Museum of Art acquires new piece

Author: Alexxa Gotthardt

It is something of an American ritual: a lively campaign, vigorous debate, a ballot distributed, options considered and winner announced. We determine many decisions in this manner, whether they be in the realm of national politics, commencement speaker candidates or, in the case of the Middlebury College Museum of Art's (MCMA) Purchase Party, art museum acquisitions.

On Saturday, Nov. 1, members of the Friends of the Art Museum (FOAM), the museum's membership group, observed its own electoral tradition. Over dinner and lively discussion at the Kirk Alumni Center, the 70 attendees considered four works of art for addition to the Museum's ever-growing collection. The work that received the most votes - this year a first-rate ancient Egyptian Canopic jar - would be acquired with funds culled by the donations of FOAM members. This annual Purchase Party manifests a happy partnership; FOAM members can participate in important museum decisions, and the Museum's collection is enhanced.

Since FOAM's inception in 1969, the organization has sustained a commitment to support acquisitions for and educational programs through the Museum. Today the group consists of about 400 representatives, ranging from community members and alumni to parents of students and, in recent years, a growing number of current students. Two-thirds of the membership dues contribute to museum education; the remaining funds support the Purchase Party's annual acquisition as well as lectures and receptions organized to complement museum exhibitions.

In an age when funding for the arts is a constant struggle and often a last priority, FOAM's acquisition efforts prove devotedly steady - the organization purchases at least one work every year. Since the group's inception, it has raised between $500,000 and $600,000 for the acquisition of art, a fact stated enthusiastically by MCMA's Director, Richard Saunders, at Saturday's event. Also interesting to note is FOAM's position as the one of the few college museum membership programs in New England to allot funds to acquisitions, according to a survey conducted by former Museum Graduate Intern Stuart Hurt '07.

In the past, FOAM has acquired art that spans eras and media - a Renaissance crucifixion carving, a 7th-century Chinese scroll and an Andy Warhol serigraph all made their way into the collection thanks to annual membership funds. At this year's Purchase Party, the four acquisition hopefuls were equally diverse, and the democratic pep was palpable.

Four MCMA curators and History of Art and Architecture professors presented objects with PowerPoint presentations, each lobbying for their chosen object. Colin Mackenzie, Robert P. Youngman Curator of Asian Art, chose a Japanese ceremonial robe. Eliza Garrison, Assistant Professor of History of Art and Architecture, selected a Medieval French corbel of a contortionist. Pieter Broucke, Associate Professor of History of Art & Architecture and Associate Curator of Ancient Art, presented an ancient Egyptian Canopic jar. Chief Curator of the Museum Emmie Donadio made a case for eleven photogravures by the likes of Alfred Stieglitz and Edward Steichen. Professor of Art and Architecture Cynthia Packert and C.A. Johnson Professor of Art Glenn Andres, conducted presentations for MacKenzie and Garrison, who were unable to attend.

In a close contest, the Canopic jar of Pa-lynen, New Kingdom, 18th Dynasty, triumphed - it is the first piece of Egyptian art acquired by FOAM. As explained by Broucke in the Saturday evening presentation, the object will be installed in the Museum's Antiquities gallery next to the prominent ancient Egyptian mummy sarcophagus of Hathor-Mut-Netcher, Late Period, 30th Dynasty. Together, the Canopic jar and Mummy Sarcophagus will create a diachronic funerary ensemble, which will serve as an impressive visual duo and also as a dynamic teaching tool.

FOAM's annual acquisitions not only highlight the vital relationship between the greater community, the extended Middlebury College network and the Museum, but also the existence of the Museum as a didactic cultural center.

Donadio highlighted this synthesis. "From the beginning, FOAM and the College have worked together with a shared agenda. The Museum benefits the College and the local community by bringing visual art of a high standard to a rural place," she said. Through the Purchase Party, museum curators and staff, professors and the Friends of the Art Museum join forces to strengthen the MCMA for the benefit of Middlebury College and all visitors to the Museum.