May and June are hectic months at Munson, and this year is no different as we celebrate extraordinary art and artists while embracing change.
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Christian Heilmann, Chair
Dietra Harvey, Vice-Chair
Mark Levitt, Secretary
Vige Barrie
Rev. Sharon Baugh
Andrew Britton
Dr. Steven J. Brown
William C. Craine
Emma Golden
David T. Griffith
Robert Knight
Betty Krulik
F. X. Matt III
R. Benedikt Sander
Jackie Walters
Laura Tansey Wetzel
This summer, we will present the art of Charles Burchfield. His remarkable works have always been among my favorites in the Museum collection. His large renderings of fantastical nature scenes draw you in, appealing to all the senses. You can almost hear the chatter of insects, feel the warmth of the sun, or sense the coolness of the night sky with the Milky Way above. There are buildings and paths to explore throughout his luminous watercolors. Watercolor Stories explores Burchfield's friendship with our patron Edward Wales Root, and their dialogue provides fascinating insights into the relationship between collector and artist.
Our own artists—the Pratt Munson College of Art and Design sophomores— celebrate their two years on our campus this month in their culminating exhibition in the Museum's galleries. This exhibition showcases the students’ tremendous talent as they prepare to leave Munson to complete their BFAs at Pratt Institute in Brooklyn. I invite you to join us for Pratt Munson commencement on May 16. It is truly one of the most heartwarming and inspiring events of the year.
I have worked at Munson for many years in four different roles, and in that time have witnessed wonderful transformations across our region and throughout Munson. This spring, we celebrate the retirement of cherished colleague Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art Mary Murray, who has profoundly shaped the Museum collection over the past 35 years and will retire at the end of June. Mary embodies the Munson mission to the highest degree, having had a tremendous impact on our audiences and community through exhibitions and programs that have enlightened and educated generations. She has helped shape Munson into the leading cultural organization it is today, and we are forever grateful for her dedication, energy, scholarship, creativity, and deep friendship.
Anna T. D’Ambrosio President and
CEO
Charles Burchfield, American (1893–1967), Three Poplars, Hot Sunlight, 1916. Transparent and opaque watercolor and graphite on paper. 19 7/8 x 13 15/16 in. Edward W. Root Bequest, 57.103.
This spring also marks the retirement of Director of Physical Plant and Campus Safety Ron Draper after 15 years of dedicated service. Ron has been the steady hand guiding our 23-building campus through countless challenges and improvements—from major restoration projects to the daily work that keeps our spaces safe, functional, and beautiful. Whether navigating severe storms, pandemic protocols, or complex engineering projects, Ron has been an unwavering champion for Munson and a trusted partner to every division.
The next issue of the Bulletin will be dedicated to exciting changes at the Museum of Art as we work to make our beloved, historic building more accessible and welcoming. I look forward to sharing this vision with you.
In the meantime, enjoy the many upcoming events, and as always, I encourage you to try something new. See you at Munson!
Anna Tobin D’Ambrosio President and CEO
Munson's
part, by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
First Friday: Latin Dance Party
Friday, May 1, 5 to 7:30 p.m.
Root Court
$5 Members | $10 General Public
The Met: Live in HD:
Eugene Onegin, P. Tchaikovsky
Saturday, May 9, 1 p.m.
Sinnott Family–Bank of Utica Auditorium
$26 Members | $32 General Public | $16 Students
Glimmerglass Festival: Happy End
Sunday, May 10, 3 p.m.
Sinnott Family–Bank of Utica Auditorium
$40 Members | $48 General Public
Keyboard Conversations® with Jeffrey Siegel
More Music of Joy and Peace
Saturday, May 16, 7:30 p.m.
Sinnott Family–Bank of Utica Auditorium
$30 Members | $38 General Public | $16 Students
Munson Book Club: Daytime Session
Dwell Time
Tuesday, May 19, 11 a.m.
Art Research Library
Free | Registration required
Local Premiere, Film by Dennis Dewey
2051: The Return Project
Thursday, May 21, 7:30 p.m.
Sinnott Family–Bank of Utica Auditorium
$8 Members | $10 General Public
Community Arts Student Exhibition
Opening Reception
Friday, May 29, 3 to 5 p.m.
Pratt Munson Gallery
Free
The Met: Live in HD: El Último Sueño de Frida y Diego, G. Frank
Saturday, May 30, 1 p.m.
