Date: Fri 24-Sep-1999

Publication: Ant

Author: MARION

Quick Words:

Griwswold

Full Text:

Florence Griswold Museum Special Exhibit Offers Behind The Scenes Look At

Florence Griswold

(with 3 cuts)

OLD LYME, CONN. -- "Collecting for the Future: Gifts in Honor of the

Centennial" is an exhibition that takes the viewer inside the Florence

Griswold Museum's offices and archives for a behind-the-scenes look at the

process of building and maintaining an internationally recognized collection.

This innovative exhibition uses over 40 items recently given to the museum in

honor of the Centennial of the founding of the Lyme Art Colony to provide

visitors the opportunity to explore the documentation, care and use of

collections. Visitors can reflect upon how collections are formed and consider

the issues involved in building a permanent collection. The exhibition is on

view through November 28.

Artists' relatives, collectors, and artists themselves all play an important

part in building a museum's collection. "Artists' descendants have long played

a key role in adding to the museum's holdings," explains Jack Becker, museum

curator. "They are concerned with keeping alive the artist's reputation and

usually have historical information about their family member that is

important for the archives."

One of many examples of donations made by descendants found in "Collecting for

the Future" is "Red-Headed Woman" (circa 1918), a remarkable work by

accomplished figurative painter Ivan Olinsky (1878-1962). The painting was

given to the museum by the artist's daughter, Lenore O. Miller of Kent, Conn.

and two grandsons, Richard H. Miller of New York City and John L. Miller of

Cornwall, Conn. John and Richard Miller have made clear their desire not only

to preserve their grandfather's work but to make it readily available to the

public. They chose to offer "Red-Headed Woman" to the museum because it is so

representative of Olinsky's art.

Collectors give to museums as a way of sharing their passion for a style,

subject or artist. A local collector explains, "Art taps into the most

personal of emotions. `Summer Clouds' by Henry Ward Ranger is one of our

favorite works. Giving it to a museum like the Florence Griswold will enable

others to enjoy it."

Artist Jennie Stark, 97, of Lyme has been creating hooked rugs for over 50

years. The addition of one of her works demonstrates the museum's interest in

the ongoing creativity of the Lyme region. Ms. Stark states, "I am very proud

that the museum wanted an example of my work. It is important to keep the

tradition of craft alive."

"Collecting for the Future" celebrates new acquisitions and highlights the

diversity and uniqueness of the museum's collection. From an Eighteenth

century work purse, original letters and genealogical materials to important

Lyme Art Colony paintings and a Walker Evans photograph, the diverse items

document over three centuries of life and creativity in Old Lyme and

southeastern Connecticut. Today the Florence Griswold Museum is the sole

institution dedicated to collecting the work of artists from the nationally

significant Lyme Art Colony.

Visitors to "Collecting for the Future" will be the first to use the Museum's

new collections management database, Embark. A computer kiosk will enable

visitors to view items from the museum's permanent collection and retrieve

selected information about the artists and their work. Funded by a grant from

the Homeland Foundation of New York City, museum staff and volunteers have

been working over three years to input information on almost 4,000 objects

into the system. Currently the database features over 200 full color

photographs of items in the collection, with the number growing each week.

Centerbrook Architects and Planners, Centerbrook, Conn., a nationally

recognized design firm and winner of the 1998 American Institute of Architects

Distinguished Firm Award have finished designs for a new gallery building

which is scheduled to be completed in 2002. To share with visitors how the

museum will care for its collection in the future, the plans and model for the

proposed building are displayed in the exhibition. The entire project

represents an important chapter in the Museum's history of collecting,

preserving, exhibiting and interpreting the region's rich heritage.

"Collecting for the Future: Gifts in Honor of the Centennial" is made possible

by the generous support of Salomon Smith Barney.

The Florence Griswold Museum is a National Historic Landmark located at 96

Lyme Street. It is home to the Lyme Art Colony, America's best-known center of

Impressionist painting. Museum hours are Tuesday through Saturday, 10 am to 5

pm, and Sunday, 1 pm to 5 pm. For more information, call 860/434-5542.