VOLUME XXVIII ISSUE 1
THE LEHIGH VALLEY | SEPTEMBER /OCTOBER 2021
ARTYFACTS
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Welcome to a new year of ARTYFACTS SOTA "Society of the Arts" I hope you all have enjoyed your summer. Please take your time enjoying this issue. We are sharing some highlights from the summer's news and events as we prepare for an exciting 2021-22. I am looking forward to all the amazing things we have planned for the coming year, and even more excited that we get to do some things face to face. Wandra Cain-editor
SOTA meeting schedule 2021-2022 SOTA Board Meetings - all are 9:30am - 11:30am in LMR (or zoom) September 8 October 13 November 10 December 8 (may be in different location) January 12 February 9 March 9 April 13 May 11 June 8 (may be in different location) SOTA General Meetings - all are 9:30am - 11:30am in Aud. - except May September 15 November 17 January19 (snow date January 26) March 16 May 18 - Annual Luncheon location and time TBD
In this Issue On the Cover: Getty Pro President's Letter What's Happening at AAM SOTA Volunteer of the Year
SOTA Events SOTA Print SOTA Chair Reports SOTA Financial Details SOTA Announcements
For More information please visit us at www.sotapa.org also follow us on social media facebook and instagram @society_of_the_artslv
PRESIDENT'S LETTER
Valerie Johnson
Welcome back to a new SOTA Year! I’m looking forward to starting this year with a renewed energy and focus! We weren’t able to do many of our usual activities last year. I know we all missed the group effort and enthusiasm for our shared mission of supporting the programs at the Museum. I am hopeful that this year will be a return to a “nearly normal” routine, with committees fully engaged in their activities and all of our members able to come and enjoy all that the Museum has to offer. In spite of the reduced ability to gather, we were able to pivot, adapt and stay flexible. Those are skills that will continue to be valuable no matter what. The Fundraising Committee did a phenomenal job creating new opportunities to raise funds this past year. They held an art raffle in the fall and then put together a series of virtual wine tasting events over the summer. They embraced new ideas and created very successful and fun events. Many thanks to all of you who participated, either by helping with the events or purchasing tickets. It’s all part of our shared mission to support the Museum. The next Fundraising event is Luncheon With the Authors. Details of this event can be found in this issue and also on the SOTA website. This is our 9th year of LWTA! Please consider supporting this event in some way, either by purchasing a ticket, purchasing the books that are offered or by making a small donation. Every little bit helps! As we start the new year we welcome some new faces to the SOTA Board. I announced at the May Luncheon that Debra Sanek would be the new SOTA Programs Chair and that Willy Byrd would be the new Junior Sustaining Advisor. In addition Carol Shiner Wilson will be the new Development Assistants Chair and Molly Faust will be stepping in as Docent Chair. Terri Bartholomew finished her term as Sustaining Advisor and due to family and personal obligations Mali Kline, Cathy Button and Loran Staehle have all stepped down from serving on the Board. Thank you all for offering your time and talent to our organization. The final bits of news that I would like to share with you are opportunities that came up mid-summer. The Board had a special meeting in July to discuss these. First, it looks like we will have a Showhouse in the Spring of 2022! Marsha and Martin Heimann have generously offered their home for this traditional SOTA fundraiser. Much more information to follow on this. Finally, look for the dynamic members of the SOTA Board to be featured in the upcoming Arts and Culture issue of Fig Magazine. You can see “behind the scenes” of our photo shoot in this issue. Thank you Kate Hughes for bringing this opportunity to our attention. We are hoping that this outreach will serve as a great recruiting tool for new members. Let’s all get busy and “Embrace the Future” of SOTA! best always, Val
Allentown Art Museum
What's happening at AAM HEALTH AND SAFETY PRECAUTIONS ADJUSTED HOURS
Adjusted hours are Thursdays-Sundays, 11am-4pm, Third Thursdays 11am - 8 pm. On Sundays we will continue to offer free admission to the public, with timed ticketing. The Museum Store is open. Art Ways is open and masks are required. GET YOUR TICKET NOW click this link - http:www.allentownartmuseum.org for more information
Exhibitions Ongoing and Upcoming at AAM
Ai Weiwei: Golden Age
Rembrandt’s Return: A Complement of Prints
Washi Transformed: New Expressions in Japanese Paper
Allentown Art Museum Meet the Security Team at the Allentown Musuem
Allentown Art Museum New Staff Members at the Allentown Art Musuem There are a few additional new faces on the Museum Staff. Ann Fitzpatrick is the new Executive Assistant in the President’s office, a newly created position of Human Resources Manager has been filled by Stacy Ross and Maria McWilliams is the new Museum Registrar. Also welcome Saide Saddiq and Joh Hartman who just started on 9/1/21. More info on these postitions to follow. If you see one of these new staff members, please stop to say hello. Leaving the Museum Staff is Jackie Jones, VP for Development. We will miss her and wish her well at her new position with Historic Bethlehem Museums.
