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Artifacts Summer 2013

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The Grace Museum's Summer 2013 Newsletter
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SUMMER 2013 A Publication of The Grace Museum | Abilene, Texas
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Page 1: Artifacts Summer 2013

S U M M E R 2 01 3 A Publication of The Grace Museum | Abilene, Texas

Page 2: Artifacts Summer 2013

F R O M T H E D I R E C T O R

GRACE MUSEUM STAFF Administrative | Laura Moore, Executive Director | Vicki Butts,

Director of Finance and Human Resources | Emerald Cassidy, Director of Marketing

and Communications | Sheila Richardson, Events Coordinator | Sarah Tenison, Guest

Relations and Volunteer Coordinator | Curatorial Department | Judy Tedford Deaton,

Chief Curator | Rebecca Bridges, Registrar | Erika Aragon Parker, Collections Manager

| Wade Vander Wilt, Preparator | Education Department | Kathryn Mitchell, Director

of Education | Molly Longmire, Grants and Special Programs Manager | Facility | Steve

Clemmer, Facilities Manager | Rick Logan, Museum Security | Tony Torres, Museum

Technician

GRACE MUSEUM BOARD OF TRUSTEES Cade Browning, Chair | Jerry Love,

Treasurer | Patti Jo Mendenhall, Secretary | Joann Adcock | Randy Armstrong,

Ph.D. | Marci Braden | Melanie Brown | Becky Colman | Jesse Fletcher, Ph.D.

| Mary Gill | Cynthia Gillespie | Jason Groves | Jay Hardaway | Leland Harden

| Melody Hunt | Martha Kiel | Tiffany Lamb | Mishi Mathur | Kathy Morehead |

Bob Nutt | Kaye Price-Hawkins | Alice Specht | Karen Turner | Rick Weatherl |

Carol Windham

L A U R A M O O R E , E X E C U T I V E D I R E C T O R

Staff Salute The Grace Museum’s exhibitions and educational programs are implemented by a team of dedicated staff. Read this new feature to be introduced to the talented people at The Grace.

VICKI BUTTS “I started at The Grace Museum on May 16, 2006. The most fulfilling aspect of what I do at The Grace is assisting the Board, Executive Director and staff with monitoring the budget and finances of the museum. The Grace is an important part of Abilene's history and is well supported by this community. Having the opportunity to serve as the Director of Finance and Human Resources is a blessing. In the seven years I have worked here, I have been a part of many wonderful events. Two of my favorite have been Kidz Fests that brought over 5,000 people to the museum, and the David Bates exhibition that left us with my favorite piece of art in the collection, the Great Horned Owl II painting.”

STEVE CLEMMER “I started at The Grace Museum on May 10, 2013. What I like most about what I do at The Grace is that it is something different every day. With my previous job at Abilene Independent School District, I became familiar with a daily routine. But, at The Grace there is usually something new every day. I like that. In the short while I have been a part of the staff at the museum, I have come to enjoy the Children’s Art and Literacy Festival (CALF) and the opening reception for the art exhibitions. It is a nice thing to see the museum full with people from the community.”

Saturday, August 24th promises to be preeminent in the life of The Grace as we celebrate the selfless service and

unrivaled devotion which Mary Gill gives to Abilene and to the Museum. All of the past Fall Benefits have found Mary Gill working tirelessly behind the scenes so it is certainly past due for Abilene to honor her front and center. The Benefit nearly sold out before we even publicized it! We would love to have you share the evening. At this date, tickets are still available.

Support continues to be strong for all aspects of the Museum with the Los Aficionados raising record-level dollars! Also, the Museum Dames raised funds to help outfit a new Brides room on the third floor and they have generously given so that the courtyard can be completed. Beginning Wednesdays in July, we hope

you will pick up your lunch and join with other downtown diners enjoying the courtyard. You can now admire the wall-mounted relics from the beautiful John and Laura Guitar home along with outdoor sculpture from the permanent collection - all in the cool (we hope) surroundings of The Grace courtyard. Visit the Museum in the next few weeks to view the wonderful exhibits that have earned mentions from media across the state. Enjoy lunching in the courtyard or just admiring the history and art of The Grace Museum.

And just so you know and can pass the word….in order to honor our active duty military personnel stationed at Dyess AFB – as well as those stationed elsewhere – they are now guests of the Museum at no cost.

