Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library has received a $215,800 federal grant to help quantify needs for accessible storage, which in turn will help restore the integrity of installations created by founder Henry Francis du Pont and improve interpretation for the public. The grant from the Institute for Museum and Library Services allows the museum to hire two full-time curatorial assistants for two years.
“All of us at Winterthur are delighted and grateful that IMLS has funded this project,” said Dr. David Roselle, Director of Winterthur. “We will now begin to classify items in our collections as being suitable for exhibit and/or for teaching purposes. We will thus determine our needs for accessible storage.”
Linda Eaton, Winterthur’s John L. & Marjorie P. McGraw director of collections & senior curator of textiles (far right), leads a review of textiles in the Winterthur Collection.
This project will strengthen Winterthur’s intellectual understanding of its 90,000 objects and their history, and it will improve records on authenticity, historical context and provenance.
Winterthur recently embarked on a 10-year plan to improve collection storage and accessibility, which it calls its highest priority. The first year of the funded project will focus on establishing a prioritized list of objects in all 175 rooms as well as in storage that require further research; the second will concentrate on carrying out this research and delivering a report with a prioritized list of objects that would be moved to a new accessible storage facility or for possible deaccession.
Since 2001, Winterthur has reconsidered its interpretation to reflect its 20th-century history as the du Pont family home, a rare survival of an American country place whose history and function is documented in Winterthur’s extensive archives. Henry Francis du Pont, Winterthur’s founder, considered his room installations to be his works of art, and they had great influence in the professionalization of interior design. In addition, du Pont was an important figure in the early historic preservation movement, including the Kennedy restoration of the White House, setting new standards for the scholarship of historic house interiors.
Du Pont did not intend the collection to remain static. Winterthur continues to acquire objects to enhance its teaching, research, and public program activities. With limited accessible storage, over time many rooms have become overcrowded and have lost a portion of their interpretive focus, and existing storage areas have become overcrowded as well. Winterthur also occasionally deaccessions objects of poor quality or condition or types that are already well-represented in order to strengthen its collecting and interpretive vision in line with professional codes of ethics.
“We value this opportunity to assess the collection as a first step in our comprehensive project to make the museum collection both accessible and relevant to visitors and scholars into the future,” said Linda Eaton, Winterthur’s John L. & Marjorie P. McGraw Director of Collections & Senior Curator of Textiles.
Ultimately, the project will boost Winterthur’s robust educational activities by increasing access to collections by graduate students, visiting research fellows, museum colleagues, independent scholars, participants in Winterthur’s continuing education and adult programming, and the general public.
Paul Joseph Boxler, 54, of Landenberg, died Friday, Oct. 27, after a short illness. He was the husband and best friend of Robin M. Groves Boxler, with whom he shared 30 years of marriage.
Paul Joseph Boxler
Born in Wilmington, he was a son of the late John A. Boxler and Josephine (Puma) Boxler of West Grove. Paul was a graduate of Bishop Shanahan High School and earned a bachelor’s degree in agricultural engineering from Penn State University, graduating in 1985.
Paul was a skilled carpenter and owner of Paul Boxler Construction having built a very successful business over the last 25 years and forming lasting relationships with many customers and subcontractors. In the summer, Paul enjoyed spending time with his family in Fenwick Island, Del. and boating on the Delaware Bay. He also enjoyed the many family vacations and gatherings over the years. He loved spending time with friends and his children’s friends. When his children were young he sponsored and coached basketball and soccer. Paul was always willing to lend a helping hand or share advice.
Survivors include in addition to his wife and mother, one son, Christopher J. Boxler of Landenberg; four daughters, Lindsey M. Wilt and her husband Michael of Leesburg, Va., Taylor E. Boxler of Baltimore, Md., Abigail N. Boxler of Landenberg, and Madison A. Boxler of Landenberg; four brothers and sisters, Margaret B. Smith and her husband Marlay of Stillwater Minn., Daniel L. Boxler and his wife Dorothy of Kennett Square, John P. Boxler and his wife Deborah of Landenberg, and Angela B. Tilton and her husband Don of Wilmington. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews. In addition to his father, he was predeceased by his nephew Joseph D. Boxler.
