The Philip and Muriel Berman Museum of Art re-opens Oct. 20 with two new exhibitions. A to Z: Highlighting the Berman Collection, features a selection
of the more than 1,300 works of art recently gifted to the Museum by the Philip
and Muriel Berman Foundation.
Nancy Berman, President of the Berman Foundation and daughter of Philip and Muriel, has given the collection to Ursinus College in honor of her parents.
“My parents believed that exposing students to art would help lay a foundation for a life of creativity, enjoyment and curiosity…no matter what discipline they studied,” said Nancy Berman. “They found a willing and responsive partner in Ursinus College when they came together nearly 25 years ago to create an art museum on the campus of my dad’s alma mater. With this gift, the Berman now has a permanent collection that can be exhibited, loaned out to other institutions and used for research by the students and the faculty. I can think of no better way to honor my parents’ remarkable legacy.”
The exhibition honoring the gift, A to Z: Highlighting the Berman Collection, presents a selection of more than two dozen works from the gift.
On view October 20, 2013, through January 12, 2014, A to Z is the first exhibition under the direction of the Berman Museum’s new Director, Charles Stainback, who joined the Museum in April 2013. Bringing together in the Main Gallery more than two dozen pieces drawn from the Berman Collection of nearly 1,400 works, the exhibition is being organized by Stainback, Ursinus Professor of Art History Matt Shoaf, and an interdisciplinary mix of Ursinus students.
Additionally, the exhibition Holly Trostle Brigham: Dis/Guise, the first major museum exhibition for Philadelphia artist Holly Trostle Brigham, will open Oct. 20 in the Upper Gallery and be on display until Dec. 22.
A public opening reception for both shows will be held Saturday, Oct. 19, from 4 to 7 p.m. Brigham will give a public gallery talk on Sunday, Nov. 3, at 2 p.m.
A to Z is organized in alphabetical order of the artist’s last name and will feature works by a range of artists that speak to the breadth and depth of the collection as both an exhibition vehicle and a teaching resource.
Among the featured artists and artworks are:
Lynn Chadwick
The Pair of Sitting Figures III
The Berman holds the largest private collection of maquettes and
large-scale sculpture by Lynn Chadwick, dating from 1957-1987 as part of its
Outdoor Sculpture Collection on the grounds of the College.
Françoise Gilot
Portrait of Muriel Berman with Flowers, n.d.
Acrylic on board
The collaboration between Gilot and the Berman Museum of Art is a rich one, and she holds an honorary degree from Ursinus College. Known by many for her relationship with Pablo Picasso, Gilot was an accomplished artist in her own right. This portrait of Museum benefactor Muriel Berman typifies her use of color and line.
Andy Warhol
Birmingham Race Riot, 1964
Screenprint on paper
This notorious and powerful image made following the May 1963 riot in Alabama captures the nation’s racial tensions at the height of the Civil Rights Movement. Created from a photograph first published in Life magazine, it is an example of Warhol’s use of appropriation and the only photo-based work in the exhibition.
Gilbert Stuart
John Fitzgibbon (Chancellor of Ireland), ca. 1787-1793
Stuart is widely considered to be one of America’s foremost portraitists and is best known for his painting of George Washington which appears on the U.S. one dollar bill. John Fitzgibbon, Chancellor Ireland (1979 -1802) remains a controversial figure in Irish History. A staunch anti-Catholic, he was an early supporter of Union with England. This work is a testament to the more than 1000 portraits (six of U.S. presidents) that Stuart painted in his lifetime.
The exhibition is the first in a series of new initiatives Stainback is launching to redefine the role of the arts on the Ursinus campus, making the Museum a hub for the exchange of ideas between students and faculty, fostering new ideas and connections between objects, and enriching the educational experience of students across fields of study.
“A to Z rethinks traditional notions on how to use a museum’s collection to bring about new ideas and create new entry points for students and visitors to experience the arts,” said Stainback. “This project has not only challenged the student organizers to think differently about the presentation of art, but will engage the larger Ursinus campus and community in an alternative museum experience.”
A to Z is being organized in an art history course taught by Ursinus Professor Matthew Shoaf. Students whose majors range from psychology to international relations are collaborating on the entire scope of the exhibition process, including the selection of artworks, wall text production, exhibition installation, and programming.
“The students involved in A to Z have drawn on their own areas of study and creativity to make this a truly collaborative presentation,” said Shoaf. “It has been exciting to watch the process unfold in the classroom and to help facilitate the dialogue on what an art exhibition can be and what it can do.”
In the months leading up to the October opening, Stainback has overseen the refurbishment of the Berman Museum, which opened in 1989. The improvements to the building have opened up the gallery space and introduced a new color palette to revitalize the interior of the Museum. The modernization of the facility also includes a redesign of the lobby, which has expanded the area for visitors to gather and serves as an entry point to the Berman.
The Philip and Muriel Berman Museum of Art at Ursinus College is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday through Friday, and noon to 4:30 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. The Museum is closed Mondays and college holidays. Admission is free. The Museum is accredited by the American Association of Museums and is accessible to visitors with disabilities.