Thank you for supporting The Grace,

Page 3: Artifacts Summer 2013

2 Director’s Report

8 Upcoming Exhibitions

11 Fall Benefit

13 Education

HOURS

Tuesday - Saturday10 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Thursday10 a.m. - 8 p.m.Free Admission 5 p.m. - 8 p.m.

Closed major holidays.

ADMISSION

$8 Adults$4 Seniors/Students/Non-Active Duty Military$3 Children ages 4-12Free Children ages 3 and underMuseum members and active duty military personnel and their families (with ID) are always free.

PARKING

Plenty of free parking is available on the west side of the museum.

CONTACT

(325) 673-4587www.thegracemuseum.org

GROUP TOURS

Kathryn [email protected]

SPECIAL EVENT RENTALS

Sheila [email protected]

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

Sarah [email protected]

3t h e g r a c e m u s e u m . o r g

The Grace Museum’s exhibitions and educational programs are supported in part by: Grace Museum members | a Gift from the Juanita T. Pollard Cultural Fund at the Community Foundation of Abilene | a Gift from the Roy Helen Mingus Ackers Donor Advised Fund at the Community Foundation of Abilene | and grants from: O’Donnell Foundation | Texas Commission on the Arts | Dodge Jones Foundation | Shelton Family Foundation | AT&T Texas | Dian Graves Owen Foundation | Humanities Texas | Abilene Cultural Affairs Council | Priceless Literacy | Hunt Direct Marketing, Inc. | National Endowment for the Arts | Abilene Education Foundation | T&T Family Foundation | WesTex Connect | Abilene Teachers Federal Credit Union | Plan Ahead, Inc. (Kyle Schnitman/Paul Schnitman), Abilene Christian University | Wesley Court Retirement Community | Mesa Springs Senior Living Community | Pharos Resources/Boisvert Family | United Supermarkets

411

ON THE COVER: Paul Manes, The Abyss, 2013, oil on canvas, Courtesy of the the Artist and Cris Worley Fine Arts

ON THIS PAGE: Laura Pickett Calfee, The Dutiful Daughter, Of a Place series, 1998, ilfochrome print, Courtesy of the artist | Laura Pickett Calfee, Pomegranate on Mother’s Sandwich Glass, Still Life series, 2003, archival inkjet print, Courtesy of the artist | Thomas Buchanan Read, Angel Appearing to the Shepherds, 1870, oil on canvas, Courtesy of the Jan and Graham Devoe Williford Charitable Trust

About Artifacts Magazine

Artifacts is a publication of The Grace Museum in Abilene, Texas. The magazine is published three times per year in March, July and November. Artifacts is written by the dedicated staff of The Grace Museum.

S U M M E R 2 01 3 | Issue XXV A Publication of The Grace Museum | Abilene, Texas

Suitable Subjects: Contemporary Still Lifes

2O13 FALL BENEFIT

T H E

Page 4: Artifacts Summer 2013

current exhibitions

4 A R T I F A C T S | S U M M E R 2 0 1 3

Suitable Subjects: Contemporary Still LifesB Y J U D Y T E D F O R D D E AT O N . C H I E F C U R AT O R

Vera Barnett, David Bates, Carol Benson, Ellen Berman, James Blake, Julie Bozzi, Ron A. Cheek, Robert D. Cocke, Laurie Hickman Cox, Kenneth Dixon, James Dowell, David A. Dreyer, Ann Ekstrom, Henry Finkelstein, Barnaby Fitzgerald, Bart Forbes, Lilian Garcia-Roig, Ginger Geyer, J. T. Grant, John Hartley, Tracy Hicks, Cindi Holt, Sedrick Huckaby, Carol Ivey, JunCheng Liu, Paul Manes, Mark Messersmith, Gail Norfleet, Kermit Oliver, Dan Rizzie, Valton Tyler, Mary Vernon, Donna Phipps Stout, Bob Stuth-Wade, Miguel Zapata

Henry FinkelsteinStill Life with

Three Quinces2012

oil on linenPrivate Collection

T he classical definition of a still life—a work of art depicting inanimate, typically commonplace objects that are either

natural (food, flowers or game) or man-made (glasses, books, vases and other collectibles)—conveys little about the rich associations inherent to this genre. In the academic tradition of Western art, still life occupied the lowest position in the hierarchy of the arts, which recognized history painting, portraiture and landscape painting as superior. It was disparaged critically and theoretically as mere copying that lacked artistic

imagination and placed no intellectual demands on the viewer. In the late 19th century still life was one of the few acceptable categories of women artists because it was thought to require less physical exertion and artistic skill.

