The Toledo Museum of Art is broadening its collection, adding 27 pieces to its collection so far in 2022. The additions include works from the sixth and seventh century, mixed media artwork, and paintings.
The museum announced the acquisitions this week. The director of the museum, Adam Levine, wrote in a press release that he hopes that these new additions will demonstrate the museum’s continued effort to expand its collection and its commitment to quality.
“These new acquisitions demonstrate the Museum’s collecting strategy in action, with each curator adding superlative artworks to our collection,” Levine said. “As we continue to grow our curatorial ranks and our acquisitions, we will further demonstrate that a relentless focus on quality and a commitment to a culture of belonging result in a broadened narrative of art history.”
The additions further the museum’s efforts to reflect the communities it serves in its collection. TMA is continuing to grow its curatorial team in hopes of gaining insight and expertise while bringing new stories to the galleries.
Erin Corrales-Diaz is the curator of American art, who wrote in the release that she sees her work as a civic duty as she tries to challenge and expand the concept of American art. Grace Hartigan’s 1966 piece titled Harvester is among the recent acquisitions curated by Corrales-Diaz. The piece uses the style of abstract expressionism and is one of only two works at the museum that displays the spontaneous smearing and splashing of paint known as gestural painting. Hartigan’s work is currently on display in Gallery 5.
The museum is preparing the rest of the collection for viewing, as some of the most recent works collected are in need of preservation.
“Some of them were acquired in February and are in great shape,” Morgan Butts, senior communications manager at the museum, told The Blade. “Others that were acquired more recently we may not have them in our possession.”
Until all of the works are ready for display, visitors can see some of the other newest additions now, including an acrylic painting by Zilia Sánchez titled Sin título in Gallery 7 and a glass and metal sculpture by Nadège Desgenétez titled Flow, Body Scape in Gallery 4.
The Toledo Museum of Art raised $51.2 million at a Sotheby’s auction in May, when it sold three paintings in its permanent collection. Butts said that these funds were not used toward the purchase of any one piece, but will further the effort to expand the collection.
“The proceeds from the deaccessions this past May will go into an endowment to support future acquisitions,” Butts said. “These past 27 works are a demonstration of our commitment to collecting across geographies, identities, histories, but the funds from the deaccession will continue to support these efforts going forward.”
■ The Arts Commission’s Art In Public Places program announced the finalists for the UpTown Green Shade Project on July 13. Merce Culp, Barbra Miner, and Bradley Scherzer will design proposals for an artistically engineered permanent shade system that will blend with existing columns at UpTown Green Park. They will first meet with residents and stakeholders to discuss themes and concepts for the project at a community engagement opportunity. Whichever artist’s proposal is chosen will be engineered and installed with a total budget of $100,000. Each artist will be paid $2,500 for developing and presenting their artistic and functional designs.
■ The recently opened River East Gallery at 601 Main St., East Toledo, opens its first neighborhood exhibit Locals Only on Saturday.
Locals Only features local works including Yusuf Lateef, Conor Degnan aka ConTron, Karla Von Deylen, Rob Morrison, and many others. An opening is slated for 5 to 11 p.m. Saturday, and the exhibit remains on on display until Aug. 23.
For more information, visit Facebook.com/RiverEastGallery.
■ Immerse yourself in the beauty of the human body in an innovative pop-up art gallery in Lima. Hosted by Wild Rose Photography LLC and the Council for the Arts of Greater Lima, the gallery will dive into the question of “why are so many people scared of bodies.”
The Every Body Art Show celebrates the human body through all of its shapes, sizes, flaws, and ages at 516 N. Main St. between 4 and 8 p.m. Saturday. Drinks will be served during the event, and live music from Wendy Chappell-Dick and One in a Number Women’s Choir are scheduled to open up the gallery viewing.
Live music is also set to stream in the gallery and bar space during open hours from 4 to 8 p.m. on July 28, Aug. 4, and Aug.11. Visitors are encouraged to book an appointment for viewings outside of open hours through Wild Rose Photography LLC. For appointment booking, go to wildrosephotographyllc.com.
■ The Detroit Institute of Arts opens an exhibition looking into the history of storytelling through the eyes of the artists who have helped us reflect on human experiences and shape our perception of the world on Friday.
The black and white photo gallery, Conscious Response, feature works from the 1950s to present day from artists like Diane Arbus, Dawoud Bey, Bruce Davidson, and more. Never before seen works from recent gifts and acquisitions by the Detroit Institute of Arts will be on display, making for an all new and free viewing experience. The exhibit remains on display through Jan. 8.
The Detroit Institute of Arts is at 5200 Woodward Avenue. For more information, go to dia.org/conscious.
Send news of art items at least two weeks in advance to Shayleigh Frank at sfrank@theblade.com.
First Published July 21, 2022, 2:00 p.m.
