Keith Haring at Fenimore Art Museum

Keith Haring: Radiant Vision (May 29 – October 11, 2021) featured over 100 works including lithographs, drawings on paper, and posters, exploring the full arc of Haring’s career, his dynamic impact on a generation, commitment to social justice and activism through his art, and his significant efforts in youth advocacy and removing barriers to access. Visitors filled 140 pages of a guest book expressing appreciation for the access, personal engagement, and inspiration the exhibition provided: “I have never felt more inspired, happy & most importantly at peace with life. Thank you Keith & Fenimore… Ariana C.” Sponsored in part by Mr. Gary Cassinelli and Mr. Nick Preston, The Clark Foundation, Nellie and Robert Gipson, Hughson & Benson Associates Insurance, Joe and Carol Mahon, NYCM Insurance, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas O. Putnam, and The Tom Morgan and Erna J. McReynolds Charitable Foundation. Keith Haring: Radiant Vision was traveled by PAN ART Connections, Inc.

A pop shop inspired interactive area was created in the adjoining Clark Gallery Alcove and two area student artists were engaged as youth docents to the delight of our visitors, providing unique arts education experiences for over 4,200 guests during the season. To reach the widest youth audience, free admission to visitors aged 19 and under was made possible through a generous donation by Gary Cassinelli and Nick Preston resulting in teen visitation increasing by nearly 200% over the pre-pandemic 5-year average. A myriad of programs included a large Haring-inspired art mural installation, Cooperstown: Ripples of Time, in Pioneer Park on Main Street in Cooperstown created by New York artist Angel Garcia. A second public art mural was painted onsite with 28 area youth contributing. Children’s workshops in the summer were led by local artist and illustrator Karen Craig and Dr. Leesa Rittelmann presented The Public Has a Right to Art: Keith Haring’s Art and Activism on July 27. In October, we presented a rare behind-the-scenes look at Radiant Baby, the acclaimed off-Broadway musical about the life and work of Keith Haring featuring three spectacular musical performances from the show by Tony Award winner Lena Hall accompanied by composer/co-lyricist Debra Barsha. Also present for the conversation were writer Stuart Ross and Broadway director Stephen Brackett. The exhibition and programming provided unique opportunities for the appreciation and creation of art honoring Keith Haring’s assertion that art belongs to everyone.

2021 Summer Gala Review

The Just Keep Drawing Gala Inspired by Keith Haring 2021 to benefit Fenimore Art Museum and The Farmers’ Museum was held on Friday, October 8, 2021. The evening was inspired by Keith Haring and his work with 128 guests in attendance. A mural wall was erected within the tent walls for guests to color on using paint markers, and there were breakdance performances during cocktail hour and dinner. Attendees were encouraged to dress in primary colors, black and white. We have received many positive reviews of the evening and are so grateful to have been able to host the event this year. The Gala raised approximately $51,565 in net revenue for Fenimore. We greatly appreciate the dedication of our 2021 Gala Committee: Jane Forbes Clark, Shelley Graham, Cory Moffat, Carrie Thompson and Lucy Townsend.

2021 Gala Sponsors

$5,000
Miss Jane Forbes Clark
Mr. and Mrs. Robert S. Hanft
Tom Morgan and Erna Morgan McReynolds
Mr. and Mrs. Byron F. Thomas, Jr.

$3,500
James and Stephanie Patrick

$1,500
Mr. and Mrs. David Beightol
Dr. Paul S. and Anna T. D’Ambrosio
Mercedes and Steven M. Gotwald
Mr. Charles T. Hage and Mrs. Ursula Hage
Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Holbrook
The Honorable and Mrs. M. Langhorne Keith
Paperkite (Susan Strandberg Green and William C. Green)
Dr. Nancy Kollisch and Dr. Jeffrey Pressman
Mr. and Mrs. Thomas O. Putnam
Mr. Robert Nelson and Mr. Van B. Ramsey
Mr. and Mrs. Douglas Thompson

$500
Mr. Lou Allstadt and Ms. Melinda Hardin
Mr. and Mrs. Robert Battel
Marc and Elaine Bresee
Chris and Cay Franck
Mr. and Mrs. Kevin Harris
Stephen Harrison
Dr. Reginald Q. Knight and Mrs. Shelley L. Knight
Mohican Flowers (Hanna Bergene and Henry Bauer)
Joseph and Martha Membrino
Dr. and Mrs. Thomas Older
Leatherstocking Salon (James and Kimberly Potts)
Mr. and Mrs. Alexander Shields
Strategic Financial Services
Senator James and Cindy Seward
Vincent and Carol Valenza

Education & Programming Highlights

Young at Art! Regional Art Contest

In 2021 we held the inaugural Young at Art! Regional Art Contest where youth in grades 6-12 primarily from Otsego, Delaware and Herkimer County submitted artwork. The best examples of the entries were exhibited in our Community Gallery. We look forward to holding this contest annually and displaying the artistic talent of our local youth! This program is sponsored by NYCM Insurance, Stewart’s Holiday Match, Bank of Cooperstown, a unit of Wayne Bank, Ms. Susan Glaser and Mr. Roy Glaser, and the Robert and Esther Black Family Foundation through PNC Institutional Management and Richland County Foundation.

