Dear Friend,
I hope you’ll enjoy this summer edition of the Barnes Foundation newsletter. The year-round art and horticulture classes resume in the fall, which gives us the opportunity to open the Foundation to visitors five days a week through August to enjoy the art collection and Arboretum. Within the grounds, the roses and other perennial plants are in full bloom, and the woods make an ideal shaded area. If you visit the galleries this summer I recommend that you take some time to stroll down to the pond, and contemplate the koi among the cool green ferns. In addition to the expanded hours, throughout the summer we will also be offering short courses and seminars in both art and horticulture, details of which you will find below.
We are making very good progress with designs for the new Barnes Foundation campus on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway. We are on schedule and on budget to begin the building foundation work in late fall, and complete construction by the end of 2011. I am pleased to report that we are through the design development phase and are now beginning construction documentation. During the summer we shall be continuing with the City approvals process, and will release the design to you in the fall. For now I will say that we are thrilled with the work that our team has done, whether architecture and engineering, landscape or lighting design. I also remind everyone that we intend to house our world-renowned art collection in galleries that will replicate the scale, proportion, and configuration of the existing gallery in Merion. The new building will also provide increased space for art education, which is at the heart of the Barnes mission, with classrooms and an auditorium for additional programs that can be taught alongside the traditional, analytic Barnes courses in the galleries. In addition, the new building includes facilities for painting conservation, research and administration, as well as areas for special events and much improved visitor services. We will also have a special exhibition space near to the permanent galleries that will allow us to display works that are not part of our permanent collection.
In Merion, the day-to-day work of the Foundation continues unabated and this newsletter features a fascinating and informative article about a conservation project on our Native American ceramics collection. Generously funded by The Henry Luce Foundation, this work will insure the integrity and stability of these pots for future generations of students, visitors and scholars at the Barnes Foundation.
With my best wishes,
Derek Gillman
President and Executive Director
Conservation of Southwest Pueblo Ceramics at the Barnes Foundation
Object Conservator, Lara Kaplan
Cleaning a Santo Domingo Water Jar
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In a large case in the basement of the gallery building of the Barnes Foundation is a group of Southwestern Pueblo ceramics collected by Dr. Barnes in the 1930s. Though often overlooked and overshadowed by the paintings upstairs, the ceramics are nonetheless world-class. Besides containing many significant examples of Pueblo pottery, the collection also provides insights into Dr. Barnes’s aesthetic vision. In addition, correspondence and purchase records related to the pottery, held in the Foundation’s archives, give a fascinating glimpse into the Native American curio trade at that time.
Left undisturbed since being acquired, the ceramics had languished and were in need of scholarly investigation and conservation care. With the help of a generous grant from The Henry Luce Foundation, the Barnes Foundation took the opportunity to have the objects thoroughly researched, examined, and treated by conservation staff.
The History of the Collection
The 49 Pueblo ceramics are part of a larger Southwestern Native American collection that also includes jewelry and Navajo textiles. The vessels range in date from ca. 1780 to 1920 and are all from pueblos in New Mexico, including the Keresan pueblos of Santo Domingo, Santa Ana, and Acoma, the Tewa pueblos of San Ildefonso and Tesuque, and Zuni pueblo.
Most of the ceramics are water ollas, though there are a few bowls and large storage jars as well. Several of the vessels were utilitarian, showing residues, wear, and damage from active use. Others were made purely for the tourist trade and remained relatively pristine.
Dr. Barnes acquired the ceramics between 1930 and 1931 in a brief but intense period of collecting. Archival records give a comprehensive picture of how the vessels were obtained. Most were purchased from leading dealers in Taos or Santa Fe, or through the New Mexico based modernist painter, Andrew Dasburg. In a few cases, Dr. Barnes bought vessels directly from pueblos.
Dr. Barnes’s goal in forming this collection was not to tell the story of Pueblo pottery, but to present specific design traditions that exemplified his own ideas about style and aesthetics. The vessels’ painted designs—bold geometric patterns, abstracted forms, and plant and animal motifs—were the basis of their appeal for him. “Pots,” he writes in a letter to a dealer, “are only valuable to us when the designs are intact.” He also required that pieces be “exceptional” and “old and in good condition” to be considered for purchase.
Prior Restoration
Dr. Barnes was not alone in his preference for old, intact pots, and sellers would often refurbish pottery to meet market demands. Damaged vessels would be restored, and newer pots would be artificially aged. Examples of both types of these early treatments can be seen on the vessels in this collection.
Though sellers were responsible for many of the restorations, repairs were also done at Dr. Barnes’s request. For example, a few of the vessels were cleaned and repaired at the Laboratory Anthropology in Santa Fe. Headed by the archeologist Jesse Nusbaum, this newly formed lab was a leading center for the research, collection, and care of Southwestern ceramics.