Suitable Subjects: Contemporary Still Lifes confirms that the humble still life has evolved as a genre worthy of exploration and as one of the current categories of art capable of drifting between homage, imitation and symbolism offering a multitude of options. Drawing on the

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5t h e g r a c e m u s e u m . o r g

work of contemporary artists, the exhibition explores a wealth of aesthetic and conceptual strategies that challenge the shortsighted view of still life as simply an art of imitation. It also underscores why the still life continues to be an important vehicle of expression. This group exhibition examines the genre from several perspectives designed to emphasize the complexity and endurance of still life in the early 21st century.

The West Texas Triangle is a consortium of five accredited museums in central west Texas. Each year The Grace Museum (Abilene), the Old Jail Art Center (Albany), the Museum of the Southwest (Midland), the Ellen Noël Art Museum (Odessa) and the San Angelo Museum of Fine Arts (San Angelo) collaborate to exhibit selected works of one artist at each museum during the summer months. Danville Chadbourne was selected as the featured artist for 2013.

Danville Chadbourne has developed a unique and personalized aesthetic during more than three decades as an artist. Working in ceramic, concrete, wood and stone, Chadbourne creates two and three dimensional abstracted forms that act as totems for his shamanistic impulses. The artist’s stated intent is, “to create a condition in the natural world conducive to a personal experience of discovery, thought, speculation and hopefully, in the end, self-reflection.”

Danville Chadbourne, West Texas Triangle Exhibition 2013THE GRACE MUSEUM, MAY 30 – AUGUST 16 , 2013

Danville ChadbourneThe Necessary Burden of Reflection2005acrylic on earthenware, acrylic and ink on woodCourtesy of the artist

Still life can be a barometer of wonder and of the impulse to collect and display. Exacting portrayals of individual flowers or cubist abstractions that seize on the sensual elements of color, texture and weight are illustrative of the passion to capture, document and celebrate material pleasures and possessions through the counterfeit of the visual image. The still lifes in this exhibition demonstrate skill and mastery of technique as a means to create a personalized illusion of complex beauty, mystery and symbolism. Just as 17th century fruit and flower still lifes were coded with allegory, these 21st century still lifes are laden with personal, political and intellectual insights. Abstractions, assemblage and the deconstruction of the traditional tabletop arrangement show how the genre embraces and stretches beyond the conventions of its historically conservative nature and yet is malleable enough to remain a vital instrument for provocative, contemporary innovations.

David BatesSideboard1985oil on canvasCollection of Claude Albritton

James DowellStrange Egg

1983oil on canvas

Collection of John D. Dowdall

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current exhibitions

Trees, Drawings by Anne C. WearyB Y J U D Y T E D F O R D D E AT O N .C H I E F C U R AT O R

Mary DoyleStill Life with Grapes

1952etching

Collection of The Grace Museum, Gift of Stephen and Jill Wilkinson

“I am a landscape artist. My studio is the outdoors. I love trees, woods and natural areas unspoiled, untouched by man.”

- A N N E C . W E A R Y

T he exhibition features 98 works on paper selected to highlight the breadth and quality of the collection. The works on paper category

refers to drawings, fine art prints and other types of art created on paper such as drawings, watercolors or pastels. Some of the earliest artworks acquisitioned in 1939 were original prints by artists Thomas Hart Benton and Peter Hurd. Over the last seventy-five years, the works on paper collection has grown to include close to a thousand works of art.

Original fine art prints by well-known artists Josef Albers, Milton Avery, Romare Bearden, George Bellows, Alexander Calder, George Catlin, Howard Cook, John Steuart Curry, Adolph Gottlieb, Red Grooms, Rockwell Kent, Lee Krasner, Martin Lewis, Reginald Marsh, Robert Motherwell, Alice Neel, Robert Rauschenberg, Larry Rivers, Andy Warhol, Max Weber, Grant Wood and others are featured. Prints by Texas artists Charles Taylor Bowling, Jerry Bywaters, Otis Dozier, Mary Doyle, Edward G. Eisenlohr, Kelly Fearing, L.O. Griffith, Florence McClung, and Coreen Mary Spellman as well as European artists Francisco Goya and Georges Roualt are also included. Recent additions to the collection include artwork by contemporary artists John Alexander, Helen Altman, Bill Commodore, Melissa Miller, and Bob Stuth-Wade. The exhibition also affords the opportunity to examine a wide variety of fine art print making techniques including woodcut, etching, engraving, lithography, monotype, drypoint, serigraphy, aquatint, mezzotint and wood engraving.