Sinnott Family–Bank of Utica Auditorium
$26 Members | $32 General Public | $16 Students
FILM SERIES
Author Talk: Patrick Bringley All the Beauty in the World
Tuesday, June 2, 7 p.m.
Sinnott Family–Bank of Utica Auditorium
$18 Members | $22 General Public
Watercolor Stories: Art of Charles E. Burchfield
Members Preview
Thursday, June 11, 5:30 to 8 p.m.
$40 Members
Curator's Conversation with Mary Murray and Stephen Harrison
5:30 to 6 p.m.
Sinnott Family—Bank of Utica Auditorium
Reception
6 to 8 p.m.
Root Court
Live music, festive food, and cocktails
Munson Book Club: Evening Session
Dwell Time
Tuesday, June 16, 6 p.m.
Art Research Library
Free | Registration required
Juneteenth Celebration
Thursday, June 18, 5 to 7 p.m.
Root Court
Free
Bus Trip to the Williamstown Art Conservation Center and Clark Art Institute
Tuesday, June 30, 7 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
$165 Members | $190 General Public
Munson After Dark: The Art of Drag Saturday, June 27, 9 p.m. to midnight
Root Court
$15 Members | $20 General Public | $10 Students
Ongoing
Art and Yoga
Saturdays | 10:30 a.m.
Museum of Art
Drop-in fee per class: $10 Members | $15 General Public
Wednesdays and Fridays | 2 and 7:30 p.m. | $8 Members | $10 General Public | $6 Students
Join us each week for new foreign, independent, and award-winning films. Film selections are announced a week before the first series of the month.
Film tickets and descriptions: munson.art/films | Student tickets: call 315-797-0055
The series is sponsored by M&T Bank and by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Kathy Hochul and the New York State Legislature.
MUSEUM OF ART ON VIEW
Watercolor Stories: Art of Charles E. Burchfield
June 12 to Sept. 13
Dr. William L. Boyle, Jr. Gallery
Free to Members | $8 General Public
Watercolor Stories: Art of Charles E. Burchfield presents the fascinating artistic relationship between renowned painter Charles E. Burchfield and Munson’s benefactor Edward Wales Root. The two met in 1929 and began a 25-year conversation about their mutual enthusiasm for art, music, and nature. Watercolor Stories features Munson’s collection of 24 expressive watercolors by the artist as well as a substantial collection of related artwork and archival material from the Burchfield Penney Art Center in Buffalo, N.Y. The exhibition is accompanied by a new catalog of Munson’s watercolors.
Lead Sponsors: Andrew Britton and David Grey, Christian and Cheryl Heilmann, and Elizabeth R. Lemieux, Ph.D.; Sponsors: Alan Vincent, in memory of Linda Vincent, and Laura and Todd Wetzel M.D.
Pratt Munson sophomores showcase their work in the Museum of Art as part of the annual student exhibition, highlighting a diverse range of creative approaches and emerging voices.
Community Arts Student Exhibition
May 29 to June 26
Opening Reception: Friday, May 29, 3 to 5 p.m.
Free
Celebrate our creative community by exploring the dynamic, annual multi-media exhibition of work by the talented adult students of our Community Arts program!
Local Artist Exhibition: Holly Heckler
July 11 to Aug. 7
Opening Reception: Saturday, July 11, 4 to 6 p.m.
Free
PRATT MUNSON GALLERY
CURATOR'S CORNER
NEW ACQUISITION
One of the great privileges of my role as a curator at Munson Museum of Art is to recommend artworks to add to the collection, by purchase or gift. I always consider how a new acquisition would fit into the Museum's remarkable holdings — how we might create dialogue between objects. Such is the case with Gamaliel Rodriguez's painting The Glowing Birds at Point Louis (2025). Rodriguez is a midcareer artist living in both his native Puerto Rico and the Bronx, and his work resonates in a surprising, contemporary spirit with historical imagery in the Museum’s collection, creating a visual conversation across centuries.
Rodriguez’s landscapes of power plants, factories, and military installations examine the legacy of imperialism and the cold war throughout the Caribbean. His current body of paintings with gold leaf, including The Glowing Birds, depicts the interface of human and natural cohabitation—scenes of Caribbean urban or suburban residential neighborhoods with dramatic, deeply colored skies and unearthly lighting. He presents an ecstatic moment in which foliage, and trees in particular, glow as if they have transformed into luminous, otherworldly spirits. The magical beauty of these compositions belies their inspiration of unstable power grids and access to safe electricity.