Virtual Write Out Loud Readings

Glimmer Globe Theatre proudly presented “Write Out Loud” in 2021, a new collaborative performance celebrating the work of local and regional writers. This free performance featured poetry, short fiction, essays, and more, all of which had been penned by members of our community. Featuring many pieces performed by the author, alongside others which have been interpreted and read by local actors and artists, this performance showcased the diversely astonishing literary talents present right here in our community. New works were featured by 21 writers, and the program featured special performances by 8 local performers.

Library

For assistance with research or for more information about the Library collection, please email or call: library@fenimoreart.org or (607) 547-1473.

2021 Library Donations:

$10,000+
The Gladys Krieble Delmas Foundation
The Tianaderrah Foundation

$2,000-$8,000
Bentley Holden Fund
South Central Regional Library Council

Gifts up to $200
Lori T. Andersen
Mrs. Barbara Crandall
Mr. Noel H. Dries
Ms. Barbara Duffy
Ms. Barbara G. Hein
Mrs. Jane S. Johngren
Ms. Mary Ann Oliver
Mr. and Mrs. David Plank
Mrs. Ruth C. Rongone
Mrs. Albert J. Read and Ms. Nancy Snyder
Mr. and Mrs. David Thurber
Mr. and Mrs. Albert Weiss
Ms. Susan T. Witt

2021 Collections Highlights, Acquisitions and Deaccessions

ACQUISITIONS

Print of “February 19, 1988 President Regan in Oval Office,” by Pete Souza, 1988. Gift of Pete Souza.

President Obama at Daycare Center 2011, from Pete Souza: Two Presidents, One Photographer, by Pete Souza. Museum purchase with funds provided by Nancy Kollisch and Jeff Pressman in memory of Bob Malesardi.

Celebrating the Passage of the ACA 2010, from Pete Souza: Two Presidents, One Photographer, by Pete Souza. Museum purchase.

Breakup of Reagan-Gorbachev Summit, Reykjavik, Iceland 1986, from Pete Souza: Two Presidents, One Photographer, by Pete Souza. Museum purchase.

President Reagan Aboard Air Force One 1988, from Pete Souza: Two Presidents, One Photographer, by Pete Souza. Museum purchase with funds provided by Nancy Kollisch and Jeff Pressman in memory of Bob Malesardi.

Digital image of masked statue and AAGPBL mask. Gift of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum.

“Two Figures with Pitchfork and Birds,” by Bill Traylor, 1939-1942. Museum Purchase.

Wallet with identification cards belonging to A. Leo Steven, early 20th century. Gift of Paul G. Preuss.

Five photographs relating to A. Leo Steven, a pioneering balloonist and parachutist of Fly Creek, NY, early 20th century. Gift of Paul G. Preuss.

Portrait of Deborah Brainard, by A. P. Bally, ca. 1840. Gift of the Nancy Morris Mathey Trust, c/o Mary Susan Leahy, Trustee.

Collection of twenty-five solarized and infrared images of New York City landmarks, 1998-2018. Gift of Joseph Constantino.

“Peonies and Twin Meissen Beakers”, Raymond Han, 2004. Gift of the Estate of Paul Kellogg, c/o Martin Kagan and Robert Schlather, Executors.

“Still Life with Red Background”, Raymond Han, n.d. Gift of the Estate of Paul Kellogg, c/o Martin Kagan and Robert Schlather, Executors.

“Self-Portrait at Easel”, Raymond Han, n.d. Gift of the Estate of Paul Kellogg, c/o Martin Kagan and Robert Schlather, Executors.

“Paul in a Chair”, Raymond Han, n.d. Gift of the Estate of Paul Kellogg, c/o Martin Kagan and Robert Schlather, Executors.

Elizabeth “Libby” Smith Miller: Suffragist/Abolitionist Official Portrait, c. 1900, J.E. Hale, Silver Bromide Print, H:18.5 x W: 8.7 in., Fenimore Art Museum Cooperstown, New York. Museum purchase with funds provided by Robert and Nellie Gipson.

Elizabeth “Libby” Smith Miller in Profile, c. 1900, J.E. Hale, Platinotype Print, H:6.5 x W: 3.2 in., Fenimore Art Museum Cooperstown, New York. Museum purchase with funds provided by Robert and Nellie Gipson.

Elizabeth “Libby” Smith Miller; Full Face , c. 1900, J.E. Hale, Platinotype Print, H:6.5 x W: 3.2 in., Fenimore Art Museum Cooperstown, New York. Museum purchase with funds provided by Robert and Nellie Gipson.

Anne Fitzhugh Miller: Suffragist/Abolitionist at Camp Fossenvue, c. 1900, J.E. Hale, Platinotype Print, H:4.5 x W: 6.4 in., Fenimore Art Museum Cooperstown, New York. Museum purchase with funds provided by Robert and Nellie Gipson.