Works on Paper from the Collection of The Grace MuseumB Y J U D Y T E D F O R D D E AT O N ,C H I E F C U R AT O R

T his exhibition of masterful drawings by Anne C. Weary is a testimony to the artist’s lifelong dedication to the preservation and

documentation of wild, untouched woodlands and the art of drawing. After graduation from the Pennsylvania Art Academy in 1979, a visit to an exhibition of drawings at Yale University Art Gallery inspired the artist to commit to drawing as her primary mode of artistic expression. Drawing also suited her desire to work directly from nature. Many of the drawings in the exhibition depict Weary’s childhood home, Spring Creek Forest near Garland, Texas. Images of Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve in Southern California and her new home in the woods near Waxahachie are also on view. Looking closely at the drawings, you will get a glimpse of Weary’s woodland paradise complete with fellow inhabitants - wild pigs, fawns, and an occasional red tailed hawk.

Anne C. WearyFall, Fossil Bend

1992charcoal on paper

Courtesy of Valley House Gallery and Sculpture Garden

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t h e g r a c e m u s e u m . o r g 7

“Casually displayed keepsakes, the symbols of everyday life are reminders of a cultural heritage that rarely makes it to the moving van.”

- L AU R A P I C K E T T C A L F E E

The Dutiful Daughter, Still Life Photography by Laura Pickett CalfeeB Y J U D Y T E D F O R D D E AT O N . C H I E F C U R AT O R

T his exhibition honoring the keeper of family memories and treasures brings together photographs from several different still life

series created by Laura Pickett Calfee. Since the mid-1990s Calfee has photographed homes occupied by the same families for generations focusing on casually arranged mementos, lovingly used objects and telltale signs of previous owners. The intimate photographs illuminate the significance of the fading tradition of holding on to the home place and caring for objects handed down from generation to generation. The subtly-hued photographs place one or more specific objects into small carefully composed vignettes.

Photographs of vintage vessels are regal in their simplicity. The black and white Pitchers series bearing titles such as Amanda’s Teapot, Teapot on Damask, and The Dent transforms common, well-used tableware into icons for all of the family dinners over which the pots and their owners presided. Selections from the Still Life series features close-ups of sandwich and carnival glass laden with artichokes, kumquats, pomegranates or eggs lush with deep color and rich with personal associations. The Of a Place series features cherished objects in original home settings giving the impression that the owner had just stepped out. Homes she has photographed include those of Horton Foote, Larry McMurtry, Ansel Adams and Edward Weston. Calfee has also compiled audio recordings of informal chats with homeowners, preserving the unique syntax and vibrant vocabulary of voices that once filled the homes.

Calfee is drawn to the sense of place that resonates in objects and long-loved homes and the sense of community that is so strongly felt within. This exhibition demonstrates the emotional power of photography to impart the photographer’s affection for the delicate surfaces, the lyrical patterns and the vulnerable materials that make up the structure of our homes and our lives.

Laura Pickett Calfee was born and raised in Liberty, Texas where her forebears settled more than six generations ago. Her award winning work is held by the Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center Photography Collection, The Grace Museum and various private collections. She lives with her husband and a random assortment of animals in Driftwood, Texas.

Laura Pickett CalfeeBirdiePitchers series2009archival inkjet printCourtesy of the artist

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upcoming exibitions

T his exhibition will explore the major cultures and monuments of the Mediterranean region

through the art works of American artists of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. American tourism of Europe before the Civil War usually followed that of the Grand Tour, which included all the important cultural centers of France, Italy and Germany, but in the late 19th century, American artists showed increasing interest in points abroad, including Spain, the Holy Land, Egypt and much of northern Africa. American artists became interested in the aspects of nature and culture that they believed to define the Mediterranean: its distinctive flora, the legacy of the Greco-Roman past and the influence of Christianity and Islam. The results rarely depicted a homogenous image of the Mediterranean, but often focused on the visual signs of cross-sea warfare, trade and religious influence.

The reasons for this expanded awareness are numerous. Popular travel writers such as George William Curtis, Bayard Taylor and Mark Twain attracted American attention to North Africa and the Middle East. Some American artists were encouraged to visit Spain,

the Middle East and Africa by their European teachers. Wealthy collectors also drew artists to popular vacation spots such as Venice and the Nile River. Finally, religious faith prompted some Americans to visit the Holy Land and other sites important to their beliefs. While the respective reasons for Mediterranean travel differed among American artists, the visual records of their travels demonstrate a growing awareness of a palpable unity in the region. Mediterranea provides contemporary viewers with an exploration of the ways American artists understood, interpreted and portrayed Mediterranean culture in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. This exhibition is made possible through a generous loan from the Jean and Graham Devoe Williford Charitable Trust.