MUNSON ON THE MOVE
Munson’s magnificent collection is on the move again!
Come see our wonderful new painting by Rodriguez on view in the Museum’s second floor modern and contemporary gallery (2 West).
– Mary E. Murray, Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art
We’re honored to share our world-class art with other museums around the globe.
ON VIEW IN MILAN, ITALY
Le Regret (Regret) by Giorgio de Chirico, 1916 Metafisica/Metafisiche 1909–1926
Palazzo Reale | On view through June 21
ON VIEW IN SYRACUSE, N.Y.
First Safe Night Philadelphia Shelter Women Against Abuse by Donna Ferrato, 1986 Diana, from Living with the Enemy by Donna Ferrato, 1987
Documentary Photography
Everson Museum of Art | On view through Sept. 17
Image on the right: Giorgio de Chirico (Italian, 1888–1978), Le Regret (Regret), 1916. Oil on canvas. 23 1/2 x 13 in. Museum Purchase, 54.150.
Gamaliel Rodriguez (Puerto Rican, born 1977), The Glowing Birds at Point Louis, 2025. Acrylic, ink, and gold leaf on canvas. 48 x 36 in. Museum Purchase, 2026.3.
PERFORMING ARTS
Keyboard Conversations® with Jeffrey Siegel More Music of Joy and Peace
Saturday, May 16, 7:30 p.m.
Sinnott Family–Bank of Utica Auditorium
$30 Members | $38 General Public | $16 Students
Celebrate the life-affirming spirit of music with radiant selections by Bach, Mendelssohn, Schumann, Rossini, and Gershwin. This uplifting program offers a joyful journey through sparkling Baroque, buoyant Romanticism, and jazzy American flair—each work a testament to music’s power to uplift, soothe, and inspire.
Funding for Keyboard Conversations is provided by Dr. Lorna Grant, Nancy Horvath, Drs. Douglas Hurd and Cynthia Parlato-Hurd, Gail Kulaga, and Dr. and Mrs. Robert Menotti.
The Met: Live in HD
Sinnott Family–Bank of Utica Auditorium
$26 Members | $32 General Public | $16 Students
The Met: Live in HD is sponsored at Munson by Elizabeth R. Lemieux, Ph.D.
Eugene Onegin, P. Tchaikovsky
Saturday, May 9, 1 p.m.
Tchaikovsky’s many moods—tender, grand, and melancholy—are vividly present in Eugene Onegin. Based on Pushkin’s iconic verse novel, the opera reimagines the Byronic anti-hero as a bored Russian aristocrat caught between convention and ennui. At its heart is Tatiana, who grows from a sentimental adolescent into a fully realized woman in one of opera’s most compelling character arcs.
El Último Sueño de Frida y Diego, G. Frank, Libretto by N. Cruz
Saturday, May 30, 1 p.m.
Fashioned as a reversal of the Orpheus and Euridice myth, the story depicts Frida, sung by leading mezzo-soprano Isabel Leonard, leaving the underworld on the Day of the Dead and reuniting with Diego, portrayed by baritone Carlos Álvarez. The famously feuding pair briefly relive their tumultuous love, embracing both the passion and the pain before bidding the land of the living a final farewell.
Local Premiere, Film by Dennis Dewey
2051: The Return Project
Thursday, May 21, 7:30 p.m.
Sinnott Family–Bank of Utica Auditorium
$8 Members | $10 General Public
Dr. Richard Calbert, a pioneer in brain-computer interface technology, leads a project to digitally preserve the human mind. After a terminal diagnosis, he donates his own brain, leaving his protégé, Dr. Gloria Dennison, as the sole link to his consciousness. Trapped in a digital existence he cannot escape, Calbert struggles to adapt, raising haunting questions about identity, control, and what it means to live forever.
FIRST FRIDAY LATIN DANCE PARTY
Friday, May 1
5 to 7:30 p.m.
$5 Members | $10 General Public
Tickets: munson.art/latin-dance
Art | Music | Food | Connections
JUNETEENTH @MUNSON
Thursday, June 18
5 to 7 p.m.
Free event!
More information: munson.art/juneteenth
GLIMMERGLASS FESTIVAL HAPPY END
Sunday, May 10, 3 p.m.
