THE CAUSE OF ART IS THE CAUSE OF THE PEOPLE Those words byWilliamMorris, inscribed in stone above the museum’s front entrance, exemplify our longstandingmission to bring the power of art to the greatest possible number of people. Your support for the museum continues this important tradition of connecting art and the public. Learn more at amam.oberlin.edu/support. CAN’T MAKE IT TO THE ALLEN? Search the entire collection online: amam.oberlin.edu/collection Take a deep dive into highlights from the collection with the Allen App: allen.stqry.app Visit the galleries, changing exhibitions, and the Frank LloydWright house virtually with Allen Augmented Reality: amam.oberlin.edu/aar DON’T MISS A THING Follow us @allenartmuseum Sign up for our e-newsletter: amam.oberlin.edu/e-news GROUP TOURS Free guided tours are available for adults and K–12 visitors. For information, please call 440-775-8166 or email education.amam@oberlin.edu. FROM THE DIRECTOR The autumn is always a time of transition, and this one seems even more so. I write this having accepted an offer from the Cleveland Museum of Art to serve as its next deputy director and chief curator, and I will leave the Allen—a place that will forever be dear to me—at the end of November. These past 18 ½ years, since I first took up a role here as curator and then, since mid-2012, as director, have been a marvelous time of growth, personally and professionally. Among the many wonderful aspects of my new position is that I will not be going far from this superb institution, with its irreplaceable collection, dedicated staff, historic facilities, and engaging programs. You, the museum’s members and friends, have helped to enable this very special place that is the Allen to achieve so much for our community. I hope to remain in good touch with you in my new role—and I expect to continue to see you often here, when, like you, I’ll be a supportive visitor! A positive aspect of this moment of change is that experiencedmuseum professional Katherine Solender (OC 1977), who has served thrice as interim or acting director, will again take on the interim role during the search for a new director. Katie knows the Allen intimately from her role on the museum’s Visiting Committee and her prior work here; she was of tremendous help to me in the efforts that led to the Allen’s strategic plan (on the execution of which we, as a staff, are making terrific progress). I know that the museumwill continue to flourish with her expert leadership. The Visiting Committee—a group that provides advice to the Allen’s director as well as to the College administration—is also undergoing a change in leadership; we thank Carl Gerber (OC 1958, about whom you can readmore on page 16) for his more than 16 years of service chairing the Committee even as we welcome to that role Oberlin resident Robert Taylor, who has long been a friendly face on the museum’s Volunteer Guild and has served on the Committee since 2010. I regret that there have recently been some transitions affecting those close to the museum that have not been positive: we have lost three dedicated donors and volunteers in George Haley (OC 1948), Bob Kasayka, and Jim Sunshine (OC 1946/graduated 1949). George, who grew up nearby in Lorain, was a professor of Spanish literature at the University of Chicago. He loved and collected European artworks, many of which he bequeathed to the Allen following his death in June, after generously making several earlier donations. Bob, a South Amherst resident, was a longstandingmember of the Volunteer Guild, serving faithfully on weekends at the welcome desk with his wife Marilyn until his death in August. A kind and stalwart supporter, he attended Tuesday Teas andmany other events following his career as an accountant and CFO. Jim, too, was a Volunteer Guild member; an Oberlin resident and former newspaper writer and editor who died last December, he donated funds to the museum for American art purchases and enjoyed welcoming museumguests. All of themwill be greatly missed. On a happier note, I’mdelighted that the museum—following a summer closure—reopened on September 6. The staff spent the interveningmonths profitably in reinstalling the galleries: Marlise Brown by rethinking the presentation of older European works to include more objects along with paintings; SamAdams by creating a space for video projection, with student assistant Dlisah Lapidus (OC 2026); and Kevin Greenwood by showcasing the Coiling Dragon after 87 North Main Street Oberlin, Ohio 44074 440-775-8665 amam.oberlin.edu Tue–Sat / 10 am–5 pm Sun, Mon / Closed Always Free Cover: Curator Kevin Greenwood discusses the newly-conserved Incense Burner with Dragon Base with student and gallery guide Sadie Winkelstein (OC 2025). Photo by Mike Crupi.
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