HAY MAZE!!

Hay Maze hours:
October 15 – early November
Fridays 5 - 8pm; Saturdays 10am - 8pm; Sundays 1 - 5pm

Fee: $8 per child
Families welcome; recommended for ages 4-11 with adult

Explore the witch's boot maze and enjoy these activities:
Flashlight tours (flashlights available $3)
Witch’s seek and find with clues:

Cider
Ghost stories
Art-making
Food and much more!
For more info call 215-247-0476

Coming Soon! Woodmere Art Museum Hay Maze!

Just in time for Halloween, Woodmere will be putting up a hay maze! Here are some pictures of us unloading all the hay today on the front lawn. Woodmere also has events the will be coming up.

We will keep you posted. Be on the look out when you drive by the museum!

Woodmere Art Museum News: The New Director

WILLIAM VALERIO IS NAMED THE PATRICIA VAN BURGH ALLISON DIRECTOR AND CEO OF WOODMERE ART MUSEUM

PHILADELPHIA (September 16, 2010) - Woodmere Art Museum is pleased to announce the appointment of William Valerio as the Patricia Van Burgh Allison Director and CEO.  Valerio is committed to continuing and building on Woodmere's strengths as Philadelphia's premier institution for interpreting the art and culture of Philadelphia. Valerio's leadership will ensure the continuity and growth of the institution.

Dianne A. Meyer, Board President, says, "Bill Valerio brings strong expertise in both art history and strategic planning to Woodmere at a time when the museum is preparing to move forward and become an even more vital institution with great opportunities for growth in many areas. With his experience and leadership, I believe that Woodmere will be able to further its mission and connect with audiences in exciting new ways."

Marguerite Lenfest, Board Vice President says, "Devoting my energy, along with many others, to the advancement of Woodmere has been a great passion of mine.  I am thrilled that we have such a talented and able leader who can bring new energy and experience to Woodmere.  We are on to a promising new era!"

Valerio is committed to Woodmere's partnership with the architects Robert Venturi and Denise Scott Brown, who have maintained a long-standing, positive relationship with the Museum. Among Valerio's first priorities is to create a long range plan for Woodmere that will assess deferred maintenance and the Museum's facility needs. Since 1958, Venturi, Scott Brown and Associates has helped to shape the course of contemporary architecture and planning.  From innovation in contextual design to the use of symbolism and iconography, VSBA's work has helped to expand concepts of what architecture can be. This focus makes them an ideal partner for Woodmere.

William Valerio says, "I am honored to become the Patricia Van Burgh Allison Director and CEO of Woodmere, which is a jewel among the many great cultural institutions of Philadelphia.  I am eager to partner with Woodmere's Board of Trustees, dedicated staff and volunteers, and broad community of supporters to build on the institution's many assets, including its wonderful collections, education programs, historic buildings, and mission to interpret Philadelphia's cultural heritage.  I believe in the importance of this mission because the story of art and culture in Philadelphia is deep, diverse, and rich, and it resonates across our region and beyond. I look forward to embarking on this new chapter in which Woodmere strengthens its relationships with the many communities it serves and becomes known as the pride of Chestnut Hill, Germantown, Mount Airy, and all of Philadelphia."

With almost 20 years experience in museums Valerio is an ideal candidate to fill this role at Woodmere Art Museum.  Most recently Valerio served as the Assistant Director for Administration for the Philadelphia Museum of Art where he was instrumental in government relations, advocacy, and public funding responsibilities, working with the Museum's Director, President, and Trustees to build relationships with elected officials of the City of Philadelphia, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and the Federal Government.  Valerio was also integral in fund raising and grant writing to generate support for capital projects, operations and programming.  Gail Harrity, President and Chief Operating Officer of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, recognized Valerio's talents and recruited him to the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

Harrity, says, "Bill possesses a unique combination of skills that will serve Woodmere extraordinarily well, ranging from expertise as an art historian to business and government affairs. His energy and warmth will be much missed at the Museum where he has made a great contribution over the last six years."

Valerio's educational degrees are prestigious: MBA in Marketing and Strategic Management from the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School in 2004; Ph.D. in Art History, specializing in European Modernism, from Yale University in 1996; MA in History of Art with a 17th-century specialization from the University of Pennsylvania in 1987; Bachelor of Arts from Williams College in 1985.  He is also a fellow of the American Academy in Rome. Valerio curated his first exhibitions at the Yale University Art Gallery as a graduate student in 1988, and joined the Queens Museum of Art as Curator in 1997. He also taught at New York University, has written for Art in America, and worked as an Independent Curator and Consultant prior to joining the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

Valerio is also an active community member sitting on the Host Committee for Powershift Philadelphia and is also a Co-Chair from 2009-present and Board of Directors, Philagrafika, 2006-present.

WOODMERE ART MUSEUM is located on Germantown Avenue in historic Chestnut Hill. The building, grounds and the nucleus of the permanent collection of Woodmere Art Museum are the benefactions of Charles Knox Smith (1845 - 1916) whose wish it was to create "a very lively art center...to awaken the spirit of, the appreciation of, and the knowledge of art . . . in the City of Philadelphia and surrounding territory."

Accredited by the American Association of Museums, Woodmere celebrates the richness of the Philadelphia region's artistic legacy through its permanent collection, exhibitions, and educational programs. Hours are Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sundays, 1 to 5 p.m. Call 215-247-0476 or visit www.woodmereartmuseum.org for more information.

 

###

Media Contact:
Christa Guidi, Cashman & Associates

Paul Dusold painting portraits at Artists at Work

Woodmere hosted close to 1000 visitors for it's three day event Artists at Work.  Geared toward second graders, it introduces young museum visitors to artist and their work.  Lots of fun.

James Rosenthal's Get Off My Lawn!

James Rosenthal has a wonderful piece on view at Woodmere called,  Get Off My Lawn!

Destiny Doorman by Chakaia Booker, Rubber tires and steel

Woodmere has a wonderful new sculpture show on the lawn. Constructed Visions features the following artists: Chakaia Booker,Paul Hubbard, Virginia Maksymowicz, Creighton Michael, Joe Mooney, James Rosenthal, Christoph Spath, and Scot White.  This exhibit is curated by Paul Hubbard.

Constructed Visions:

May 15-August 22
Reception: Saturday, June 12, 5-7pm

Constructed Visions, highlighting the work of a number of regional artists, is intended to encourage critical debate regarding the position of sculpture, its function and production. Curated by Paul Hubbard, the artists selected have in common the choice to build works as a way of directly expressing their interests, ideas and concepts. At a time when sculpture has the ability to encompass a diverse range of activities and is constantly reinventing itself, this exhibit seeks to embrace the challenging.

Artists: Virginia Macksymowicz , Joe Mooney, Scot White , James Rosenthal, Chakaia Booker , Paul Hubbard, Creighton Michael , and Christoph Spath