$40 Members | $48 General Public
Join us for a special Mother’s Day live event in collaboration with Glimmerglass Festival! Happy End is a sharp, jazz-infused musical comedy where religion and capitalism collide. Banned after just two performances in 1929 Berlin, this satire of big business and big religion unfolds in a smoky speakeasy where gangsters cut deals and the Salvation Army saves souls.
Tickets: munson.art/happy-end
MUNSON AFTER DARK: THE ART OF DRAG
Saturday, June 27
9 p.m. to midnight
$15 Members
$20 General Public
$10 Students
In collaboration with the Oneida County Pride Alliance
Tickets: munson.art/drag
DJ Richy | Dancing | Cash Bar
CHANGE IS ON THE HORIZON AT MUNSON
In the coming months, you may notice new energy in our hallways as renovations begin, introducing reimagined spaces, new places to gather, and thoughtful improvements throughout the Museum of Art. Each update is designed to make your time at Munson more engaging, comfortable, and enjoyable.
JOIN US FOR EXCLUSIVE PREVIEW EVENTS
Fountain Elms Society Event
Tuesday, June 23, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Munson Members and Press Preview Event
Tuesday, June 30, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
We look forward to sharing more soon and hope you’ll be part of what comes next. Watch your inbox in the coming weeks for a special invitation and an early look at what’s ahead.
DONOR SPOTLIGHT
UTICA NATIONAL INSURANCE GROUP
Partnerships are key to a non-profit’s success. Through program partners, we broaden our outreach in the community, and through financial partners, we are able to implement programs and concepts that are key to serving a broad and diverse audience. Munson has been fortunate this year to count the Utica National Insurance Group as a critical partner through their sponsorship of our Art Alive! family programs.
Art Alive! is a family-oriented, art-making, and performing arts program at Munson. This two-part event, designed to engage and entertain children and their families, is held four times per year during public school breaks. Three immersive art-making projects are designed by Museum Education staff or by Munson's Artist-in-Residence to introduce a variety of creative techniques and give hands-on opportunities for all participants, self-directed or guided by volunteers. On the same day, Munson presents a family-centered performance by national artists representing a wide range of genres, from circus acts to science shows, singers to storytellers.
“Watching kids dive into hands-on art projects and seeing families light up during shows by truly top-notch artists are two of the best parts of the Art Alive! family program,” said Lydia Berez, chair of the Foundation’s Screening Committee. “Supporting opportunities like this is exactly what the Utica National Group Foundation is here for, and we’re grateful to help bring this amazing program to the community.”
Utica National Group Foundation (UNGF) seeks to support organizations and programs that promote the healthy development of children and families and address the root causes of social problems. Founded in 1987, the Foundation has distributed more than $11.4 million in grants to agencies throughout the area. This year, the Foundation awarded a grant of $25,000 to Munson, enabling the Museum to continue offering this fantastic program free of charge.
We are exceedingly grateful for UNGF’s commitment to the community and their partnership with Munson to facilitate our own community engagement efforts.
MUNSON ARTS FESTIVAL
July 11 through 19
munson.art/arts-festival
“Watching kids dive into hands-on art projects and seeing families light up during shows by truly topnotch artists are two of the best parts of the Art Alive! family program.”
— Lydia Berez, chair of the Foundation’s Screening Committee
If you or your business would like to learn more about supporting the many community programs offered at Munson, please reach out to John Murphy, Director of Development, at jdmurphy@munson.art or 315-927-8523.
Festival Art Show
Artists ages 18+ within 40 miles of Utica are invited to submit paintings, photography, prints, drawings, mixed media, and small sculpture for this indoor exhibition. High school students in grades 9–12 during the 2025–26 school year are encouraged to apply in a dedicated student category.
Registration form now available at munson.art/arts-festival Artwork drop off dates: June 19 and 20, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Watercolor Stories
ART OF CHARLES E. BURCHFIELD
ON VIEW JUNE 12 THROUGH SEPT. 13
Watercolor Stories illuminates the fascinating connection between Burchfield and art collector Edward Root, whose treasured gift of hundreds of paintings and works on paper can be enjoyed at Munson. Burchfield’s expressive watercolors delighted Root, and he and wife, Grace, became major patrons and close friends of the artist.
