Nannette Maciejunes, CMA's Executive Director, is currently in Egypt with our Art Escapes travel group. She is sending updates while she travels, so be sure to check in.
"Odd thing to test with but we were in museums all day and cameras weren't allowed. We go to the pyramids at Giza tomorrow. The Egyptian Museum was incredible. The treasures are extraordinary. This is the museum that has all the treasures from King Tut's tomb not to mention all the Old Kingdom sculptures in all the art history survey textbooks. After you look at Tut's gold mask, his solid gold sarcophagus, not to mention all the jewelry you are told what a minor king he was. It's just that his tomb was never robbed-- so all the treasure survived.The Hard Rock Cafe has free Wi-Fi and I just made my first Skype call! Nannette"
This morning, while watching the Today Show, I was angered and disheartened by the coverage of the record-breaking sale of Giacometti's “L’Homme Qui Marche I,” at Sotheby's. The piece, a life-sized sculpture, sold for $104.3 million, which IS a large sum of money, there is no question about that. And yes, we should talk about that, honest and open dialogue is important. Was the piece worth this amount of money? What makes it so valuable? And, in these challenging economic times, it is impossible to read the story without marvelling at the fact that someone did, indeed, pay such a large sum for the work.
However, instead of engaging in a discussion about how the art market is recovering, or what made the piece so important, they chose to make jokes about the sale, referring to the work, at one point, as a "hood ornament." This was extremely frustrating for me because the art world is constantly challenged with proving it's worth. There are ongoing threats to funding and arts education is disappearing in schools across our country. I understand fully that their responsibility is to report the news, but treating the story as a joke underscores the lack of value many people place on art.
I believe this sale presents a fantastic platform for us to discuss the intrinsic value of art as an expression of our humanity, something that enhances our daily lives and has a tangible impact on our world. So, share your thoughts with me, what does art mean in your life? What value does it bring to your world? Does it improve your life?
Art Speaks. Join the Conversation.
Nannette V. Maciejunes
CMA Executive Director
While I was in Lakeland, Florida for the AAMD conference, I also had the opportunity to visit the Polk Museum of Art, which really does, as they say, have something for everyone. I fell in love with this fantastic Artomat machine. It's an old cigarette vending machine that has been retrofitted to ven art. I purchased a piece of Contemporary photography which came in its own little pinhole camera.
Art Speaks. Join the Conversation.
Nannette V. Maciejunes
CMA Executive Director
One of the great highlights of the trip to Florida was a visit to the Florida Southern College's, campus, known as "Child of the Sun," which features 12 structures designed by famed architect Frank Lloyd Wright. My husband is a huge architecture buff, so I was thrilled to go on the tour and take photos to share with him (and also all of you). The site is part of the Save America's Treasures initiative and fundraising is ongoing to preserve the buildings.
Inside the reading room, there are photos of the original furniture, as well as some actual pieces. Mr. Wright was rather strict, as you'll see from the photos below. The chairs force you sit up straight, slouch and you'll fall.
To help keep construction costs down, students helped with the construction of the buildings. The picture below is of a wall with pieces of glass inset by the students.
Most of Mr. Wright's projects on the campus are buildings, but there is this incredible walkway that allows you to go from building to building. It features these beautiful columns that are stylized orange trees.
There are two chapels on the campus. The Annie Pfeiffer Chapel, pictured below, is considered the Hallmark of Wright buildings on the campus. There is a beautiful skylight within the chapel that was initially designed to have hanging plants, similar to the legendary Hanging Gardens of Babylon.
More to come, and stop back in February for updates on my upcoming trip to Egypt with our Art Escapes group.
Art Speaks. Join the Conversation.
Nannette V. Maciejunes
CMA Executive Director
Recently, I had the pleasure of attending the Association of Art Museum Directors annual midwinter meeting in Sarasota, Florida. AAMD members are directors of art museums in the United States, Canada, and Mexico which meet the standards set forth by AAMD. The Association maintains a ceiling of 200 members. Members meet twice a year to share ideas about issues facing museums and brainstorm about fundraising, exhibitions, content, etc.
I flew into Gainesville a day before the conference began, and brought with me the coldest weather they've seen in forever, so that I could take part in the pre-conference activities they had arranged for us.
We were treated to a wonderful tour of the Samuel P. Harn Museum of Art in Gainesville. The Museum itself is incredibly welcoming and I was really surprised by their Asian and African collections which were just wonderful.
We were also treated to tour of a private collection while we were in Gainesville. The homeowners have an amazing collection of Mondern and Contemporary art. In fact, they've now filled their home and are creating this beautiful sculpture garden on the hundreds of acres surrounding the house. As a museum director, the thing I loved most is that they intend to donate the collection to the Harn one day. Private collectors make such a huge difference for museums. Their generosity is key to helping us build our collections. Columbus has benefitted greatly from the generosity of local collectors and I was reminded of that during this visit.
Stay tuned tomorrow to hear about my visit to Frank Lloyd Wright's Child of the Sun campus at Florida Southern College.
Art Speaks. Join the Conversation.
Nannette V. Maciejunes
CMA Executive Director