Ann Fitzpatrick Executive Assistant afitzpatrick@allentownartmuseum.org 610.432.4333 ext 121
Stacy Ross Human Resources Manager sross@allentownartmuseum.org 610.432.4333 ext 122
Photo not available at time of publication
Maria McWilliams Museum Registrar mmcwilliams@allentownartmuseum.org 610.432.4333 ext 137
9th Annual Luncheon with the Authors We’re looking forward to seeing you at our 9th annual Luncheon with the Authors, benefiting the Allentown Art Museum and featuring three nationally acclaimed authors. This year’s event returns to the Lehigh Country Club at 11:00am on Thursday, October 7, where guests will enjoy a lively panel discussion and audience Q&A with the authors—emceed by PBS39 News 2020 Emmy® Award-Winning Video Journalist, Brittany Sweeney. The 2021 books and authors selected for the luncheon are: Fifty Words for Rain by Asha Lemmie Fifty Words for Rain is an epic, coming of age story that spans years and countries. It begins with Noriko, the abandoned daughter of a woman from a prominent Japanese family and an African American soldier; mixed race with dark skin, who’s existence is so shameful, she is hidden away in the attic of her grandmother’s estate in post WWII Japan. Suffering unthinkable abuse and neglect, Noriko (Nori) questions who she is and what she deserves, longing to be out in the world and loved by family. When her halfbrother, Akira, arrives at the grandparents’ estate, he chooses to show Nori kindness and fight for her freedom, allowing their special bond to give her strength and hope. Surviving Savannah by Patti Callahan When Savannah history professor Everly Winthrop is asked to guest-curate a new museum collection focusing on artifacts recovered from the steamship Pulaski, she's shocked. The ship sank after a boiler explosion in 1838, and the wreckage was just discovered, 180 years later. Everly can't resist the opportunity to try to solve some of the mysteries and myths surrounding the devastating night of its sinking. Everly's research leads her to the astounding history of a family of eleven who boarded the Pulaski together, and the extraordinary stories of two women from this family: a known survivor, Augusta Longstreet, and her niece, Lilly Forsyth, who was never found, along with her child. These aristocratic women were part of Savannah's society, but when the ship exploded, each was faced with difficult and heartbreaking decisions. This is a moving and powerful exploration of what women will do to endure in the face of tragedy, the role fate plays, and the myriad ways we survive the surviving. The Kindest Lie by Nancy Johnson It’s 2008, and the inauguration of President Barack Obama ushers in a new kind of hope. In Chicago, Ruth Tuttle, an Ivy-League educated Black engineer, is married to a kind and successful man. He’s eager to start a family, but Ruth is uncertain. She has never gotten over the baby she gave birth to—and was forced to leave behind—when she was a teenager. She had promised her family she’d never look back, but Ruth knows that to move forward, she must make peace with the past. Returning home, Ruth discovers the Indiana factory town of her youth is plagued by unemployment, racism, and despair. As she begins digging into the past, she unexpectedly befriends Midnight, a young white boy who is also adrift and looking for connection. Just as Ruth is about to uncover a burning secret her family desperately wants to keep hidden, a traumatic incident strains the town’s already searing racial tensions, sending Ruth and Midnight on a collision course that could upend both their lives. Powerful and revealing, The Kindest Lie captures the heartbreaking divide between Black and white communities and offers both an unflinching view of motherhood in contemporary America and the never-ending quest to achieve the American Dream. for more information about the event visit the SOTA website. www.sotapa.org
Many thanks to all the LWTA team for working behind the scene. Hopefully you have gotten your invitation . If you haven't registered there is still time . go to www.sotapa.org/lwta2021 to find out how to get your ticket.