You are invited to visit with Paul’s family and friends from 6-9 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 1, and from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 2, at Kuzo & Grieco Funeral Home Inc. (610-444-4116) 250 W. State St. Kennett Square, PA 19348. His Mass of Christian Burial will be 11 a.m. Thursday at St. Patrick Church 212 Meredith St. Kennett Square, PA 19348. Interment will be in St. Patrick Cemetery. Contributions in his memory may be made to the Abigail and Madison Boxler Scholarship Fund c/o Fulton Bank 861 West Baltimore Pike, West Grove, Pa 19390 or any Fulton Bank Branch To view his online tribute and to share a memory with his family, please visit www.griecocares.com
I lived in Manhattan, in the 1970s. The Democratic Party ran the town and elections were decided in the primaries
That’s when I learned about “gerrymandering.” New Yorkers knew that voting district lines were drawn to favor certain groups and candidates. It was unfair, but I didn’t know what I could do.
Fast-forward to now. For the past five years, I’ve lived here in Chadds Ford. And once again, gerrymandering warps the politics of my home town. The boundaries of voting districts for U.S. and state legislative districts are drawn by partisan politics. It needs to change. And now, there’s something we can do about it.
Here in Chadds Ford, we live in Congressional District 7. Have you seen the map? It’s a tortured absurdity. The district is wide in places, pencil-thin in others, and not a straight line anywhere. Boundaries cut through towns, and divide counties. The lines are obviously drawn to include certain areas (and their voters), and carve out others.
Don’t take my word for it. Do a web search for Pennsylvania District 7 and then click on “Images.” You’ll see why our district map has been called “Goofy Kicking Donald Duck,” among other names. You’ll be shocked at our distorted and irrational voting district.
But is it really irrational? Unfortunately no. Our district was redrawn after the 2010 census. The Philadelphia Inquirer (Dec. 15, 2011) reported that the old District 7’s party make-up included 47 percent Republicans; the new map bumped it up to 52 percent. If this were a random accident, then so be it; but it’s not. The maps were obviously drawn to benefit the party in power. This is acknowledged by leaders of both parties.
And who draws those lines? The state Constitution requires the maps to be drawn by a committee appointed by our legislators, according to who is in power. Naturally, they draw the lines to keep themselves in power. Currently, Republicans have the upper hand; but the Pennsylvania Democratic Party did the same when they had the chance, and will again.
It’s unfair. Elections are supposed to let voters pick their politicians. But instead, politicians pick their voters.
As a result, many elections have a foregone conclusion. This is so obvious to the local parties themselves that almost half of Pennsylvania senators and representatives (both Democrats and Republicans) run unopposed; the opposition party doesn’t even bother to field a candidate.
And when re-election is pre-ordained, politicians have no incentive to represent their voters’ interests. The result? We voters have less reason to trust them.
What can we do? Only one thing: change the Pennsylvania Constitution, to take the map-drawing out of the hands of the legislators, and instead appoint independent citizens.
Who would these independent citizens be? Who would appoint them? One possibility, supported by the League of Women Voters’ group, FairDistrictsPA, would put redistricting in the hands of independent citizens who have no direct party connections. Senate Bill 22 and House Bill 722 would do just that. More than 90 state legislators — Republicans and Democrats — have co-sponsored those bills. But party officials are blocking these bills from entering legislative committees where the details would be hammered out.
Pressure must be brought to bear. An important pressure point is local governments, who actually do represent their citizens (and do it well). In fact, our local Chadds Ford government is an excellent example of how elections are supposed to make government work. Our supervisors, in my opinion, do an outstanding job of representing our interests, on many sensitive issues. Why? It’s not just because they’re smart, thoughtful people. We vote them in — or out — in contested, hard-fought elections, based on how they represent our interests.
Many of us in Chadds Ford want to end gerrymandering, and we want to see our supervisors support the change. Chadds Ford voters — 168 of them — have signed a petition, publicly asking our Board of Supervisors to pass a resolution supporting a change to the Pennsylvania Constitution.
