names to Faces: Stories from the Portrait Miniature Collection Wednesday, October 2 1 p.m. Jo Briggs, Assistant Curator of 18th- and 19thCentury Art Meg Craft, Head of Object Conservation Egypt’s Mysterious Book of the Faiyum Wednesday, December 18 1 p.m. Marden Nichols, Assistant Curator of Ancient Art MEMBER DISCOUNTS Membership is the best way to experience all that the Walters has to offer. Our members receive special access to the museum, discounts at the Museum Store and Café Q, and opportunities for enhanced learning and involvement. But did you know that members also receive discounts at more 20 restaurants and retailers in the Mt. Vernon district of Baltimore? Just show your valid Walters Art Museum membership card and receive savings of up to 20% off! Discounts include 20% off for dinner at Sotto Sopra, 10% off for tickets at An Die Musik, a special rate at the Wyndham Baltimore Peabody Court Hotel, and so much more! For the complete list of participating venues and the discounts they offer, visit thewalters.org/ discounts.
For additional information, please contact Ashley Mancinelli, J.D., Manager, Gift Planning and Major Gifts, at 410-547-9000, ext. 387, or visit our website: thewalters.plannedgiving.org. Content in this article is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as tax or legal advice.
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Gala 2013
celebrating art & community Saturday, October 19, 2013 6 p.m.–midnight Cocktails on the court. Dinner in the galleries. Dancing into the night. View the exhibition Egypt’s Mysterious Book of the Faiyum
+ + + black tie. valet parking. centre street entrance.
+ + + Presenting Sponsors Mr. Calvin H. Baker & Ms. Lidia Paz-Baker + T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc. Whiting-Turner Contracting Company Gold Sponsors
Heidi & Brian Berghuis + Mr. & Mrs. Edward C. Bernard + The Bozzuto Group + Constellation Energy Mr. James H. DeGraffenreidt, Jr. & Dr. Mychelle Y. Farmer + DLA Piper LLP + Ms. Cynthia L. Egan Mr. & Mrs. John H. Laporte + Mrs. Mary Mangione Mr. Robert E. Meyerhoff & Ms. Rheda Becker + Judy Witt Phares & Scott Phares PNC Bank + Mr. & Mrs. Philip J. Rauch + Transamerica
Silver Sponsors
American Trading and Production Corporation + Baltimore Ravens + Mr. & Mrs. Peter L. Bain Bank of America, Inc. + Mr. Jeremy A. Batoff ⁄ Mr. Justin A. Batoff + Brown Capital Management, LLC. Mr. & Mrs. Neal D. Borden + Brown Advisory + Camden Partners + Mr. & Mrs. H. Ward Classen + Cohn-Reznick, LLP Delbert Adams Construction Group LLC + Mr. & Mrs. Richard S. Davison Mr. C. Franklin Eck, Jr. & Ms. Bailey Morris-Eck + Mr. & Mrs. Bruce W. Fleming ⁄ Mr. & Mrs. Jonathan M. Fishman Mr. & Mrs. Michael B. Glick + Hall & Company, Inc. + Mr. & Mrs. Douglas W. Hamilton, Jr. Howard Bank ⁄ Ober | Kaler + Kramon & Graham P.A. + M&T Bank Mr. & Mrs. Neil A. Meyerhoff + Mr. & Mrs. Bryan Murphy + Peoples Bank Mr. & Mrs. Charles J. Nabit + Mr. & Mrs. George K. Reynolds III + Mr. & Mrs. John R. Rockwell SC&H Group ⁄ Capital One + Mr. & Mrs. Stephen Shawe + Wells Fargo + Mr. & Mrs. Scott Alan Wieler
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1913 pARTy Gold Sponsor Mercedes-Benz of Hunt Valley Bronze Sponsor Land Rover of Hunt Valley + The Honorable William H. Cole IV
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MUSEUM NEWS
OFF THE WALL
The Walters’ Off the Wall project continues to entertain people in the community, and this fall we’re installing eight new works in eight new locations. Beginning in September, you can seek out and find beautiful reproductions at parks including the Oregon Ridge Nature Center and Saint Mary’s Park; at businesses like the Quintessential Gentleman and the Artful Gourmet; and at local landmarks, like the Historic Courthouse in Towson. Visit thewalters.org for an updated map of locations.