Behind the scenes photo shoot with SOTA Board for FIG Magazine starring our newest future SOTA member Tallula Orloski!
SOTA VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR It is with honor that I get to present our Volunteer of the Year to an amazing lady who has been an integral part of SOTA and the museum for over a decade. A philanthropic woman, who gives so much of herself not only to our organization, but also to the community at large. She joined SOTA in 2011 and immediately began making a difference. As a long-time member of the SOTA Programs Committee, she has offered her knowledge of event planning and her amazing cooking skills, providing tasty goodies for our general meetings. As the chair of the Programs Committee from 20162018, she was instrumental in inviting motivational guest speakers who enlivened and stimulated our meetings. For several years, she has also been on the Curatorial Committee, providing tremendous support to the museum staff. Her love for fashion and old movies was put to great use when the curatorial department prepared for Gene London’s exhibition. Our Volunteer of the Year has been a sterling asset to this committee. This hard-working lady also played a big role in the last few SOTA Show Houses, volunteering to chair the House Operations Committee, where she worked tirelessly to ensure that the Show Houses always looked their best. She painted signs, laid down mats on rainy days, and stocked and replenished cleaning supplies, among many other tasks—all with great panache and while wearing high heels!! This past year, which has been a challenging one for all of us, our wonderful volunteer has been a driving force for the SOTA Program Committee. Before each general meeting, the committee coordinated, prepared and delivered breakfast treats to randomly selected SOTA members. This vital gesture was a “treat” during an unsettling year! Always willing to go an extra mile, our Volunteer of the Year opened her home so that program committee members could work together to address May Luncheon invitations. She also coordinated our May Luncheon orders. A well-organized lady who does a phenomenal job given any task at hand, regardless of the minuteness or magnitude of work involved. In addition to her time with SOTA, our Volunteer of the Year has also supported the Museum for many years as a member of the Kress Committee. She has helped plan events, lectures and interesting trips for the Museum’s donor group. She and her husband have frequently hosted events at their home in support of the museum. Our Volunteerof the Year always has the best for the organizations in mind. She truly is a treasure for SOTA and the Allentown Art Museum. It is with great pleasure and overwhelming support, that I introduce the 2021 SOTA Volunteer of the Year, Pat Beldon!
"SOTA CHAIR'S REPORTS " PERSONNEL CHAIR Peggy Herman August/September 2021 Welcome to a new SOTA Year!! Thank you to members who returned the Year-End-Update Form. Completed forms help us keep our database and Yearbook information current. I’m looking forward to seeing many of you at the General Meetings in 2021-2022. Won’t it be fun to gather again with friends and spend time at the museum. In the meantime, Yearbooks will be printed and mailed soon, but the following list will keep you updated with SOTA member changes. If you have changes to your personal information over the coming months, please send them to me at peggycherman@gmail.com. For up to date directory information you can also visit the members only section on the SOTA website. MEMBER CHANGES/UPDATES: PHONE CHANGES: Karen Albert – drop home phone Maureen Bechtel – drop home phone Peggy Berger – drop home phone; add cell: 610-703-9958 Judy Bloeser – drop home phone Lona Farr – home phone: 610-419-9166 Connie Hansell – home phone: 203-202-2554 Susan Harris – change home phone: 610-730-9303 Val Johnson – drop home phone Kerry