The story begins in 1928, when the Roots acquired Burchfield’s Country Blacksmith Shop from the Montross Gallery in New York City. Curious to meet Burchfield, they visited his studio near Buffalo in January 1929, driving
Opening soon in the Dr. William L. Boyle, Jr. Gallery will be an enchanting show of watercolors by the American modernist Charles E. Burchfield.
from their home on the campus of Hamilton College in Clinton. At the time, Burchfield was supporting his family as a designer at the M. H. Birge & Sons wallpaper company. He maintained a studio practice and exhibited his paintings to critical acclaim, developing a reputation as an emerging artist.
Seeing Burchfield’s early work from 1915–17 led Root to share his enthusiasm with New York City gallerist Frank Rehn, who almost immediately began representing Burchfield as a result. This support sparked a series of exhibitions in galleries and museums
that ensured Burchfield was able to devote himself to painting full time.
Burchfield’s sensitivity to all aspects of the natural world found romantic and radiant expression in his paintings. He was masterful at layering pattern and color to create the sensation of vibrating energy in forests and fields. His subject matter was concentrated on sites of emotional connection, a surprisingly limited geography largely in Ohio and Western New York, that proved an endless source of inspiration. His most compelling images are inspired by memories from his childhood. Insect
Chorus, Childhood’s Garden, and the truly remarkable Sphinx and the Milky Way evoke a multi-sensory recollection of being a small boy in his yard, feeling entranced and overwhelmed by the aromas of summer flowers and warm earth amidst a symphonic melody of insects. In these three works, Burchfield recreates the emotions spawned by dark passages leading to the garden shed that were at once alluring and frightening to a sensitive child.
Because of Root’s sustained interest in Burchfield’s work, which he later bequeathed to Munson, the Museum of Art owns watercolors and drawings from several different stylistic phases of Burchfield’s development. In the early and later periods, his paintings are emotionally expressive, with oversized flowers recreated in a vivid palette. The works he painted between 1920 and 1940 are decidedly more realistic and revelatory of Root’s world view. In fact, Burchfield painted numerous scenes of industrial Buffalo, none of which Root acquired. Instead, Root was moved by Burchfield’s images depicting the human imprint in a natural setting, such as an old house overgrown with plants.
JOIN US FOR A
Members Preview
Thursday, June 11 | 5:30 to 8 p.m.
Curator's Conversation with Mary Murray and Stephen Harrison 5:30 to 6 p.m.
Sinnott Family—Bank of Utica Auditorium
Reception 6 to 8 p.m.
Edward Wales Root Court
Live music, festive food, and cocktails
RSVP by June 1: munson.art/burchfield-preview, events@munson.art or 315-927-8517
Poetic Passages catalog signing will be available during the Members Preview.
Burchfield is the author of his own story. He had an enormous capacity for writing, in both personal journals and in his letters to family, friends, and art-world associates. His friendship with Edward and Grace Root can be traced over 22 years through dozens of letters they exchanged. Burchfield sent newsy descriptions about his family and his travels and shared spirited thoughts about his favorite composers. Root valued Burchfield’s correspondence, writing to a colleague, “[The letters] often describe his paintings, but they are more interesting, I think, when they record his attitude toward his work and, above all, his observations of nature.”
Watercolor Stories is co-organized by Munson and the Burchfield Penney Art Center at Buffalo State University. The exhibition is accompanied by the publication Poetic Passages: Charles E. Burchfield and Edward W. Root in Art and Letters, available in the Museum Shop. The book reproduces for the first time the complete set of transcribed letters that Burchfield sent to the Roots, along with reproductions of Burchfield’s works of art in Munson's collection.
Admission for Watercolor Stories is free for Munson Members and $8 for the general public.
Edward W. Root in Art and Letters
$32.95–Available for purchase at the Munson Museum Shop
Poetic Passages is a beautifully produced volume documenting the Charles E. Burchfield paintings and drawings in the Munson collection, along with correspondence by Burchfield to Edward and Grace Root. Poetic Passages was produced in collaboration with the Burchfield Penney Art Center, SUNY Buffalo.
Funding for Munson’s 2026–27 exhibition series is provided by Andrew Britton and David Grey, Christian and Cheryl Heilmann, and Elizabeth R. Lemieux, Ph.D.
This June will see the retirement of Munson’s much loved Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art Mary Murray. Few people have had the same impact on the Museum’s collection and its creative direction than Mary, who has served the institution and the local art community with her knowledge and gracious manner for the past 35 years.
“Mary has left an indelible mark on the Museum's collection, culture, and history.”