George Peter Alexander HealyArch of Titus

c. 1868-71oil on canvas

Courtesy of the Jan and Graham Devoe Williford Charitable Trust

MediterraneaAmerican Art from the Graham D. Williford CollectionFALL 2013

Join us for a Reception on Thursday, October 3, 2013

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ON DISPLAY: THE ART OF CLINT HAMILTONFALL 2013C U R AT E D B Y J U D Y T E D F O R D D E AT O N

T he life and art of Abilene native James Clinton Hamilton are local legend. Many are familiar with his New York years and his associations with legendary artists such as Andy Warhol. The Abilene High School

senior took off for Dallas in 1948 and soon landed a job with famous window designer Gene More in New York City. Friendship with Nathan Gluck led to Hamilton’s first exhibition with Warhol and Gluck in the Loft Gallery in New York in 1955. As Pop Art emerged from Neo-Dada, Hamilton traveled and worked in art circles that included Warhol, Max Ernst, Joan Miro, Jasper Johns, Robert Rauschenberg, Richard Avedon and other notable artists who were transforming the fine art world in the United States and abroad. The clash between fine art and popular culture continued as a major theme in the art and work of Clint Hamilton throughout his life. In 1967, Hamilton returned to Abilene and soon became indispensable to every arts organization in town, and participated in the establishment of the Art League of Texas (later the Center for Contemporary Arts). This exhibition will be an overview of Hamilton’s artistic output and will include drawings, prints, paintings, collage work, commercial art, and assemblage constructions created throughout his prolific career as an artist.

JOURNEYS: PHOTOGRAPHY BY ARTHUR MEYERSONFALL 2013C U R AT E D B Y J U D Y T E D F O R D D E AT O N

Colorful and exotic locales captured by award winning photographer, Arthur Meyerson on his photographic journeys to all seven continents.

Arthur Meyerson is recognized as one of America’s finest photographers. Since 1974, this native Texan has traveled throughout the world, creating award winning advertising, corporate and editorial

photographs, as well as an extensive body of fine art imagery. A three-time winner of Adweek’s “Southwest Photographer of the Year” award, he is on Communication World’s list of top ten corporate photographers and was named one of the 30 best advertising photographers by American Photo.

His photographs are in the public collections of several major institutions and have been exhibited internationally. He and his work have been profiled in many publications including Communication Arts, Rangefinder, Camera Arts, Graphis, Digital Photo Pro, Zoom (France), Portfolio, Idea (Japan), Novum (Germany), Photo World (China), and Fotodigital (Portugal).

Clint Hamiltonmixed media assemblage

Gift of the Clint Hamilton Foundation

Arthur MeyersonWindow, India

1993Courtesy of the artist

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from the curatorial department

As the The Grace Museum chief curator, I am responsible for all art and history collection and exhibition concept development, research, interpretation and implementation. That process involves collaboration with artists, historians, other museums and collectors to borrow and exhibit works of art and artifacts. Researching the 1937 founding of the Abilene Fine Arts Museum, the role of the Art Forum and other Abilene women’s clubs came to light. The Grace history archives contains scrapbooks, yearbooks and much original material for these organizations, but to bring an exhibition to life much more was needed. With the assistance of my staff, I designed the exhibition and installation of The West Texas Club Woman 1880-1950, drawing on my research in our history collection and loans from other sources to create an engaging and educational experience for visitors to learn about the rich cultural heritage of our community.

- JUDY TEDFORD DEATON, Chief Curator

As preparator, I am responsible for installation, deinstallation and care of all art and history exhibitions. The history renovation was my first major gallery installation that involved construction and it was an exciting challenge. I helped design and build the platform area to make sure that the clothing on display could be safe and clearly visible. I also constructed and installed the labels and didactic material for the new exhibit and reworked the lighting in the existing period rooms. After the exhibitions are installed, I monitor the galleries to make sure that they are as clean as they were the day of the opening and so that all visitors can enjoy them throughout the duration of the exhibition.

