Donation of Ceramics Collection to be Celebrated with Exhibition at the Burchfield-Penney
The Burchfield-Penney Art Center and Buffalo State College are pleased to announce the donation of the Annette Cravens Modern Ceramics Collection. The gift is the most significant donation of national and international contemporary ceramics in the history of the college and the museum and will be celebrated with an exhibition of selections from the collection at the Burchfield-Penney. The exhibition, Selections from the Annette Cravens Modern Ceramics Collection, will be on view from January 19 – July 22, 2007. An opening reception is scheduled for Friday, January 19 from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. at the Burchfield-Penney, 3rd floor, Rockwell Hall, Buffalo State College.
The Annette Cravens Modern Ceramics Collection consists of more than 240 objects by artists from the Europe, Japan, the United States, Canada, and South America. It features internationally celebrated artists such as Hans Coper, Lucie Rie, Bodil Manz, Roseline Delisle, Ruth Duckworth, Dorothy Feibleman, Bente Hansen, Poh Chap Yeap, Toshiko Takaezu, Angela Verdon, Elsa Rady, David Shaner, Hamada Shoji, Kohyama Yasuhisa and Western New York artists including Wayne Higby, Sue Katz and Frans Wildenhain.
"Over the years Annette Cravens has amassed an impressive collection of ceramic objects, purchasing mature as well as transitional works by some of the most noted figures in ceramics from the past 100 years,” writes Bryan Hopkins, ceramist and co-curator of the exhibition. “But names have little to do with her desire to acquire work. Instead, Annette’s specific eye has put together an amazingly cohesive collection of work, some of which are simply gorgeous while other pieces are more challenging.”
“I am concerned with the learning process,” said Annette Cravens, donor of this important collection. “To truly understand and experience the beauty of objects, people need access to the authentic object not just pictures. My hope in donating this collection to the Burchfield-Penney and to Buffalo State College is to enable people to “learn to see” the beauty of ceramic art. I am pleased that the museum and the college will be caretakers of my beloved collection and will share it with the Western New York community.”
“I am both pleased and honored that Mrs. Annette Cravens made such an important gift to Buffalo State College and the Burchfield-Penney Art Center,” said Ted Pietrzak, director of the Burchfield-Penney. “The beauty of these artworks cannot be overstated. Though only a selection is featured in this exhibition, the collection in its entirety represents extraordinary quality and depth. This gift is a significant addition to the college, the museum and a rich academic resource for the ceramics department at Buffalo State College.”
About the Burchfield-Penney Art Center
The Burchfield-Penney Art Center is a museum dedicated to the art and vision of Charles E. Burchfield and distinguished artists of Buffalo Niagara and Western New York State. Through its affiliation with Buffalo State College, the museum encourages learning and celebrates our richly creative and diverse community. For more information, contact the Burchfield-Penney Art Center at 716 878 6011 or visit www.burchfield-penney.org.
The new 75,000 square foot Burchfield-Penney, designed by Gwathmey Siegel and Associates Architects, is scheduled to open in the spring of 2008. The two-story building will be the Burchfield-Penney’s first free-standing home and have a major presence on Elmwood Avenue in the heart of Buffalo’s Museum District.
The Burchfield-Penney Art Center is accredited by the American Association of Museums and is supported in part with public funds from the New York State Council on the Arts and Erie County. Additional operating support is provided by Buffalo State College, the Elizabeth Elser Doolittle Trust, the James Carey Evans Endowment, the Mary A. H. Rumsey Foundation and charitable contributions by museum members and visitors. Media sponsor: Buffalo Spree.
About Buffalo State College
The only State University of New York college located in a metropolitan area, Buffalo State College’s 11,000 students enjoy tremendous advantages both on the 125-acre campus and throughout the community. Founded in 1871, Buffalo State is the largest four-year comprehensive college in SUNY system, with more than 135 undergraduate and 63 graduate academic programs in the arts, sciences, professions, and education. For more information, visit www.buffalostate.edu.
The Annette Cravens Modern Ceramics Collection consists of more than 240 objects by artists from the Europe, Japan, the United States, Canada, and South America. It features internationally celebrated artists such as Hans Coper, Lucie Rie, Bodil Manz, Roseline Delisle, Ruth Duckworth, Dorothy Feibleman, Bente Hansen, Poh Chap Yeap, Toshiko Takaezu, Angela Verdon, Elsa Rady, David Shaner, Hamada Shoji, Kohyama Yasuhisa and Western New York artists including Wayne Higby, Sue Katz and Frans Wildenhain.
"Over the years Annette Cravens has amassed an impressive collection of ceramic objects, purchasing mature as well as transitional works by some of the most noted figures in ceramics from the past 100 years,” writes Bryan Hopkins, ceramist and co-curator of the exhibition. “But names have little to do with her desire to acquire work. Instead, Annette’s specific eye has put together an amazingly cohesive collection of work, some of which are simply gorgeous while other pieces are more challenging.”
“I am concerned with the learning process,” said Annette Cravens, donor of this important collection. “To truly understand and experience the beauty of objects, people need access to the authentic object not just pictures. My hope in donating this collection to the Burchfield-Penney and to Buffalo State College is to enable people to “learn to see” the beauty of ceramic art. I am pleased that the museum and the college will be caretakers of my beloved collection and will share it with the Western New York community.”
“I am both pleased and honored that Mrs. Annette Cravens made such an important gift to Buffalo State College and the Burchfield-Penney Art Center,” said Ted Pietrzak, director of the Burchfield-Penney. “The beauty of these artworks cannot be overstated. Though only a selection is featured in this exhibition, the collection in its entirety represents extraordinary quality and depth. This gift is a significant addition to the college, the museum and a rich academic resource for the ceramics department at Buffalo State College.”
About the Burchfield-Penney Art Center
The Burchfield-Penney Art Center is a museum dedicated to the art and vision of Charles E. Burchfield and distinguished artists of Buffalo Niagara and Western New York State. Through its affiliation with Buffalo State College, the museum encourages learning and celebrates our richly creative and diverse community. For more information, contact the Burchfield-Penney Art Center at 716 878 6011 or visit www.burchfield-penney.org.
The new 75,000 square foot Burchfield-Penney, designed by Gwathmey Siegel and Associates Architects, is scheduled to open in the spring of 2008. The two-story building will be the Burchfield-Penney’s first free-standing home and have a major presence on Elmwood Avenue in the heart of Buffalo’s Museum District.
The Burchfield-Penney Art Center is accredited by the American Association of Museums and is supported in part with public funds from the New York State Council on the Arts and Erie County. Additional operating support is provided by Buffalo State College, the Elizabeth Elser Doolittle Trust, the James Carey Evans Endowment, the Mary A. H. Rumsey Foundation and charitable contributions by museum members and visitors. Media sponsor: Buffalo Spree.
About Buffalo State College
The only State University of New York college located in a metropolitan area, Buffalo State College’s 11,000 students enjoy tremendous advantages both on the 125-acre campus and throughout the community. Founded in 1871, Buffalo State is the largest four-year comprehensive college in SUNY system, with more than 135 undergraduate and 63 graduate academic programs in the arts, sciences, professions, and education. For more information, visit www.buffalostate.edu.
Media Contact:
Kathleen Heyworth, Head of Marketing and Public Relations | 7168784529 | heyworkm@buffalostate.edu