During the 2014-15 fiscal year, Bennington Museum was the recipient of a remarkable trove of artworks and historic artifacts, gifts that together are of greater significance than the museum has received in any other year in the last decade.
The Bennington Museum is both an art and a history museum, and approaches its collection with the philosophy that the two work together to tell the story of the region and therefore artifacts and artworks are displayed together. “The Museum’s goal is to speak to the past and the present, and inspire the future,” said Robert Wolterstorff, Executive Director.
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Among the additions to its collection are two exceptional paintings, a gem-like abstraction by Jules Olitski given by his wife, Kristina Olitski, and a masterpiece by Grandma Moses given by Carol and Arnold Haynes. “These are two of the most important acquisitions to enter the museum’s permanent collection in the last decade. They perfectly illustrate the museum’s current goal to reinvigorate its collections by building on strengths, or by charting new paths.” stated Jamie Franklin, Curator.
Presented to the museum by Carol and Arnold Haynes, The Battle of Bennington, 1953 by Anna Mary Robertson “Grandma” Moses (1860-1961) is an iconic masterpiece depicting the battle of August 16, 1777 which took place not far from where she lived most of her life. Commissioned by the Daughters of the American Revolution, it is one of Moses’ largest works – just over 30 inches wide. The painting has dozens of figures, including lively clusters of soldiers in colorful uniforms and a group fairly bristling with muskets. Some of the figural groups are based on images Moses discovered while researching the battle, such as Leroy Williams’ painting Col. Baum and Col. Pfister Mortally Wounded, on view in the museum’s Battle of Bennington Gallery. In an interview with CBS Correspondent Edward R. Murrow, the artist explained why she included the Bennington Battle Monument in the painting, despite the fact that it wasn’t built for more than a century after the battle: “I put the monument in because it looked good.” The Battle of Bennington joins what was already the largest public collection in the world of paintings by Grandma Moses at the Bennington Museum, and is immediately one of the collection’s masterpieces. It is currently on display in the summer exhibition Inward Adorings of the Mind (July 3 through November 1), where it represents the museum’s expansive folk art collection.
A young girl named Diana Korenza, herself a budding artist, met Grandma Moses and, admiring each other’s work, agreed to exchange paintings. The painting that Grandma Moses did for the girl was added to the Museum’s collection this year as well. Moses wasn’t sure if she was allowed to give away her work due to her contract with Galerie St. Etienne, so the painting is unsigned. She explained this to the girl and promised to send a Christmas card instead of signing the painting. That card is also now in the Museum’s collection.
Installed in the Bennington Modernism Gallery is Wildcatter, 1963, by Jules Olitski (1922-2007). This painting in magna acrylic on canvas was given to the museum by Olitski’s widow, Kristina Olitski. Wildcatter is emblematic of the innovative stained-ground abstractions that catapulted the artist to the forefront of American painting in the late 1950s. “The painting, with its limited color palette, featuring two pairs of perfect complements, and its deceivingly simple composition, with an irregular oval within an oval, was executed in 1963, the year Olitski arrived in Vermont to teach at Bennington College,” describes Franklin. This painting typifies Olitski’s work of the period, reflective of the larger trends in American painting at the time, including the emerging styles of Color Field and Minimalism. As late as 1990 the preeminent critic Clement Greenberg declared Olitski “the greatest living painter.”
Another highly significant addition to the museum’s collection is a group of over 1400 glass plate negatives from the Weichert-Isselhardt Collection, a partial gift by Tordis Isselhardt and partial museum purchase. The negatives were collected by photographer Robert L. Weichert beginning in the 1970s, and preserved by Tordis Isselhardt. Many of the negatives were taken by the local photographer Wills T. White between 1899 and the middle of the twentieth century, and provide vivid documentation of Bennington and the region in the early 1900s. They are currently being scanned and catalogued by the museum’s Collections Manager Callie Stewart. “This group of images brings exciting and unique pictures of Benningtonians at work and at play. They augment the important collection the museum already had of historic photographs recording Bennington’s innovators,” remarked Stewart. “We look forward to adding them to the online collection on our new website which is currently being developed.”
The museum is grateful and honored also to have received into its collection in the last year important works by Gayleen Aiken, Patsy Santo, Larry Bissonnette, Lawrence Hyman, Arthur Gibbs Burton, Jarvis Rockwell, and others.
“This is a complex museum of art and history. We’ve been reveling in the opportunities the rich collections provide to put together artworks and historic artifacts in surprising and edgy ways that make connections across time and media. These “creative collisions” can provide the spark for new creativity in the Bennington region. In everything we do, we are working to fulfill our mission to connect visitors to the region’s diverse arts, rich history, and deep culture of innovation. Gifts to the collection like these enhance our ability to do that. They transform not only the museum, but also our visitors and the community. We are so grateful for them!” states Wolterstorff.
About the Museum
Bennington Museum is located at 75 Main Street (Route 9), Bennington. VT in The Shires of Vermont. It has been recognized by The Wall Street Journal “Best of 2014: ART” for one of the nine the “most memorable exhibitions” of 2014 in North America, and by Yankee Magazine, Best of New England Editor’s Choice for Best Museum Makeover.
The museum is open daily through October and is wheelchair accessible. Regular admission is $10 for adults, $9 for seniors and students over 18. Admission is never charged for younger students or to visit the museum shop. Visit the museum’s website www.benningtonmuseum.org or call 802-447-1571 for more information. [/private]