The Walters Enthusiasts (WE) is a new group committed to creating fun programs for our younger members. Through volunteer opportunities, educational activities, and special events organized around the museum’s spectacular collection, the WE opens the door to enjoyment, learning, and making new connections. Recent activities include a tour of the Manuscript Library coupled with a drink tasting and a Happy Hour at the exclusive Centre Club. To learn more, contact we@thewalters.org, and join the WE Facebook group. Annual dues are just $25. WE hope to see you at our next event!
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MUSEUM NEWS ➊
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DIRECTOR’S DINNER
On June 11, 170 members of the Annual Giving Circles gathered for the annual Director’s Dinner. Before the seated dinner on the Sculpture Court, Executive Director Julia Marciari-Alexander spoke about “The Walters Art Museum: What Can We Discover?” The Director’s Dinner is a benefit of membership to the Annual Giving Circles at the Director’s Circle level ($2,500–4,999) and above. For more information about the Annual Giving Circles, please contact Julia Keller at jkeller@thewalters.org or 410-547-9000, ext. 314. Photography by Rachel Lea of Ambiance Photogroup ➍
➊ Nancy Dorman, Ted Millspaugh, Dena Testa, Cal Baker, Julia Marciari-Alexander, Peter Stockman, and Hannah Gould ➋ Denise Budnitz, George Roche, and Anne Apgar ➌ Will Perkins and Nancy Zinn ➍ Anna Pappas and Marty Svolos ➎ Bailey Morris-Eck, Franklin Eck, and Barbara Bozzuto ➏ Lynn Rauch, Judy Van Dyke, and Barbara Himmelrich
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WELCOME NEW TRUSTEES
James H. DeGraffenreidt, Jr., is a member of the Maryland State Board of Education, and served as the board’s president from July 2008 through July 2012. He is lead director of the Board of Directors of Massachusetts Life Insurance Company, of which he has been a director since 2002, and has been a member of the Vectren Corporation’s Board of Directors since 2010. Mr. DeGraffenreidt has served as a member of the board of the Harbor Bank of Maryland and Harbor Bankshares Corporation since 1996. He retired in 2009 from the position of chairman and chief executive officer of WGL Holdings, Inc., and its wholly owned subsidiaries, including Washington Gas Light Company, where he worked for 23 years. From 1978 to 1981 Mr. DeGraffenreidt practiced law as an associate in the firm of McKenna, Wilkinson and Kittner with a focus on regulated industries. Mr. DeGraffenreidt earned his J.D. and M.B.A. from Columbia University in 1978 and a B.A. from Yale College in 1974. His wife of 35 years, Dr. Mychelle Y. Farmer, is a 1975 graduate of Yale College and received her M.D. from Cornell Medical School in 1979. They have four children and have lived in Baltimore since 1979. James served previously on the Walters Board from 1998 to 2009.
Mary J. Demory joins The Board as the representitive of City Council President Bernard C. “Jack” Young. She is a life-long resident of Baltimore City, a community leader, and human service advocate. She is a licensed certified social worker who has worked as an administrator in healthcare and government relations for most of her career. She was the founding executive director of Associated Black Charities, and she spent four years building the foundation for the organization, which is now in its 25th year. In 2008 Mrs. Demory retired from Bon Secours Baltimore Health System with more than 30 years of service. She returned to work in 2011 and accepted a position as executive assistant to the president of the City Council of Baltimore. Mrs. Demory is a graduate of the Greater Baltimore LEADERSHIP and has served on numerous boards and commissions, effecting change and influencing policy to benefit and protect the citizens of the Baltimore metropolitan area. She is the president of the Board of Directors of Baltimore Neighborhoods, Inc., a fair-housing organization, and represents the Baltimore City Council president on the Public Arts Commission.