— Stephen Harrison, Museum of Art Director and Chief Curator
Through her passion for the art of our time, she has grown the collection significantly by adding important works from artists of diverse and under-represented cultures, especially female, LGBTQ+, and African American artists. Many of these landmark acquisitions have become synonymous with Munson itself—instantly recognizable and now fan favorites.
Her engaging exhibitions and clever, thoughtful installations have often led to probing scholarship on Munson's collection, represented by a long list of catalogs and publications— another legacy that will endure for many years to come. Munson will remain grateful to Mary for shaping the collection in such a dynamic way, marking a path for successive curators to model and enhance.
But perhaps more importantly, she has added immeasurably to the culture of Munson by always thinking of our community and visitors first in her work. Her unwavering presence at Art and Yoga over its long history is a testament to that mission. She has reminded us that art infused into our daily lives is healthy not only for the mind but the body and soul as well. She has embraced our members, her colleagues, and the local art community with her own unique brand of friendship and support, and we all wish her well in this next chapter of her life.
Come celebrate Mary Murray on her retirement at the Watercolor Stories Opening.
RON DRAPER
Director of Physical Plant and Campus Safety
Congratulations to Director of Physical Plant and Campus Safety Ron Draper, who will retire at the end of May. Draper joined Munson in 2011 and has seen us through countless major and minor projects over his 15 years of dedicated service. His leadership has been instrumental in maintaining and improving our extensive campus, most recently overseeing the Genesee Street studio conversion, the Genesee Street landscaping project, and Fountain Elms restoration work as well as leading the 503 Henry St. stabilization project and coordinating ADA compliance improvements across campus.
Draper has guided us through terrible storms and the challenges of the pandemic, facilitated our annual summer car show, and managed numerous projects—from HVAC improvements to masonry work and engineering designs to contractor management to oversight of our Praxis
properties—while ensuring the daily operations that keep our campus safe and functional. Throughout it all, he has been a champion for Munson.
We extend our deepest appreciation to Draper for his commitment to Munson. He leaves our campus in far better condition than when he began—a testament to his dedication, expertise, and skill. We wish him and his family all the best during this well-deserved next chapter.
COMMUNITY ARTS
FREE ART CLASSES FOR KIDS THIS SUMMER
FREE SUMMER CLASSES
Thanks to additional funding from our generous sponsors, we are able to offer free morning and afternoon classes this summer!
Funding for summer Community Arts classes for kids and teens is generously sponsored by MetLife Foundation. Additional funding has been provided by Sheila and Ron Cuccaro and by the Karam Mandour Fund at the Community Foundation of Herkimer and Oneida Counties.
KIDS CLASS HIGHLIGHTS
Lil' Woodworkers
Seth Sypko | Ages 6–8
Mornings: 9–11:30 a.m.
Afternoons: 1–3:30 p.m.
WEEK 4: Aug. 3–7
Teen Portfolio Development:
Drawing, Painting, and 3D
Scott Brown and Rayn-Boe Shutler | Ages 15–18
Monday through Thursday, 6–8 p.m.
WEEK 1: July 13–16
WEEK 2: July 20–23
For the full schedule, visit munson.art/community-arts.
ADULT CLASS HIGHLIGHTS
Character Design
Sean Usyk | All Levels | 16+
Wednesdays, 5:30–7:30 p.m.
July 15 to Aug. 19
Cost: $170, Member: $155
MINI-COURSE | Painting En Plein Air
Chad Smith | All Levels | 18+
Wednesdays, 9 a.m.–noon
July 8 to 29
Cost: $155, Member: $135
Summer Sewing Studio
Niki English | Intermediate–Advanced | 18+
Tuesdays and Thursdays, 6–9 p.m.
July 14 to Aug. 6
Cost: $210, Member: $190
Register today at munson.art/community-arts, 315-797-8260, or communityclasses@munson.art.
MUNSON IN THE COMMUNITY
CONVERSATIONS ABOUT MUNSON’S COLLECTION
With support from the Henry Luce Foundation, Munson’s curatorial team is studying its pre-1920 collections with the Utica community. Together, we are thinking about the Museum’s relationship to the wider world—both our Central New York location and global connections.
Today, Utica’s population includes people from more varied backgrounds than ever, and by working with both our new and established community partners, we hope that everyone sees Munson as their own. Our Museum InSighters group is helping our curatorial team understand what dedicated members know and love about the collection. Pop-up events at local organizations will allow us to consult with people who have not yet come to the Museum.