- WADE VANDER WILT, Preparator

As the collections manager at The Grace Museum, I am responsible for the care and preservation of the permanent art and history collections at the museum. For the opening of the new history exhibit on the West Texas Club Woman, I helped to prepare and assemble the club woman artifacts in the exhibit case, which includes newspaper articles, club yearbooks, photographs, ledgers, and various other objects. In addition, I did some major housekeeping in the period rooms in the History Gallery to revamp the space for visitors to enjoy by including period clothing, rearranging furniture, and adding other historical artifacts to the exhibit spaces.

-ERIKA ARAGON PARKER, Collections Manager

As registrar, I am responsible for all art and objects that do not belong to the museum. For the new history exhibition I was responsible for arranging the logistics of bringing the artifacts to the museum, which includes management of loan and insurance forms as well as transportation. Additionally, I designed some of the interpretation elements such as the new wall graphics and explanatory text. My final contribution was the design and installation of the response wall, which asks visitors to share an influential woman they have or wished to have known and leave it to be viewed for the duration of the exhibit.

-REBECCA BRIDGES, Registrar

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fall benefit 2013

t h e g r a c e m u s e u m . o r g

T H E

GRACEMUSEUM

Saturday, AUGUST 24thAn Evening to Remember

August 24, 2013 is the date for The Grace Museum’s annual Fall Benefit. This year, we are proud to honor

Mary Gill. It’s time to celebrate and toast to Mary for her accomplishments. Mary has generously supported many museum education programs, art exhibitions and events

since the beginning of The Grace Museum in 1992.

This year’s Fall Benefit will feature live music, a spectacular silent auction, and a Perini’s dinner. Your

invitation has been sent - there’s no better way to spend the evening than by attending this spectacular event!

2O13 FALL BENEFIT

T H E W hat a model for other women! Work hard at your job (former Grace Museum Development Director), work

with determination in fund raising capacities for many volunteer organizations, passionately pursue your friendships, give yourself in service to your church, support your husband in each of his endeavors (Army, Dodge Jones Foundation), exercise and keep healthy, and give unfailing, tangible support and love to each of your children and grandchildren.

That is a picture of Mary. No job is too small, beneath her, or too large! No day is ever too full to listen to or support a friend in need. Mary has taken on many roles in this community. She is an outstanding woman!

Nancy C. Brock,Personal Friend

M ary’s life revolves around three things: God, her family and her community. She has an openness that invites others

and warmth that makes them comfortable. Her faith, deep compassion and the love that shines in Mary, all have touched so many lives and have made Abilene a better place to live.

It was 1984 when Mary first got involved with the then Abilene Fine Arts Museum in Rose Park. She was on the Board in 1986 when the decision was made to take on the renovation of the old Drake Hotel (formerly Hotel Grace) and turn it into a new museum in downtown historic Abilene. While there were many ambitious, creative visionaries who joined the project, none was more passionate or committed to its success than Mary Gill.

She has worked tirelessly to make The Grace Museum accessible to all. Mary’s passion for The Grace Museum is contagious and her involvement extends to serving as a Board member, planning exhibitions or events. The Gift of Mary Gill is one that keeps on Giving. Mary has given us so much to appreciate and so much to celebrate.

Judy Godfrey,Fall Benefit 2013 Co-Chair

honoring MARY GILL

F or the past 22 years, Mary has been an extremely important part of maintaining the quality of the museum. With her continued influence and

encouragement, The Grace has grown in quality and reputation. From her thousands of hours volunteering to chairing several of the The Grace's Fall Benefits, being on staff for 2 years and fundraising still every day, Mary continues to view The Grace as an important part of her life.

And The Grace, and our community has been the beneficiary of her enormous dedication. It is my honor to serve as Co-Chair for this year’s Fall Benefit for my friend, Mary.

Bob Nutt,Fall Benefit 2013 Co-Chair

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meet me at the grace

MUSEUM MATTERS: engaging art, science and historyThe Grace Museum is Engaging Art all Summer Long!Join us for Museum Matters every third Thursday from 6:00-7:30pm in The Grace Museum. Museum Matters is a no cost opportunity to experience guest lecturers and activities related to art, science and history! July and August will feature different art experts as they share their unique experiences in different mediums.

Thursday, July 18thEngaging Art: West Texas Triangle 2013 featured artist, Danville Chadbourne

Thursday, August 15thEngaging Art: Introduction to Photography, featuring Carrie Jones, Assistant Professor of Art at Hardin-Simmons University

Kathie Walker-Millar, McMurry University Professor of Art and McMurry students discuss their recent trip to Peru during the June program of Museum Matters.