Once put in their cases, the ceramics were not addressed in any systematic way until 2002, when curatorial advisors and objects conservators began to examine all of the vessels as part a larger, collection-wide survey.
The conservators found that the ceramics were in great need of treatment. Nearly all of the vessels were covered with mold. The exact cause of the outbreak remains a mystery—although it may be related to high humidity levels that occurred during a climate control failure in the 1980s (a computer-monitored climate control system installed in the 1990s ensures that the environment now remains stable). On some vessels the mold was difficult to see with the unaided eye, but fluoresced brightly under ultraviolet light.
Zuni Water Jar in Visible and Ultraviolet Light (mold visible at shoulder)
The conservators noted other serious condition issues as well, such as old repairs that had darkened over time and unstable surfaces that were flaking and powdering. Without intervention, the collection was at risk of deteriorating further.
The Pottery Project
The Barnes Foundation was awarded a grant from The Henry Luce Foundation to fully treat the collection. Though removing mold and stabilizing friable surfaces were of primary importance, the overall goal of treatment was to bring the vessels to a closer approximation of how they would have looked when Dr. Barnes collected them.
Before treatment could begin, examination, research, and testing were necessary to gain a better understanding of the condition issues, and to develop safe and effective treatment protocols. Each vessel was examined in great detail, paying special attention to evidence of use, old restorations, and condition issues. These observations were documented with reports and digital images.
Information gleaned from archival records and insights offered by visiting specialists in Southwestern ceramics helped explain the causes of the some of the damage and deterioration that had occurred over the years.
In-house microchemical spot tests helped identify surface accretions and old restoration materials. Samples of mold were sent to a mycological lab for analysis. The results showed that the mold was a species commonly found in soil. Though not particularly toxic, the mold could act as an irritant and potential allergen, so finding a way to safely remove it was a priority.
The mold mitigation protocol that was ultimately developed was simple, but proved to be quite effective. Powdery growths were removed from each vessel using a HEPA-filtered vacuum. Remaining mold residues were cleaned with water and a solvent mixture, taking care not to disrupt coatings or other materials that could show evidence of use.
Once the vessels were cleaned, flaking and friable surfaces were stabilized using conservation-grade adhesives, and old restorations were addressed. These restorations were considered to be part of the collection’s history, especially those requested by Dr. Barnes, and so were kept as intact as possible. In many cases, all that was required for treatment was to tone discolored repair materials so that they would be less noticeable. However, repairs that were deteriorated, excessive, or severely darkened were removed and redone with stable materials.
Darkened Repairs on a Zuni water jar: During Treatment
This project is only a beginning in what will hopefully be further explorations into the Pueblo pottery collection at the Barnes Foundation. With the conservation treatments completed, and continued maintenance and monitoring planned for the future, these treasures will continue to be a source of information and inspiration for generations to come.
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Plant Sale 2009
A few rain showers did nothing to dampen the spirits or attendance at the Barnes Foundation Plant Sale on May 2. Sponsored by Bartlett Tree Experts, the annual event is a growing success and this year, despite the rain, enjoyed the largest turnout in the nine year history of the sale. In addition to the usual stock of flora, the sale features some unique and unusual plants propagated from the collections of the Barnes Arboretum. Barnes Society members were invited to a pre-sale event with discounted pricing, and all attendees were offered free guided tours of the gardens and Arboretum.
Fresh Artists Award
Director of Education Blake Bradford receives 2009 Award from Fresh Artists Board Chair Dorothy Binswanger.
Left to right: Andrew Stewart, Dorothy Binswanger, Blake Bradford, Shara Pollie |
The Barnes Foundation was delighted to be honored by Fresh Artists during their annual award ceremony held on May 19 at the Comcast Center in Philadelphia. Fresh Artists is an innovative new organization whose goal is to place much-needed art supplies in Philadelphia schools. See: http://www.freshartists.org.
The Barnes Foundation Education Department has been collaborating with Fresh Artists to create artwork that will be digitally reproduced and will adorn the construction fence on the site of the new Barnes Foundation building. Forty Fresh Artist students and teachers visited the Barnes Foundation and were introduced to the Barnes collection and educational philosophy. Look for the art of these talented young artists around the Barnes building site in the fall!
Barnes Society Members Exploring Winterthur
In May, a group of Barnes Society members enjoyed a bus trip to Winterthur Museum & Country Estate. On the ride down we were delighted to have Joanne Kollar, former student of the Barnes and tour manager of Winterthur, share with us her research from the Barnes archives and Winterthur archives about the lives of Dr. Albert C. Barnes and Henry Francis du Pont. Her lively discussion was captivating as she explored the similarities and differences between these two collectors and gave us a glimpse into their cordial relationship.
The sunny weather permitted a wonderful tram ride through the garden with a guide highlighting the flowers and plants in bloom. The trip included a guided tour of the historic home of Henry F. du Pont with the rooms decorated for spring.