“Indigenous Reality,” Carla Hemlock, 2020. Museum Purchase.

Anna E. Dickinson Age 12, c. 1854, Broadbent & Phillips. Museum Purchase.

Anna E. Dickinson Age 16, c. 1858, Alex Gardner. Museum Purchase.

Anna E. Dickinson Age 16-18, c. 1858-1860, F. Gutekunst. Museum Purchase.

Anna E. Dickinson Age 20, c. 1862, C. Seaver, Jr. Museum Purchase.

Anna E. Dickinson Age 22, c. 1864, unknown photographer. Museum Purchase.

Anna E. Dickinson Age 31-34, c. 1873-1876, Bradley S. Rulofson. Museum Purchase.

Anna E. Dickinson Age 31-34 (2), c. 1873-1876, Bradley S. Rulofson. Museum Purchase.

Anna E. Dickinson at the Height of Her Career, c. 1864-1870, Mora. Museum Purchase.

Embattled Maiden: the Life of Anna Dickinson, 1951, Giraud Chester. Museum Purchase.

Frances E. Willard, c. 1890, Studio of Veeder. Museum Purchase.

Illustration from Jack Tier, F. O. C. Darley, c. 1864. Museum Purchase.

“Latin Lady at Window,” Ralph Fasanella, 1955. Gift of R. Marc Fasanella and Anne Moyer and Gina and Donald Mostrando and Kohler Foundation, Inc.

The late Miss Frances E. Willard: Mourning Card, c. 1898, Littleton View Company. Museum Purchase.

Untitled Florida landscape, Tracy Newton, 1990-2010. Museum Purchase.

Untitled Florida landscape, Mary Ann Carroll, 1960-1980. Museum Purchase.

Work table, ca. 1810. Gift of K. Richard B. Niehoff.

“Melissa Wheelock,” William Matthew Prior, ca. 1850. Gift of K. Richard B. Niehoff.

“Checkers with Stitched Squares: Assemblage”, Laurene Krasny Brown, 2011. Gift of Laurene Krasny Brown.

Julia Ward Howe, c. 1875, Warren’s. Museum Purchase.

Woman Suffrage Photo: Binghamton, NY, c. 1913. Museum Purchase.

Harriet Burton Laidlaw, 1919. Museum Purchase.

Mary Garrett Hay, 1918. Museum Purchase.

Jars, Caddoan, 700-1200. Gift of K. Richard B. Niehoff.

Redware jar, Lemuel Rowell, 1835. Gift of Dr. Nancy Kollisch and Dr. Jeffrey Pressman, In Memory of Pepi Jelinek, MD.

Illustration from “Arthur’s Teacher Trouble”, Marc Brown, 1996. Gift of Marc Brown.

DEACCESSIONS

Any Documentary Collection object considered for deaccession must meet at least one of the following criteria set forth by the New York State Board of Regents Rule 3.276:

The object is inconsistent with the mission of the responsible institution as set forth in that institution’s mission statement and scope of collections.
The object has failed to retain its identity.
The object is redundant.
The item’s conservation or preservation needs are beyond the responsible institution’s capacity to provide.
The object is deaccessioned to accomplish refinement of collections.
It has been established that the item is inauthentic.
The responsible institution is repatriating the object or returning it to its original owner.
The responsible institution is returning the object to its donor or the donor’s heirs or assigns to fulfill donor restrictions relating to the item which the institution is no longer able to meet.
The object presents a hazard to other people or collection objects.
The item has been lost or stolen and has not been recovered.

“Dover Plains”, unknown artist, ca. 1870.

“Four Swans”, unknown artist, 19th century.

“The Honorable Chester McLaughlin”, Eric Maunsback, 1930.

Specimen (taxidermied bird), late 19th century.

“Battle of Petersburg”, unknown artist, ca. 1865. Gift of Stephen C. Clark.

“Flying Eagle”, unknown artist, ca. 1850. Gift of Stephen C. Clark.

“East Port & Passamaquaddy Bay,” n.d. Gift of Stephen C. Clark.

“Biblical Scene,” needlework picture, early 19th century. Gift of Bren Hyland.

Nitrate negatives, 1912-1920.

Archival material relating to William Martin Beauchamp, 19th century. Estate of Nina Fletcher Little.

Drop-leaf table, 1750-1770. Gift of Stephen C. Clark.

Side table, early 19th century. Gift of Stephen C. Clark.

“Fort Plain,” color lithograph, 1879. Museum purchase.

“Richfield Springs,” color print, 1865. Gift of the Otsego County Historical Society.

Painting, “River View with Lighthouse,” ca. 1870. Gift of Stephen C. Clark.

Stereographs, 1870s. Gift of P. Taft-Dakin.

Chippendale camelback sofa, 1765-1775. Gift of Stephen C. Clark.

Curtain tiebacks, 1920s. Estate of William Festus Morgan.

Corner tables, ca. 1820. Gift of Stephen C. Clark.

Armchair, 1750-1770. Gift of Stephen C. Clark.

Sewing table, 19th century. Estate of William Festus Morgan.