AT

To submit a photo for the next issue, email [email protected].

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education

We all have memories of a special place from when we were children. A favorite hiding place, clubhouse, or camping spot might come to mind. Here at The Grace, we are creating those special places in our Children’s Museum – climbing in the pecan tree house, acting on stage in the theatre, driving the ambulance, or reading under the canopy.

Over the last few months, hundreds of kids have made a special memory here at the museum. We are adding new children’s costumes to enjoy and perform in on the stage, new books for kids and families to enjoy together and keeping up with the many hands-on exhibitions.

Now we need your help! We are starting a new Children’s Museum Art Competition. We want kids from 2 - 7 years

old to submit artwork of any kind by Friday, August 16, 2013. Chosen works will be photographed, printed in large scale and hung in the Children’s Museum for several months. The staff at The Grace Museum is excited to see how the new art will enhance the space. Get out the pipe cleaners, finger-paint, and crayons!

For more information, please contact Molly Longmire, Special Programs and Grant Manager, at (325) 673-4587 or e-mail [email protected]

Children’s Museum Art Competition

The Grace AcademyGrace Academy is well underway. With the addition of two classes this year, the summer is looking bright! A total of ten camps are at The Grace this summer. Camps included subjects like art, cooking, science, and etiquette. The etiquette class is one of

our new adventures this year. Girls from 4th to 6th grades will get lessons on good manners, confidence, grooming, party etiquette and much more. Another camp that debuted this year was Camp Smiles—a camp exclusively for specials needs kids. The Grace has had so many years of success with Dreamnight at The Grace that we have decided to extend what we do for special needs kids into camp and it was a great success. We hope to do it again next summer. Don’t worry! We still have our old favorites this summer too. Browse the museum website to see all the camps and to register. There are still spots available! If you are interested in providing a scholarship for a camp please call Kathryn Mitchell, Director of Education, at (325) 673-4587 or e-mail [email protected].

OutreachArt outreach transitions from the elementary schools to the recreation centers for the upcoming summer months. Over 250 kids, in five recreation centers around Abilene, have ten art classes with The Grace Museum. Projects include drawing, painting, oil pastel, shaving cream art, collage, making pinwheels and much more. Instructor Eduardo Coronado builds self-esteem, teaches appreciation of the arts, and has a lot of fun with the students. Thanks to a grant from the Community Foundation of Abilene Future Fund.

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news

A R T I F A C T S | S U M M E R 2 0 1 314

The Grace Museum is always seeking volunteers for its many events and programs. There are several opportunities throughout the year to become involved. The museum would like to spotlight one volunteer in particular, Shelley Doremus.

Birthday: May 23Hometown: North Richland Hills, TXWhat brought you to Abilene? I came to Abilene because my husband was Active Duty Air Force - he has recently retired from service.What do you love about The Grace? I enjoy the History gallery and the new exhibition in that space, and all the fun people!What is one thing people don't often know about The Grace? The opportunity to visit the museum on Thursday nights for free is something that more people should know about. It's a great way to explore all the museum has to offer!

VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT Shelley DoremusThe Grace Museum is proud

to participate as a Blue Star Museum for the fourth year. Blue Star Museums is a popular program that provides free museum admission to all active military personnel and their families between Memorial Day and Labor Day. The Grace is taking one giant step further by announcing that all active military personnel and their families will receive free admission year round. Laura Moore, Executive Director, says that "as a staff we wanted to do something meaningful for the people who serve our country."

Blue Star Museums

The Grace Museum is fortunate to have the support of many community partners, both public and private, particularly when it comes to the support of the research library. With the contributions of past donors and the recent gift of approximately 800 books from the University of Texas, the Library is expanding exponentially. The library is non-circulating and the collection is searchable online. Titles can be viewed in person by appointment. However, none of the titles would be searchable online without the dedication of a few devoted volunteers.

Terri Blackwell, Eddy Smith and Ron Longwell of the Abilene Library Consortium are the unsung heroes of The Grace Museum Research Library. Together, the

group has spent over 100 hours cataloging over 500 titles since February. Eddy Smith describes the biggest

benefit to cataloging as the “ability to produce quality internal research for exhibits, classes and programs.”

The Library Consortium has many partnerships with organizations in Abilene. “Historically, the Consortium has been dedicated to the behind the scenes work of

supporting libraries in the community. The partnership with The Grace has given more ‘vocalization’ to the ALC and definitely leads to other partnerships with arts organizations. For example, we enjoy partnerships with the Center for Contemporary Art and the Old Jail Art Center,” said Eddy Smith, Executive Director of the Abilene Library Consortium.

