Exhibition Opening: Many Visions / One Community

The Mattatuck Museum will present Many Visions/One Community featuring an array of art mediums by contemporary artists. The exhibit will open on Tuesday, February 14, 2012 with a public reception from 5:30-7:30pm and runs through June 1, 2012.

The Mattatuck Museum is pleased to announce a donation of contemporary art by collectors Benjamin Ortiz and Victor Torchia, Jr. Given at the time that Marie Galbraith is stepping down as director of the museum and moving to Director of Education and Public Programming, the donation reflects Marie's outreach to the various communities that make up our audiences.

The gift of paintings, sculpture and works on paper by 31 artists celebrates each year of Marie's tenure. It includes works by artists of diverse backgrounds, some well-known and others just emerging. Galbraith, who is stepping down in February to work on the more creative aspects of museum programming and education, is delighted with the gift which represents multicultural diversity in both its creators and its subjects.

The donation contains a variety of art forms including painting, photography, watercolors, etchings and mixed media. It represents such movements as figurative realism, feminist art, social commentary, color and abstract art. Included in the donated is a 1955 black-and-white photograph, Grand Central Station, by Larry Silver, Antonio Frasconi's colorful woodcut Sioux Chief, 1971, and a mixed media work, Esperanza, 1995, by Yolanda Vasquez Petrocelli along with; Imna Arroyo, Milton Bond, Evelyn Longman Batchelder, Paul Camacho, Ann Chernow, Alberta Cifolelli, Colleen Coleman, Pedro Martin DeClet, Carlos Hernandez Chaves, Eva Fuka, Nathaniel. W. Gibbons, Karin Hillmer, Nash Hyon, Andy Jones, Ben Johnson, Nancy Lasar, Ernest Lopez, Osvaldo Lugo, Francis Luis Mora, Deborah Dancy, Jan Murdock, Robert Natkin, Robert Andrew Parker, Longworth Nicholas Powers, Julia Milch Singer, Adam Waimon, Deborah Weiss and Joan Brinton Wheeler.

This contribution by Benjamin Ortiz and Victor Torchia Jr. is important as it significantly increases the museum's holdings in 20th and 21st century art. Their desire to share their remarkable collection reflects their philosophy that art reflects our culture and that art can inspire us. Additionally, this gift can be used for teaching as well as the enjoyment of our audiences.

The opening reception is free and open to the public. RSVPs are required and can be made by calling Cathy Filippone at (203) 753-0381 ext 10. Or go to the website at www.MattatuckMuseum.org for more information and to register online.