We’ll be asking the Chadds Ford Board of Supervisors to consider such a resolution in the next few months. It’s definitely within their scope of business, because of the importance of the issue to our democracy. Many surrounding townships have already done the same. It’s high time.
Dylan Gauthier highwatermarks video Brandywine River Museum of Art
First Fridays every month are always a frenzied and fun art event throughout the county, but this First Friday is particularly packed with art as it kicks off the holiday gift giving season. This Friday, start in Kennett Square with the First Friday Art Loop, November Art Loop in Kennett November 3 from 6 to 9 p.m. Most every store in Kennett Square will highlight the work of a local artist, with food, wine and music, Kennett Square is a great place to be on Friday November 3!
The remarkable abstract paintings of local artist Torrey Kist will be showing at Philter Coffee this First Friday. With the best coffee and ambiance around, Philter is a great place to grab a delicious coffee or hot chocolate and start your art adventure through Kennett Square. Also of note are the “Pop up Salons” where various chosen apartments are turned into mini galleries. Go to the Historic Kennett website to find details about the pop-up salons and artists of November’s Art Loop Kennett Square www.Historickennettsquare.com.
Sacred Hart by Lynnette Shelley Mala Galleria
Mala Galleria opens a new show opening this First Friday with the paintings of Lynette Shelley, who paints very strong almost graphic depictions of animals and birds that resonate with mythic and spiritual undertones. Lynnette’s paintings bring to mind Celtic myth, with their measured design elements that enwrap a central animal figure. Well painted and delineated, her paintings are more than decorative and have a spirit and energy all their own.
I have bought several of her paintings as gifts, and you might check out her latest works and see if they resonate with you as well! In the back gallery at Mala Galleria, you will see the works of several other fine local artists- there is always an artwork that appeals to someone’s heart at Mala Galleria! Venture across the street to check out Salt and Stone, one of my favorite art and locally made gifts store, as well as Metamorphosis Wellness Center that has super cool jewelry, artwork and ceramics with a healthy and happy new age vibe.
Sending out a “Cheers” to Kennett Square’s most celebrated artist, Robert Jackson, who has an important one man show in Gallery Henoch in New York City through the month of November. In all, 22 large scale Robert Jackson paintings will be shown, featuring his lively animated still life creations of balloon animals, gumballs, vintage crates and interactive vegetables. A visual delight that brings a smile; rekindling childhood memories and setting a stage with juxstapositioned pop imagery, toys and iconic graphics, Bob Jackson’s works are internationally collected and we are lucky to have his base camp right here in Kennett Square. In his new studio location, he has set up an ever changing window display that mimics his paintings, sure to delight every passer-by. Stay tuned on November 15th from 1 to 1:30 p.m. when I will be interviewing Robert Jackson, artist Mark Dance and Mala Galleria owner Stella Scott on Art Watch Radio, WCHE 1520, to chat with them about their new shows.
The Station Gallery at 3922 Kennett Pike in Greenville Delaware opens its newest show this Friday November 3, and ending November 25. The First Friday artist reception is 5 to 8 p.m. this Friday. The featured artist is painter Laura McMillan, who paints brightly patterned, whimsical furniture and framed paintings. Working in a variety of media on a variety of surfaces, the artist has a light touch, with lyrical swirls of paint in pleasing colors.
Three Bays by Jon Redmond at the Somerville Manning Gallery
Just a few minutes from Station Gallery is the famous Somerville Manning Gallery which featured the paintings of Jon Redmond in “Recent Paintings” through November 11. Jon Redmond is a revered local painter of everyday scenes, with the quiet of a still life, he draws attention to the minimal objects in a scene, the angles and the light; Jon Redmond is “an artist’s artist” with admirers and students throughout the art world. Somerville Manning Gallery is located at 101 Stone Block Road in Greenville Delaware, open until 5 p..m on Friday and until 3 p.m. on Saturdays.