The Team Behind The Grace Library

Page 15: Artifacts Summer 2013

calendar

t h e g r a c e m u s e u m . o r g 15

J U LY 2 01 31 Now On View:

Suitable Subjects: Contemporary Still Lifes

Trees: Drawings by Anne C. Weary

Works on Paper from the Collection of The Grace

Museum

West Texas Club Woman 1880-1950

Dutiful Daughter: Still Life Photography by Laura

Pickett Calfee

4 Museum Closed in Observance of Independence Day

5 9:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. Tot Spot

8-12 9 a.m. Daring Drawings and Curious Colors Art Camp

9 11:45 a.m. Executive Committee Meeting

11 11:45 a.m. Development Committee Meeting

11 ArtWalk

12-13 7 p.m. Girls’ Night at the Museum Camp

15-19 9 a.m. Rock It! Science Camp: 3rd Rock from the Sun

Edition

16 12 noon The Grace Museum Board of Trustees Meeting

18 11:30 a.m. Gallery Teacher and Attendant Training

18 6 p.m. Museum Matters: engaging art with Danville

Chadbourne

22-26 9 a.m. Kaleidoscope Art Camp

22-26 1 p.m. Middle School Mania

23 11:45 a.m. Exhibitions/Collections Committee Meeting

29-31 9 a.m. Poised, Polished and Pretty

AU GU S T 2 01 31 10 a.m. Tot Spot

1 11:30 a.m. Education Committee Meeting

2 9:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. Tot Spot

8 11:45 a.m. Development Committee Meeting

8 ArtWalk

13 11:45 a.m. Executive Committee Meeting

15 11:30 a.m. Gallery Teacher and Attendant Training

15 6 p.m. Museum Matters: engaging art with Carrie

Jones, Ph.D.

16 Last day for Suitable Subjects: Contemporary Still Lifes

Trees: Drawings by Anne C. Weary

Works on Paper from the Collection of The Grace

Museum

Dutiful Daughter: Still Life Photography by Laura

Pickett Calfee

16 Deadline for artwork for Children’s Museum

20 12 noon The Grace Museum Board of Trustees Meeting

19-26 Museum Closed for Fall Benefit Preparations

24 6 p.m. Fall Benefit Honoring Mary Gill

27 11:45 a.m. Exhibitions/Collections Committee Meeting

S E P T E M B E R 2 01 32 Museum Closed in Observance of Labor Day

3 11:30 a.m. Los Aficionados Meeting

5 10 a.m. Tot Spot

6 9:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. Tot Spot

7 11:30 a.m. Los Aficionados Meeting

10 11:45 Executive Committee Meeting

12 11:45 a.m. Development Committee Meeting

12 ArtWalk

17 12 noon The Grace Museum Board of Trustees Meeting

19 11:30 a.m. Gallery Teacher and Attendant Training

19 6 – 7:30 p.m. Museum Matters

24 11:45 a.m. Exhibitions/Collections Committee Meeting

O C TO B E R 2 01 31 11:30 a.m. Los Aficionados Meeting

3 10 a.m. Tot Spot

3 11:30 a.m. Education Committee Meeting

3 Art Exhibition Reception:

Mediterranea: American Art from the Graham D.

Williford Collection

Exotic locales from The Grace Museum Permanent

Collection

On Display: The Art of Clint Hamilton

Journeys: Photography by Arthur Meyerson

4 9:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. Tot Spot

8 10:00 a.m., 12 noon and 2:30 p.m. Homeschool Art

Classes

8 11:45 a.m. Executive Committee Meeting

10 11:45 a.m. Development Committee Meeting

10 ArtWalk

15 12 noon The Grace Museum Board of Trustees Meeting

17 11:30 a.m. Gallery Teacher and Attendant Training

17 6 p.m. Museum Matters: engage art, Poetry with David

Smith

22 11:45 a.m. Exhibitions/Collections Committee Meeting

Special Events

Exhibitions

Education

Administration

Page 16: Artifacts Summer 2013

The Grace Museum102 Cypress Street

Abilene, Texas 79601

Non-ProfitUS Postage

PAIDPermit No. 26

Golden Photography

Jennifer Nieland, A Moment in Time Photography

Mallory Krieger Photography

One of Abilene’s historic landmarks is now available for rent. Call us today at (325) 673-4587.

The Grace Museum | 102 Cypress Street


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