We hope you will join us for our next Barnes Society bus trip.
SPECIAL SUMMER OFFER
Join the Barnes Society by August 31st and receive double the usual number of free admission tickets and discounted parking. Members also receive free access to the Gallery Shop on Sundays—no reservation needed—just show your membership card at the gate. Contact the membership office at 215-640-0171 x17 or members@barnesfoundation.org for details.
Barnes Mural Gets Started at Book Fair
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Working with the Mural Arts Program, the Barnes Foundation plans to cover over 300 feet of fence with a temporary mural this summer showing interpretations of elements from the Barnes Foundation’s diverse art collection. The mural will stretch along a city block between 20th and 21st streets on Pennsylvania Avenue, decorating the site of the new Barnes building while it is under construction. To kick off the painting of the mural, the Barnes Foundation and the Mural Arts Program set up a large booth at the Philadelphia Book Festival on April 18 and 19. Children and adults attending the fair were invited to paint six foot square sections of the mural. Large sections of the mural were drawn by artist Barbara Smolen and laid out with an intricate labeling system that allowed kids of all ages to paint the design with the appropriate colors. Standing back on the scene, passersby could see large hands and faces and hats emerging as a cohesive design from a multitude of colored shapes. Judging by the level of activity, and the smiles and positive comments throughout the weekend, it was a huge success.
Congratulations to our 2009 Graduates!
Back Rows (L-R): Stephen Segal, Alicia Thomas Glen, Lisa Lipschutz, Luther McNeil, Sue Wilte, Reid Bodek , David Snyder, Molly Walker, John Gatti, Annabelle Curran, Blake Bradford, Deborah Krupp, Phyllis Slocum, Mary Kent, Dorrie Breed, Larry Spivack, Jennie Prescott, Christine Hartzell, Jacob Thomas, Tris Coffin
Front Row (L-R): Phran Novelli, Bambi Siegfried, Carol Levin, Kathleen Sevensky (Not Pictured: Margo Silk)
Summer Workshops
Botanical Illustration: Foundation Drawing and Water Color
July 6 and 7, 2009, 9.30 a.m. to 4.30 p.m.
One day: $100 non-members, $90 members
Both days: $190 non-members,
$171 members
Instructor: Marylyn Waltzer
Foundation Drawing for Botanical Illustration Workshop: Learn skills for drawing plant specimen accurately with graphite pencil. This workshop will help develop industry standards of form, measurement, foreshortening, and perspective.
Botanical Watercolor Workshop: Learn how to use watercolor for botanical illustration, using the interaction of light and shadow in correct hues and values. This workshop will allow students to focus on selecting colors, producing a pleasing composition, and creating accurate botanical painting
Participants may bring a bag lunch and all materials; a material list will be mailed with a confirmation letter.
Building the Landscape: From Arboretum to Container Gardening
July 14, 2009; 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
$100 non-members, $90 members
Instructors: John Gatti, MFA, art and aesthetics instructor, The Barnes Foundation, Gay Kimelman, horticulturalist, Joan Giannini, horticulturalist, The Barnes Foundation
Drawing upon the Barnes's world-renowned art collection and arboretum, discover the aesthetic elements that painters, horticulturalists, and designers use to create magnificent sceneries, gardens, and environmental structures. Participants will be encouraged to seek inspiration from the Barnes's art collection, gardens, and surrounding landscape in the creation of their own container gardens. Please bring a brown bag lunch and wear appropriate clothing for walking and gardening. Rain or shine.
Gardening for Bees and Other Pollinators
July 21, 2009; 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
$75 non-members, $67 members
Instructor: Jim Bobb
This course covers two topics: designing gardens that attract pollinators such as bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds; and management requirements to incorporate a honey bee hive into your garden area. We plan a special bonus look inside the hives at the Barnes Arboretum, weather permitting.
Matisse Paper Cut-Outs
July 27 and 28, 2009, 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
$180 non-members, $162 members
Instructor: Leslie Bowen
This two-day workshop will explore and focus on Henri Matisse's unique and unorthodox method of using cut paper to plan artwork creations. This artistic approach became a medium in its own right, making Matisse's late work as original, vital, and controversial as his earlier Fauvist pieces. In addition to discussing relevant art in the Gallery, participants will learn more about this distinctive medium, as well as discover their inner Matisse with a hands-on lesson in cut paper design. Please bring a brown bag lunch.
Garden Recycling to Save Time and Money
July 28, 2009, 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
$75 non-members, $67 members
Instructors: Laura Miller and Kathryn Belville
Laura Miller and Kathryn Belville discuss garden renovation. Whether a landscape has become outdated or construction dictates major changes, some existing plants and landscape materials can be recycled. These two experienced professionals will present topics such as evaluating plants and hard scaping to determine if they are worth preserving, timing of renovation, care of plants during construction/renovation, after-care of recycled plants and selection of a qualified landscape team ensure a successful outcome.
