[MONTEREY, CA] Monterey, CA—On Saturday, March 7, the Monterey Museum of Art Collector’s Guild enthusiastically approved the purchase of seven new works for the Museum’s collection. Approximately sixty Collector’s Guild Members and their guests attended a reception at the Monterey Museum of Art La Mirada, where the works were on view. In introducing the proposed acquisitions, Executive Director E. Michael Whittington explained “these works form a broad sweep of twentieth century art history—early California art, American scene painting, vintage photography from the f/64 group, Bay Area abstract expressionism and contemporary art.”
Among the artists represented are John Langley Howard, Xavier Martinez, Imogen Cunningham and David Ligare. The funds used to purchase the artworks were raised by the Collector’s Guild and are restricted for acquisitions. Each of these works fills an important gap in the permanent collection. Collector’s Guild Member Teresa Del Piero served as Emcee of the event, which honored special guest Suzanne Diamond. Ms. Diamond had been active for many years as the leader of the Guild, establishing the funds that were used to purchase the art.
The seven works will be displayed in the first exhibition in celebration of the Museum’s 50th Anniversary, 50/fifty: 50 Gifts for the Next Fifty years, which will be on display March 28-June 21, 2009, at MMA La Mirada. There will be an exhibition Preview on Friday, March 27 from 6-8 pm, with free admission for Museum Members and $10 admission for Non-Members. The exhibition will feature fifty new or promised gifts donated in honor of the Museum’s 50th Anniversary encompassing paintings, works on paper and ceramics. Extraordinary examples of early California painting, modern photography, contemporary art, and exquisite contemporary Japanese ceramics will be highlights of the exhibition.
The Collector’s Guild is designed to stimulate interest among art collectors and to provide a forum for the exchange of ideas and information through visits to private collections, special exhibitions, lectures by prominent scholars, curators, artists and gallerists.
Upcoming Collector’s Guild activities include a summer visit to the most important privately held collection of California art and a fall reception in a dramatic San Francisco penthouse. For more information on joining the Museum as a member of the Collector’s Guild, please contact Nicole Pahl at 831.372.5477 x106 or visit www.montereyart.org.
About The Monterey Museum of Art
The Monterey Museum of Art is devoted to the art of California, photography, contemporary art and Asian art. The Museum was established in 1959 as a chapter of the American Federation of the Arts and has a permanent collection of 14,000 objects, which includes paintings, photographs, works on paper, Asian art and significant holdings of California artists such as Armin Hansen, William F. Ritschel, Edward Weston and Ansel Adams. The Monterey Museum of Art has two locations: 559 Pacific Street and 720 Via Mirada, Monterey, CA, 93940. The Museum is open Wednesday through Saturday, 11 am to 5 pm and Sunday 1 to 4 pm. Admission: $5 general, $2.50 student and military. Museum members and children under 12 are free. For more information, please visit www.montereyart.org or call 831.372.5477. |
