Two new additions to the IMA’s renowned Pont-Aven School Collection are now on view in the Jane H. Fortune Gallery. The Corner Cabinet with Breton Scenes by Emile Bernard is a rare example of carved and painted wood furniture from the group of international artists that worked in the village of Pont Aven in Brittany in the 1880s and 1890s. The cabinet was purchased from the collection of Samuel Josefowitz, the distinguished collector who is generously giving the museum the other new work of art on view in the gallery, a preparatory drawing for the cabinet that allows us to see Bernard’s design process at work.

Read the rest of this entry »

Filed under: Art

The other day I was asked what I like most about my job. This is an easy question for me to answer, and likely just as easy for any serious art conservator or other museum professional.

Simply put, what I like most about my job is that I get to look at works of art. I probably spend more time looking in one week than most people do in a whole year. When I’m looking, I always start with trying to figure out from what and how a work is made. For me, these are the most interesting questions to investigate. If you can’t put together at least some rough answers, then you really can’t make any further assumptions (art historical or otherwise), and you’re certainly not going to be in a good position to make good conservation decisions.

I rarely ever get to the question of whether or not I like an artwork; in conservation, answering that question doesn’t really get me anywhere.

This week I’ve had the exceptional opportunity to look at a rare corner cabinet with carvings by Emile Bernard. This cabinet is one of only four known examples produced by the Pont-Aven School (one is at the Norton Simon, one is at the AIC, and the other in Paris). It made quite a big splash when we acquired it this year.

Read the rest of this entry »

Filed under: Art, Conservation, Technology

I’m pretty far behind the blogging curve, this being only the third item I’ve written.  And thanks as always to Kate, without whose help I would still be working on the first one!  I mention this lack of tech savvy because it was very much on my mind when I received a request to give a tour of the Miller House and Garden to a group of architectural bloggers whose itinerary and experience were being arranged by the Columbus Area Visitors Center.

Michael Shapiro of ModernCaptital (left) and Barrett "Baz" Crites of Atomic Indy (right)

Taken together, the participants constituted a pretty impressive group. (By the way, has there yet been coined a word for a group of bloggers?)  Atomic Indy’s Baz was there, along with the Urbanophile (that’s some SERIOUS blogging), Apartment Therapy, and many others, about 15 in all.  I had visited some of their blogs prior to the June 12 tour, but my own digital world is on the narrow side, I have to confess, so most were new to me.  Suffice it to say that as folks were introducing themselves, I could only smile and nod, and reflect inwardly on my opportunity to see the Miller property act as one of the agents that would transform – if only for a weekend – a virtual community of iPhone-addicted hipster inhabitants of the blogosphere into a real-time, flesh-and-blood fellowship of Columbus, Indiana, architectural enthusiasts. Read the rest of this entry »

Filed under: Design, Local, New Media

I wandered these halls long before I was on the payroll.

I’ve had my eye on the IMA for years. In that time I’ve found a home here. Case in point; my obsession for modern and contemporary design was fueled by the great lectures, films and social events that the IMA is known for. So when the position I have now became available, Purchasing Manager, I all but beat down the glass doors to get my resume in. Where else could I utilize my OCD-like organizational skills while working for such a cultural heavy-hitter?

(photo by Nikki Sutton)

OK, enough gushing (for now). The above picture was taken almost a year ago in front of the retail store at the IMA. See that chair in background? That’s an Eames. I actually now own one! I can either blame or thank the IMA for that… Thank you.

How many people can say they enjoy staying after work? Not many. But I get to attend some great events like the one pictured below, Summer Nights. The film was Roman Holiday and a bunch of my friends and I rode our scooters here for the movie.

(photo by polinaosherov.com)

Scooters?

Yes, I said scooters. I own a bright orange scooter and you’ll likely see me riding it to work some days. The picture below is of me tearing up the downtown streets.

So with all of that being said, (and I don’t know how to end my first blog) the past few months of work here at the IMA have been very rewarding, while also challenging. It’s the best of both worlds. So, if you see me wandering these halls today- say hello. I might even teach you the secret scooter handshake.

Filed under: Design, Film, Musings

I have just finished an upload of a new set of Flickr images assembled by Andrea Mason, an IMA conservation intern.  She worked this summer with a contracted furniture conservator named Mark Minor to return a sideboard by Eliel Saarinen to its original glory.

Read the rest of this entry »

Filed under: Art, Conservation, Design