Yvonne E. Lenz began a two-year term as chair of the Women’s Committee in May 2013; she was this year’s co-chair of a very successful Art Blooms and also co-chaired the event in 2012. She has been a member of the Women’s Committee since 2007 and has been a Baltimore resident since 1988. She has a B.A. in neurophysiology and Ph.D. in neuroscience from the University of Toronto. In the 1980s, Dr. Lenz was coordinator of research and government relations, then medical products manager at the Innovations Foundation of the University of Toronto. In Baltimore, she was medical products manager, at Triad Investors Corporation (a forprofit subsidiary of The Johns Hopkins University) and a marketing manager and consultant for research subsidiaries of the university. Her husband, Dr. Frederick Lenz, is professor of neurosurgery at The Johns Hopkins University. They have two sons.
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MUSEUM NEWS
THE WALTERS LEGACY SOCIETY On April 16, 40 members of the Walters Legacy Society and their guests enjoyed afternoon tea and light fare on the Sculpture Court followed by a behind-the-scenes tour of our exhibition New Eyes on America: The Genius of Richard Caton Woodville.
The Walters Legacy Society recognizes and honors those friends who have made a commitment to support the Walters Art Museum through their will or other planned gift. If you have included the Walters in your will or other estate plan, please let us know, as you are automatically a member of our Legacy Society. If you are interested in making a planned gift to the Walters, please call the Walters or speak with your professional advisor. There are many creative ways to support our mission of bringing art and people together for enjoyment, discovery, and learning. For additional information, please contact Ashley Mancinelli, J.D., Manager, Gift Planning and Major Gifts, at 410-547-9000, ext. 387, or visit our website: thewalters.plannedgiving.org.
MUSEUM RENTALS
Did you know you can rent the Knight’s Hall located inside the Medieval Galleries for a dinner for 20 guests? With eight available spaces for rental, including the Sculpture Court, Ancient World and Medieval World Lobbies, and the Graham Auditorium, there truly is a space for any event. Each year thousands of visitors come to the Walters by way of the rentals program not only to enjoy the collection but to celebrate weddings, attend networking gatherings, and participate in events with colleagues and friends. The museum can accommodate groups of up to 200 for a seated dinner and has even hosted cocktail receptions for 700. This year we are very excited to welcome 12 caterers who will work with clients to design menus and décor that complement the museum setting: Catering by Uptown, Charles Levine Caterers & Events, Chef’s Expressions, The Classic Catering People, Innovative Gourmet, Linwoods Catering, Occasions Caterers, The Pantry, Ridgewells Catering, Rouge Fine Catering, Sascha’s Catering, and Simply Elegant Catering. More information for each of these caterers and additional information about holding an event at the Walters can be found on the museum’s website: thewalters.org/ about/rentals 22 × THEWALTERS.ORG
MUSEUM NEWS
GRANTS Due to generous and sustained support from many, the Walters Art Museum brings people from our local community and region together with extraordinary art. With a deep sense of gratitude, we extend thanks and appreciation to elected officials at the state and local levels for grants that support the museum. Grants from Baltimore City, the Maryland State Arts Council, the Baltimore County Commission on Arts and Sciences, Howard County Government, the Howard County Arts Council, and the Maryland State Department of Education provide a solid foundation to keep the Walters open, awesome, and free!
ANNUAL GIVING CIRCLES $250–50,000
Many thanks to those individuals, corporations and foundations who joined the Annual Giving Circles for the first time in fiscal year 2013 (July 1, 2012–June 30, 2013). Campbell & Company, Inc.
