From the Director Maxwell L. Anderson

The conservation of a work of art is among the most important contributions a museum can make. Our recently acquired masterwork the Virgin of Guadalupe has undergone some 700 hours of treatment since it arrived from Madrid, and the results are dramatic. With the imminent addition of full-time expertise and instrumentation in the field of conservation science, we will be in a position to undertake chemical analysis of the materials and technique of this New World treasure, and learn more about this radiant work, every bit the equal of its Old World counterparts. Watch the conservation of the Virgin of Guadalupe.

Research on our Old Master paintings collections is by no means limited to scientific inquiry. A superb landscape by Albert Cuyp in our collection is an internationally acclaimed example of this accomplished painter’s oeuvre. It has recently been the subject of detailed examination with regard to its ownership history—as part of a comprehensive effort since 2006 to establish the provenance of hundreds of works in the IMA’s collection lacking complete details after the rise of Nazi oppression in 1933. In the winter issue of the IMA Magazine we share the findings of Research Curator Annette Schlagenhauff, who is methodically making her way through our holdings in European art to insure that potential claimants around the world are apprised of every detail we can identify in the history of relevant works.

The IMA’s new commitment to adventurous cinema continues apace, and we are proud to launch a partnership with the LGBT Festival, presenting films of interest not only to that community but to any cineaste. We also keep you current on our vital exhibition program, both onsite in Indianapolis and traveling nationally, and on lectures and presentations ranging from how to landscape with native plants to bird-watching in the Virginia B. Fairbanks Art & Nature Park. See upcoming programming in The Toby.

In closing, I hope you will choose to continue supporting the Indianapolis Museum of Art as we strive to make artworks and artists indispensable to the lives of those in our community and those passing through. Every dollar you give has an impact, and we seek to bolster the quality of life in our great city with pioneering exhibitions and programs, constantly refreshed displays of our internationally renowned permanent collection, and a wide variety of amenities from local, organic, and healthy cuisine to the most beautiful art museum campus in the nation. Please come often, give generously, and keep us free.