A Collector's Roadmap
Exhibition at the Castellani Art Museum Highlights Collaboration with Art Collector Gerald Mead
February 24, 2011
The Castellani Art Museum of Niagara University is pleased to announce the opening of a major exhibition in collaboration with one of Western New York’s most prominent art collectors. PUBLIC/PRIVATE: Pairings with Works from the Gerald Mead Collection brings together two important art collections—one defined and developed publicly and one assembled privately—that converge in the mutual passion for building and utilizing our collections to best serve art audiences in Western New York and beyond. The Castellani Art Museum’s collaboration with Mead illustrates the synergy between public arts institutions and private collectors that keeps the Western New York arts scene vibrant and strong, despite facing stiff challenges in the current economy.
Mead says, “I feel very fortunate to have been informed and inspired over the years by the collection of the Castellani Art Museum and it is especially rewarding to see the “mini-reunions” that this exhibition has enabled between works by some of the artists that we have in common in our collections.”
Through the years, Mead has assembled one of the most comprehensive collections of works by artists associated with Western New York that date from 1887 to 2010. The exhibition presents 85 works in all media, many by artists who rose to national prominence. Featured artists include Charles Burchfield, Cindy Sherman, Charles Clough, Les Krims, Joseph Piccillo, Milton Rogovin, Robert Mangold, Robert Longo and many more. Works from the Castellani Art Museum’s permanent collection and Gerald Mead’s well-known private collection are displayed as pairs by the same artist.
The museum is offering a number of programs and special events in conjunction with this exhibition:
Meet Me at the CAM: The Art of Art Collecting
Thursday, March 3, 2011
10 a.m. – 12 noon
Free members program
Gerald Mead will talk about becoming an art collector, and will introduce the exhibition Public/Private: Pairings with Works from the Gerald Mead Collection. Admission is free, but Castellani Art Museum membership is required to attend. Membership sign-up is available at the registration table at each lecture. To register, call Susan Clements at 716-286-8201.
The MEAD Party: An Art Infused Celebration
Friday, April 29, 2011
6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Special event/fundraiser
This unique fundraiser features celebratory interactives created by regional artists including: mini Polaroid portraits by Nancy J. Parisi, caricatures by illustrator David Saracino, mini cupcake decorating with Zilly Rosen of Zillycakes, original musical score by Rob Lynch and Jonathan Hughes and videos by Kyle Butler and Sylvie Bélanger. There will also be a silent auction of works by artists represented in the Gerald Mead Collection including Bruce Adams, Rita Argen Auerbach, Patricia Layman Bazelon, Bonnie Gordon, Adele Henderson, Biff Henrich, Chris Nickard, Gary Nickard, Barbara Rowe and Amos Sangster. Proceeds benefit the Castellani Art Museum’s exhibitions and programs. Ticket price $35 / Artists $50 / Friends. Call Michael Beam at 716-286-8286 to receive an invitation.
Panel Discussion: A Collectors Roadmap
Wednesday, August 10, 2011, 7:00 – 9:00 p.m.
Gerald Mead will lead this informative panel discussion for art collectors and those who want to start or refine a collection. Learn about the process of collecting, storing and caring for your collection. Additional panelists to be announced.
Please contact Michael Beam at 716-286-8286 for more information about this exhibition and its associated events.