If you would like to hear some very interesting artist talks this week, check out The Brandywine River Museum of Art where on November 1 video installation artist Dylan Gauthier discusses his amazing wall to wall ongoing museum video/audio installation at 6 p.m. and November 5th at 3 p.m. join the delightful Ana Vizcarra Rankin for a chat with Patricia Guardiola, Assistant Head of the historic Fisher Fine Arts Library at the University of Pennsylvania. If you have not been to the recent shows at the Brandywine you really must check them out! These are exhibits never before seen in our area, nor ever in our own Brandywine River Museum of Art. It really is quite exciting.
Ana-Vizcarra-Rankin-paintings Brandywine River Museum of Art
The top floor has a wonderful small exhibition space devoted to new gifts and acquisitions by the museum. The works are hung beautifully and there are some major stunners, including an image of Andy Warhol and one of Frolic Weymouth, both by Jamie Wyeth, as well as two mesmerizing NC Wyeth paintings and “Queen Anne’s Lace” by Frolic Weymouth that is exquisite.
On the lower floor is a pop up painting installation by contemporary painter Ana Vizcarra Rankin, where large unstretched canvases are painted with circles and notations with a nod to the heavens. My understanding is that Executive Director Thomas Padon was talking with the Philadelphia Contemporary Director, and that the Philadelphia Contemporary had a show without a space for a month, and the Brandywine River Museum of Art had a space without a show for a month, and “tada!” this innovative pop up was born. Let’s hope that they continue pop-ups of contemporary living artists – whether you like the work or not, it makes you think and react, and gives us all a needed nudge in the ribs that the arts are alive and happening all around us.
The other awesome new show at The Brandywine River Museum of Art is the video/audio installation by artist in residence Dylan Gauthier. What was previously a gallery filled with a sublime Andrew Wyeth retrospective now has floor to ceiling videos that encompass two long walls. A few videos play simultaneously from different vantage points of the same area, that is our area of Pennsylvania. I initially walked in during a long passage that covered some farm area in Lancaster, which brought about a very dulled reaction from me. then it changed to a winter scene with the sounds and visuals of (to me) oppressive Chester County winter.
The images combined with the surround sound really bring out a visceral response, loving it or hating it! I popped back in when I heard water, and then I was hooked. Somehow the artist got cameras in the Brandywine River, and there was rapidly flowing water all around the room, energetic, delightful, powerful and captivating. I walked out absolutely floored. In just minutes I had gone through a huge range of emotional reactions to “place” that are completely subjective. Wow. Now that is a successful piece of art! To look at something that we see every day and by cranking up the volume on the sound and visual space, our emotional reactions to place are accentuated. Arty or just for fun, any visitor will delight in this new video/audio installation, and a sincere “Bravo” to the Brandywine River Museum of Art for bringing this exciting art to us all, while enlivening our appreciation for their outstanding permanent collection.
Thomas Padon at Oxford Arts Alliance
Speaking of Thomas Padon, Executive Director of The Brandywine River Museum of Art, he spent the past weekend at Oxford Art Alliance as the juror for their Annual National Juried Art Show. If you missed his Sunday discussion of how he juried the art, awarded prizes, and sees art in general, then you really missed something amazing. Heads up, whenever an art museum or art association has a huge annual show, they pick a juror that has a unique and studied eye that we can all learn from. It doesn’t matter whether you win or not (though winning is very sweet), to hear a discussion regarding a contemporary artwork with a gut reaction from someone with an extraordinarily keen eye is a huge treat. I have seen many of these juror talks, and they are always fascinating and they always reveal the personal passion and active art eye of the juror, someone who has spent their lifetime devoted to the arts. Bravo to the Oxford Arts Alliance for creating such a terrific show (running through November 10) and to Thomas Padon for generously giving of his time and brilliant insight to this local art event. It was absolute art pleasure.
Lele Galer is an artist who has chaired numerous art shows, taught art history and studio art, public art and has chaired, written and taught the Art in Action Art Appreciation series for the UCFD schools for the past 12 years. She worked at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and wrote for the Associated Press in Rome. She has been dedicated to Art History and art education for most of her adult life. Lele and her husband Brad own Galer Estate Winery in Kennett Square.