Anonymous Susan & Mark Adams Aimée & Steve Adashek Shirley & Charles Albert Kathleen & Karl Alexander Maki & Garrett Bainbridge Kathleen Basham Madelyn & Howell Baum Susan & Miles Baxter Carole & Arthur Bell Joyce Ann Burman & David Greif Rebecca Besson & Stuart Cooper Joann Bodurtha& Thomas Smith Darlene Bookoff Barbara & Jon Boone Michael Bosse Doug Bowers Cindy & John Bowie Frona Brown Mary Jo Campbell Richard Cassidy Carolyn & Thomas Cassilly Becky & Jason Chamberlain Betty & Dan Chemers Sue Lin Chong Laura & Jim Cholet Hazel Chung-Hood Sally Craig Thomas Crusse & David Imre Margery Dannenberg Susan & Tim Davis Sarah Finlayson & Lindley DeGarmo
Support from federal sources empowers the museum to develop and present innovative programming and exhibitions. We are grateful to our federal officials for supporting the budgets of the National Endowment for the Humanities, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the Institute of Museum and Library Services. Grants from these agencies are crucial to the Walters’ success. Each year, thousands of schoolchildren and adults enjoy all the Walters has to offer as a result of this funding, and we are thrilled to say, “Thank you!”
Richard Dellheim Susan & Edward Dickey Thelma & David Driskell Susan Dugan-Konka & Paul Konka Elizabeth & Robert Fetter Lori & Michael Gajewski Carol & George Galifianakis Brian Gamble & Henry Harbin Minnie & John Gillett Jennifer & Morgan Gilligan Jerry Guchemand Diana & David Harley James Hart Claire Hartman Pam & Sam Himmelrich Jean Hinckley Sandra Hoffman Al B. Honick Claire & Ralph Hruban Cynthia & Mark Humphrey Suzanne Hurst & Sam Peters Barbara Ipsaro Jean Jackson & Claudia Sydnor Alfonso & Judith Janoski Ronald Javitch Patricia Jayne & Christopher Barr Sian Jones Marilynn Katatsky & Richard Kaufmann Kate & Brian Kilmer John Kitson & Andrew Pappas Jane & Henry Kramer Frances & Tim Krongard Kelly & Fitz Lance Yvonne & Frederick Lenz Carolyn & Carlton Leverette Ann & Lee Lundy Kathryn MacLane Tina M. Martin Mary-jo Mather Betty & Harry T. Mauler Lorinda & Timothy A. McColgan Carol McCord
Julie McDill & Ben Hobbs David Miranda & Peter Halsad Eddie Molesworth Cindi & Tom Monahan James Morrison & Mark McMullen Katharine Mountcastle & Mark Koster Rochelle Newman & David Rossell Susan & Francis Niedenfuhr Theresa Ottery & Tom Norris Zinon Mark Pappas Anne Perkins Kathleen Petersen &Richard Baum Janice Piccinini Florence Platt Virginia Pond Winfred & Rosemary Prange Nancy Rice & John Stephenson Frances & George Riepe Doris Sanders Monika & Eugene Schnell Mary & James Scrivener Mary Pat & Bob Seurkamp Vinita & Brij Sharma Francis & Jane Sinek Craig Singer & George Garmer Martha Sinis Karen & Michael Smith Sharon & Paul Smith Lenel Srochi & John Meyerhoff Susan & Michael Stein Mary Ruth Talley Anna Teaff & Donald McPherson Mary Tilghman & Ray Truitt Maja & Constantine Triantafilou Alvin Wagenheim Barbara & Sandy Weeks Isobel Weiner Ruth Westheimer Todd Wilson & Edward Delaplaine Vickie Wilson Peggy and Tom Wright Rachel Wynn THEWALTERS.ORG × 23
600 n. charles st. baltimore, md 21201-5185 thewalters.org / 410-547-9000
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Designed for Flowers : Contemporary Japanese Ceramics February 23–May 11, 2014 Just in time for the first blossoms of spring, this exhibition will explore the tradition, the practice, and the simple beauty of Ikebana, Japan’s distinctive manner of arranging flowers. Starting in February 2014, you will have the chance to explore the long history of Japanese flower arranging, learn the basic tenets of this complex living art, and understand the important role that vases play as they support these expressive arrangements. Combining the work of living Ikebana designers with the richness of the Feinberg Collection of Contemporary Japanese Ceramics, this exhibition will transport you to a world rooted in Japanese tradition, elegantly designed to pique your curiosity and filled with extraordinary examples of contemporary ceramic art.
Tokuda Yasokichi III / Globular Vase / Porcelain / ca. 2000 / Betsy and Robert Feinberg Collection