Finally, a new community project, Utica in the World, is exploring what American art means to people with multiple linguistic and cultural backgrounds. Thanks to the support of Golden Artist Colors and a collaboration with the artist Marion Wilson, participants will be able to create art as they learn about and discuss our collections.
ART IN BLOOM WINNERS
People's Choice: Best in Show
Fountain Elms Society's Choice
Brianna Goodwin
Blooms and Blossoms Florist in Oneida
#18 Nocturne 2 by Karen LaMonte
MUNSON’S AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY PARTNERS
Join us on May 7 at 5 p.m.
Come hear about the exciting opportunities provided by Munson’s African American Community Partners (AACP) from local leaders and Munson’s curators on Thursday, May 7. We will share our plans to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the abolition of slavery in New York State, study the history of Freedom Seekers, and connect with Black Canadians doing similar work across the border. Enjoy an evening of art, history, music, and fun!
We'd like to thank the designers in this year's Art in Bloom for their stunning creations.
Jury's Choice and People's Choice: Best in Creative Design
Nicole Hickel
Horticultural Healings in New Hartford
#4 TV Antennae by Ben Shahn
Jury's Choice: Best in Show
Catherine Clarke
Clinton Florist in Clinton
#8 Tournos by Stuart Davis
Spring Weekend brought more than 1,800 visitors to the Museum with flowers taking center stage! Thank you to everyone who joined us. To view all floral arrangements, visit munson.art/art-in-bloom-winners.
BOOK CLUB
Munson Book Club: Dwell Time
Daytime Session: Tuesday, May 19, 11 a.m.
Evening Session: Tuesday, June 16, 6 p.m.
Art Research Library | Free (Registration required)
Join fellow art and literature enthusiasts for Munson Book Club, featuring engaging discussions on books that explore the art world and its intersections with history, culture, and creativity. Our next selection is Dwell Time by Rosa Lowinger, a tale of immigration, family, and understanding through the eyes of an art conservator.
Visit munson.art/book-club for all the latest information.
Author Talk: Patrick Bringley
All the Beauty in the World
Tuesday, June 2, 7 p.m.
Sinnott Family—Bank of Utica Auditorium
$18 Members | $22 General Public
Patrick Bringley, New York Times best-selling author of All the Beauty in the World: The Metropolitan Museum of Art and Me, will share his decade-long experience as a guard at the Met. In the wake of his brother’s death, Bringley discovers that this role brings him solace and community. His memoir provides an insider’s view of the Met and reflects on the healing power of art. He will be available for a book signing following his talk.
Presented in partnership by Munson and the Mid-York Library System. Sponsored by Carol W. Steele and Hospice & Palliative Care.
NEW MUSEUM DOCENT
JOHN REILLY
Congratulations to John Reilly, the Museum of Art’s newest docent!
After retiring in 2022 from a career as a programmer and systems engineer for more than 40 years, Reilly has taken time to do many of the things he loves, including visiting some of the world’s great museums. By becoming a docent, Reilly is now able to combine his lifelong love of art and his desire to give back to the community he calls home.
ABOUT THE DOCENT PROGRAM
Tuesday, June 30 | 7 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. $165
Docents introduce visitors of all ages to a world of discovery by presenting tours on the Museum’s outstanding collection and exciting special exhibitions. Docents are people of all ages and backgrounds who enrich their own lives as they use new skills to enrich the lives of others. As part of their training, new docents learn all there is to know about giving tours and exciting our visitors about art. No prior knowledge is require, just a zest for life and a passion for the power of art!
For More Information
Cindy Scheuer, Museum Educator for Academic and Docent Programs 315-927-8549 or cscheuer@munson.art
MUNSON SPRING EVENTS AT A GLANCE
Pratt Munson Heart Run and Walk Team
Spring Weekend: Kids Design!
Art Conversation with Stephen Harrison: The Met Meets Munson
Food + Art Unite
Spring Weekend: Spring Flower Arranging Class
Art in Bloom: Flowers Inspire!
Artist-in-Residence Quincey Spagnoletti: Home Studios Opening Reception
February Art Alive! Family Day
Art in Bloom: Flowers Inspire! Food + Art Unite
Concert in the Court: Live from Laurel Canyon: James and Joni: Their Stories, Their Songs
April Art Alive! Family Day with the Utica ZooMobile
Art Insider's Trip to NYC
MEMBERSHIP MATTERS AT MUNSON!