Kollhoff – drop home phone Donna Leibensperger – add home: 610-965-3221; add cell: 610-428-5106 Nancy Light – change cell: 610-417-9532 Sara MacGowan – drop home phone (new phone not yet available) Kathy McAuley – add cell phone: 610-360-7358 Vindya Raghavchari – add office phone: 570-216-7119 Joan Reyes – drop home phone Cynthia Schiffer – change cell: 610-417-1666 Martha White – drop home phone; add cell phone: 484-264-8033 Carol Shiner Wilson – change home phone: 484-898-8024 ADDRESS UPDATES/CHANGES: Karen Albert 1207 Parkview Drive Haverford, PA 19041 Connie Hansell 1 Parklands Drive, Apt 108 Darien, CT 06820 Judith Kramer 8101 Woodmont Circle Macungie, PA 18062 Yvonne Kuklis -(home phone may change) 1636 Barkwood Drive Orefield , PA 18069
Sara MacGowan (drop current home phone, new phone not yet available) 577 Riverswood Way Bethlehem, PA 18018 Jacqueline Sellers 114 Old Forge Drive Bath, PA 18014 Donna Serio 3419 Honeysuckle Road Bethlehem, PA 18017 Shannon Sigafoos 4378 Spruce Street Whitehall, PA 18052 Betty Silfies 800 Hausman Rd., Apt 103 Allentown, PA 18104 Penny Spugnardi – Bethlehem address contact dates: May 3 – Oct 26, 2021 Myra St. John 964 Kirby Drive Fort Mill, SC 29715 Martha White 501 White Birch Court Pittsburgh, PA 15238 Donna Wood 2821 Sheffield Drive Emmaus, PA 18049 EMAIL CHANGES: Kate Hughes – k8hughesart@gmail.com Betty Silfies – bettisil39@ptd.net Tillie Vastine – vastimbers@msn.com Betsy Walton-Phillips – bwpbetsy@ptd.net Donna Wood – stonewoodinteriorspa@gmail.com RESIGNATIONS: Sally Bagin Kate Burke Gale Schmidt Ellenberger GeanAnn Frack Danielle Kulnis Marsha Schaffer Attendance General Meeting (Zoom) May 2021 Active – 33 Apprentice – 3 Professional - 2 Sustainer – 16 Non-Resident - 1 TOTAL MEMBERS - 55 Respectfully submitted, Peggy Herman
"SOTA CHAIR'S REPORTS" ADMISSIONS COMMITTEE Diane MacConnell The Admissions Committee is anticipating a busy and exciting year. Our 2021-2022 calendar is brimming with both informational meetings and social events beginning with an Apprentice-Board Coffee at the museum on on Sept 20th. Is there someone you know that might like to join our Apprentice Class? Perhaps you have a friend or family member who is an art enthusiast and interested in giving back to their community. Maybe you know of a neighbor or co-worker who has recently retired and is looking to begin an exciting new chapter. If so, please consider sponsoring them as an Apprentice. It is through the help of our Active members and Sustainers that we can continue to bring enthusiasm and ingenuity into our already vibrant organization.
SUSTAINING ADVISORS Sharon Kimmerle and Willy Byrd Mark your calendar , our Annual Sustainer Wine and Cheese Party Monday, November 8, Allentown Art Museum . Looking forward to seeing everyone.
"SOTA CHAIR'S REPORTS" FUNDRAISING CHAIR Jill Stevens I am so happy to report that SOTA’s summer Virtual Wine Tasting series was a huge success! A fun time was had by all that attended. The committee is currently working on a spring fundraiser, A SHOWHOUSE!!! Yes, you read that right. SOTA will have a showhouse in spring 2022! Our own SOTA member, Marsha Heimann has graciously offered us her beautiful house in the West End of Allentown. We are currently working on dates and details. Please stay tuned. Any questions , please reach out to me !
ARTVENTURE CHAIR Barbara Trupman With the opening of the Museum to visitors the Crayola classroom also opened inside for fun art projects for visitors to complete. This popular Sunday afternoon offering has SOTA volunteers assisting the Museum staff in implementing the art projects. I am happy and grateful to report that the members of the ArtVentures committee stepped up to volunteer throughout the summer months at the Museum in the Crayola classroom. Things are a little different due to COVID but the fun continues every Sunday and I applaud my marvelous SOTA ArtVentures volunteers.