The Active Eye
August 3 and 4, 2009; 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
$140 non-members, $125 members
Instructor: John Gatti, MFA, arts and aesthetics instructor, The Barnes Foundation
During this two day workshop, students will experience painting and sculpture, using their "active eye" to discover how artists think, see, and create. This workshop will integrate visual phenomenon with sensory awareness, investigating how thoughts, emotions, and sensations can determine the way individuals see. Through sensory and aesthetic learning, students will participate in exercises and discussions that promote sensory awareness and its role in the visual arts. Students will also learn how painting and sculpture can evoke associations with sound, rhythm, smell, taste, touch, memory, emotion, perception, and intuition.
Ensemble Collage
August 10 and 11, 2009, 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
$180 non-members, $162 members
Instructor: Leslie Bowen
Explore how an individual's art collection can become a visual autobiography. What an individual collects, chooses to purchase, or decides not to buy are all reflections of who that individual is. This unique workshop will evaluate the various ensembles created by Dr. Albert C. Barnes, as a way to investigate the complexity of the collector's personality. Additionally, students will be given the opportunity to create ensembles, reflecting their own personal aesthetic and individuality, using works from the Barnes collection or other institutions.
For more information please call Jacob Thomas at (610) 667-0290, Ext. 1071
For registration please call Nancy Rosner at (610) 667-0290, Ext. 3825
Fall Course Schedule
The Art and Aesthetics Program at the Barnes Foundation
Introduction to Visual Literacy
Section A, Tuesdays, 11:30 a.m.1:30 p.m.
Section B, Wednesdays, 6:00 p.m.8:00 p.m.
Instructor: John B. Gatti, MFA
Traditions of Art
Mondays, 1:00 p.m.3:00 p.m.
Instructor: Barton Church
Ensemble Study and Third-Year Seminar
Mondays, 12:00 p.m.2:00 p.m.
Instructor: John B. Gatti, MFA
This is a two-part course. Students may enroll in one or both of the 14-week semesters.
Introduction to Impressionism
Wednesdays, 6:00 p.m.8:00 p.m.
Instructor: Michael Rossman, MFA
Matisse: A Close Look
Tuesdays, 6:00 p.m.8:00 p.m.
Instructor: Leslie Bowen, MFA
Investigating Art and the Spiritual
Mondays, 6:00 p.m.8:00 p.m.
Instructor: P. Timothy Gierschick II
The Arboretum School of the Barnes Foundation
* All Horticulture classes take place Mondays, Tuesdays or Wednesdays. For more information, please email: education@barnesfoundation.org
Garden Appreciation and Record Keeping
Instructor: Gay Kimelman, horticulturist
Two semesters (28 weeks, 42 hours)
Introduction to Design for Horticulturists
Instructors:
Marylyn Waltzer
Allan J. Summers, RLA, Rodney Robinson Landscape Architects, Inc.
Introduction to Landscape Design
Instructor: Linda Walczak, RLA, ASLA, Program Manager, Philadelphia Green Program, PHS
Plant Structure and Function
Instructor: Ann Mickle, PhD, Associate Professor of Biology, LaSalle University
Survey of the Plant Kingdom
Instructor: Ann Mickle, PhD, Associate Professor of Biology, LaSalle University
Principles of Plant Systematics
Instructor: Alfred E. Schuyler, PhD, Curator Emeritus, Botany, Academy of Natural Sciences
Plant Ecology
Instructor: Rachel M. Wilson, PhD, Associate Professor of Biology, Philadelphia University
Cultivated Trees and Shrubs
Instructor: Frederick H. Ray, MS, horticulturist
Garden Practicum
Instructor: Jim Bobb, horticulturalist
Herbaceous Plants
Instructor: Janet Bly, Owner, Signature Gardens, LLC
History of Gardens and Landscape Architecture
Instructors:
Harriet Henderson, BLA, MArch
Jenny Rose Carey, Ambler College, Temple University
Elizabeth McLean, garden historian
Horticulture Practices and Plant Culture
Instructor: Bruce Keyser, Keyser Design Associates
Landscape Architecture II
Instructor: Victor DePallo, ALA, Principal, DePallo Associates
Landscape Architecture III
Instructor: Victor DePallo, ALA, Principal, DePallo Associates
Integrated Pest Management
Instructor: Casey Sclar, PhD, IPM Coordinator, Longwood Gardents
Plant Disease Identification and Control
Instructor: Bartlett Tree Experts staff
Plant Genetics
Instructor: Jacob Thomas, PhD, Arboretum Director, The Barnes Foundation
Soil Science
Instructor: Scott Guiser, Extension Agent, Pennsylvania State Agricultural Extension Service
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