Munson members play a vital role in supporting our programs through unrestricted membership and Annual Fund contributions, which fund School of Art, Performing Arts, and Museum of Art programming—more than 600 events each year.
In addition to the satisfaction of supporting this work, members also enjoy a range of benefits. If you’re not yet taking full advantage, here’s a quick reminder:
ALL MUNSON MEMBERS RECEIVE:
• Free admission for all exhibitions in the Museum of Art, including those offered to other visitors for a fee (depending on your level of membership, you may also be entitled to bring one or more guests).
• Free admission to more than 30 museums across New York State through the Empire State Reciprocal Museums program.
• Invitations to special events, including exhibition previews and receptions.
• Access to the Art Research Library.
• Discounted pricing on Museum Shop purchases, classes, films, live performances, The Met: Live in HD, and more.
UPPER LEVEL MEMBER ADDITIONAL BENEFITS:
• CONTRIBUTORS — Membership with the North American Reciprocal Museums Association, with reciprocal accessto more than 1,500 museums throughout the U.S.
• FOUNTAIN ELMS SOCIETY — Members are recognized in our Annual Report and on our donor wall and receive extra guest privileges for exhibitions and special programs. Special programming is offered throughout the year for Fountain Elms members.
We hope you will take full advantage of these benefits and consider increasing your support over time to qualify for more. At the same time, you’ll be expanding the range of programming we can provide for you and everyone else in the community.
Reach out to membership@munson.art with questions or to step up your membership level.
Thank you for supporting Munson!
PRATT MUNSON UPDATE
CLAUDINE METRICK PROMOTED TO FULL PROFESSOR
Congratulations to Claudine Metrick, who has been promoted to professor at Pratt Munson College of Art and Design! This promotion recognizes her ongoing contributions to the academic and creative life of the Pratt Munson community and her growing impact as a practicing artist.
Since joining Pratt Munson in 2016, Metrick has taught drawing, painting, and foundations courses, helping students develop strong studio practices and critical engagement with contemporary art. She has also contributed to faculty initiatives and curricular development, including projects that broaden the representation of artists and designers within the classroom.
Metrick maintains an active national and international exhibition record. Her recent projects, which explore ecology, environmental change, and the layered histories of landscapes, have been featured in solo and group exhibitions and interdisciplinary screenings. Her work has received significant recognition, including a Rural and Traditional Arts Fellowship from the New York State Council on the Arts, a Puffin Foundation Artist Grant, and a residency at the Oak Spring Garden Foundation, where she developed new work examining the relationship between art, environment, and place.
SPRING HAS ARRIVED AT THE SHOP! MUNSON MUSEUM SHOP
The Museum Shop is blooming with fresh arrivals. Shop handcrafted jewelry, unique décor, and creative gifts that bring art into everyday life.
All Members review 10% off at the Museum Shop. Consignment items are excluded.
ART RESEARCH LIBRARY
NEW ON THE SHELF
Dog Only Knows: The Dog Portraits of Alison Friend
By Alison Friend
Step into a world where dogs are the main characters! Dog Only Knows is a collection of over 125 of Friend’s favorite dog portraits— painted in oils, full of character, and often up to no good. This book is for anyone who’s ever looked at their dog and thought, “What exactly is going on in that head of yours?”
INFORMATION AND HOURS
Museum of Art, including Fountain Elms
Tuesday to Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Sunday, noon to 5 p.m.
Performing Arts Tickets
Monday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Doors open one hour before performances and 30 minutes before films.
Tickets: 315-797-0055, 1-800-754-0797, or munson.art
Pratt Munson and Community Arts Offices
Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Art Research Library
Monday to Thursday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Saturday, noon to 5 p.m., Sunday 3 to 5 p.m.
The following areas are accessible to the physically challenged: Museum of Art galleries, Fountain Elms, Sinnott Family–Bank of Utica Auditorium, Root Court, Museum Shop, Art Research Library, Performing Arts Office, Pratt Munson Gallery, Studio D, Pottery Studio, the Academic Building, and Student Center.
Munson Members can enjoy library borrowing privileges for books, DVDs, and CDs.
Visit munson.art/library for hours, contact information, and the searchable online catalog.
Terrace Café Update
Infrastructure repairs and improvements to Fountain Elms and the Terrace Café began in March and are expected to be completed in June.