"SOTA CHAIR'S REPORTS" 2020-2021 FINANCIAL SUMMARY Jill Weinhold
September 2021 Artyfacts Treasurer’s Report 6/30/2021 Operations Checking Balance 6/30/2021 Fundraising Checking Balance 6/30/2021 SOTA Money Market Balance
Operating Saving Fundraising Unrestricted Savings Fundraising Restricted Savings
$10,864.09 $10,192.67 $40,816.56
32,529.25 1,448.35 6838.96
_____________________________________________________________________ Total SOTA Account Balances as of: 6/30/2021 40,816.56 61,873.32 _____________________________________________________________________ 6/30/2021 Print Fund Balance : $64,432.55 6/30/2021 SEE Fund Balance : $245,410.20
Amazon Smile Charity Receipts News Flash!!! Thank you to all SOTA members and their family/friends who have allocated the Society of the Arts as the charity of choice with their Amazon Smile account. This past quarter our receipts rose to $17.33. Almost triple of our largest past donation. Please continue to spread the word to increase revenue generated from Amazon Smile for SOTA.
"SOTA CHAIR'S REPORTS" 2021 FINANCIAL SUMMARY Jill Weinhold
"SOTA CHAIR'S REPORTS"
PRINT COMMITTEE Sarah Montano Title: Latona Giving Birth to Apollo and Diana on the Island of Delos Artist: Scultori, Diana (after Giulio Romano) Artist Bio: Italian engraver, ca. 15471612 (Italian painter and architect, probably 1499-1546) Year: ca. 1575 Culture: European, Italian Materials: Engraving on laid paper Measurements: Image: 10 1/4 x 14 7/8 in (26.035 x 37.7825 cm); Sheet: 11 3/8 x 15 1/4 in (28.8925 x 38.735 cm) ID Number: 1998.019.000 Purchase: SOTA Print Fund, 1998.
Diana Scultori (1536-1588) One of the earliest known women printmakers was Diana Scultori (1536-1588) born in Mantua, Italy. One of the reasons we know about Scultori’s work is she signed her prints, which she did from her earliest known composition, The Continence of Scipio, 1542, to her last. A birthdate in the late 1520's is more likely, given the math-most of us would agree that accomplishing an engraving at the age of six is unlikely, no matter how good she was. Scultori was one of four children of Giovanni Battista Scultori, who lived and operated a print workshop in Mantua. She learned printmaking in her father’s studio and executed a number of prints reproducing the compositions of several artists including Giulio Roman her neighbor, who was a pupil of Raphael. Scultori engraved around sixty-two prints that mainly consisted of religious and mythological subjects. In 1998 the SOTA Print Fund helped to purchase a print by Scultori, Latona Giving Birth to Apollo and Diana on the Island of Delos created in 1557. The print describes the story of Latona, a classical mythology, a Titan, the daughter of Coeus and Pheobe, and the mother of god Apollo and the goddess Diana. The chief places of her legend were Delos and Delphi. Latona is most famous because of her relationship with Zeus, which resulted in giving birth to two divine children, who would later be considered amongst the twelve Olympian gods. As the story goes, everything started when Hera found out that Latona was pregnant by her husband, Zeus. Furious and ashamed of this betrayal from Zeus, she cursed Latona not to find a solid ground or island on earth to give birth to her children. Latona, in labor and pain, wandered around Greece to find a place to give birth; however, people did not let her close to their homes, afraid of Hera’s anger. The myth says she reached the barren isle of Delos, which was a wandering rock borne about by the waves until it was fixed to the bottom of the sea for the birth of Apollo and Diana. Sarah
31 North Fifth Street Allentown, PA 18101
SOTA General Meeting Wednesday, September 15, 2021 AAM Auditorium
9:15 a.m Reunte with fellow SOTA Members 9:30 a.m. Meeting begins Guest Speaker - Max Weintraub BOOKS BY THE LWTA AUTHORS AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE
