Building a Masterpiece Celebrating 90 Years - Figge Art …figgeartmuseum.org/figgeartmuseum/files/6d/6dbd3d06-4a87-4889-87fe... · Brian Allen Outreach Educator ... sketches and

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Building a Masterpiece

Celebrating 90 Years

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I n 2015, the Figge celebrates two milestones: The 10th anniversary of the opening of our landmark building in downtown Davenport, and the 90th anniversary of the opening of the Davenport Municipal Art Gallery in 1925. Through the generosity of its many benefactors,

the support of the City of Davenport, the wisdom of its leaders and the support of its members and volunteers, the museum has given the gift of art to countless visitors here at home, and has earned a reputation for excellence worldwide. With lead support from the Riverboat Development Authority, we are celebrating with free admission all summer and the rich array of exhibitions, programs and events listed here. Please join us for the fun!

This year, we also celebrate the creation of the Friends of the Figge, a renewal of the museum’s original support group, the Friends of Art, which was organized soon after the museum’s opening and purchased its first gift for the collection, William Merritt Chase’s Portrait of Mrs. Chase, in 1929. The Friends of Art continued to help build the collection, stage events and raise awareness for the museum until 2003, when it became the nonprofit agency for the new Figge Art Museum. The new Friends organization will present its first event, “Art off the Wall,” on August 9—see inside for details.

We are also celebrating a new partnership with Live Uncommon, a nonprofit supporting community involvement and fitness that will present a busy schedule of family-friendly events on the Bechtel Plaza at the Figge through the summer.

Finally, in September, we will welcome architect Sir David Chipperfield and many others whose talent and dedication helped create our beautiful museum, to join us for a series of special events looking back at the museum’s history and forward to its future. At that time, we will unveil a new Figge catalogue, with a history of the museum and its collections.

The Figge Art Museum serves thousands of residents and visitors of the Quad Cities region each year, with world-class exhibitions, exceptional education programs and special events that “bring art and people together.” This is all made possible by the ongoing generosity of our sponsors, members and donors, and by the leadership and dedication of our Board of Trustees, staff and volunteers. Thank you!

Cindy Carlson Tim Schiffer

President, Board of Trustees Executive Director

Riverboat Development AuthorityRussell ConstructionSolis RussellJohn Deere FoundationGenesis Health System

Lujack Lexus of the Quad CitiesPer Mar Security ServicesTriumph BankJohn and Nancy DanicoMidAmerican Energy

In-kind Heart of America

Media Sponsors KWQC-TVQuad-City Times

SPONSORS

Cindy Carlson PresidentTara Barney Past PresidentDee Bruemmer Vice President

Ken Koupal TreasurerDon Doucette, PhD SecretaryKay Hall At Large

Hunt Harris At LargeDr. Randy Lewis At Large

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Executive Committee

Dr. Amir ArbisserAndy ButlerNate Clark

Nancy DanicoDelia MeierSue Quail

Kay RungeJim RussellWynne Schafer

Mark SchwiebertDebby StaffordDana Wilkinson

Board Members

Tim Schiffer Executive DirectorTodd Woeber Chief Financial OfficerRaelene Pullen Director of DevelopmentMelissa Mohr Director of EducationAndrew Wallace Manager of Collections and ExhibitionsAmy Martens Membership ManagerNatalie Dunlop Marketing CoordinatorSara Morby Development AssistantRobin Hill Preparator/Assistant RegistrarHeather Aaronson Education Programs Coordinator

Laura Dunn Outreach CoordinatorBrian Allen Outreach EducatorLynn Gingras-Taylor Creative Arts CoordinatorVanessa Benson Office AdministratorBob DeBlaey Facilities ManagerTony Trout Facilities Manager AssistantChris Rivers Director of Retail and Visitor ServicesLora Wegener Museum Store Assistant Manager

STAFF

Debby Stafford ChairChanda Washington Vice ChairEileen Eitrheim Vice Chair

Brooke Terronez Secretary/Treasurer Kay Hall Development Committee Chair

FRIENDS LEADERSHIP

Lois Nichols Chair

DOCENTS

Sandy FritzBarb Hansen

Mentors

Tracy KinmanStephanie Raphael-Nakos

Cathy WeidemanBill Gallin

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American Moderns on Paper: Masterworks from the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of ArtThrough September 20, 2015Third and Fourth Floor GalleriesIn the early 1900s, American artists responded to modern ideas from Europe by creating bold new works that embodied the energy of their times. This important exhibition features more than 80 works by masters such as Edward Hopper, Georgia O’Keeffe and Andrew Wyeth, as well as by others who are less well-known but contributed to the rise of the United States as the center of the art world.

Sponsored by Riverboat Development Authority, Genesis Health System, Per Mar Security Services

A Gift for the Quad Cities: The Figge Art Museum 10th Anniversary ExhibitionJuly 5-October 4, 2015Katz GalleryThe Figge’s art collection continues to grow through generous gifts in celebration of the 10th anniversary and acquisitions made with endowed funds. More than 40 new additions on view include works by Tom Uttech, David Plowden, William Theophilus Brown, Kara Walker and many others.

Sponsored by Riverboat Development Authority, John Deere Foundation

The Model MuseumThrough September 20, 2015Lewis GalleryIn 1999, the Davenport Art Museum conducted an international search for an architect for its new facility in downtown Davenport, and chose Sir David Chipperfield of England for the commission. This exhibition includes models, sketches and background information on Chipperfield’s acclaimed design.

Sponsored by Riverboat Development Authority

SUMMER EXHIBITIONS

Edward Hopper, Captain Strout’s House, Portland Head, 1927, opaque and transparent watercolor over graphite on wove paper, The Ella Gallup Sumner and Mary Catlin Sumner Collection Fund, 1928.3

Tom Uttech, Kisibakwad, 2014, oil on linen, gift in honor of Budge, Ed and Peter Gierke, courtesy of Tory Folliard Gallery, 2014.18

This exhibition was organized by the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art, Hartford, Connecticut. Made possible by the National Endowment for the Arts as part of American Masterpieces: Three Centuries of Artistic Genius and the Henry Luce Foundation.

American Moderns on Paper is presented with the generous support of the Riverboat Development Authority in celebration of the Figge’s 10th anniversary, with additional support from Per Mar Security Services and Genesis Health System.

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i ♥ FiggeThrough September 13, 2015Mary Waterman Gildehaus Community GallerySchool children and community members reflect on their Figge experiences in drawings and words.

Sponsored by Riverboat Development Authority, Brand Boeshaar Foundation Fund and Hubbell-Waterman Foundation Fund

Corn ZoneThrough October 11, 2015Gildehaus Orientation GalleryA Figge favorite returns! Wisconsin artist and farmer Mick Meilahn’s installation of 28 brightly colored, cast glass ears of corn hang from the ceiling, each pierced by a mysterious glass needle. With a video backdrop of farming activities and the sound of breaking glass, the artwork gives us a new perspective on the fields of corn that surround the Quad Cities.

Sponsored by Riverboat Development Authority and Triumph Community Bank

Terry Rathje: AllinitogetherThrough September 1This temporary sculptural installation on the Figge’s Bechtel Plaza uses a honeycomb structure to suggest the social cooperation of bees. In walking through individual chambers of this “hive” to reach the central chamber, where a “queen bee” would reside, visitors are invited to reflect on the ways in which their lives are structured.

Sponsored by Riverboat Development Authority and Quad City Arts Dollar$ funds, provided by Hubbell-Waterman Foundation, Illinois Arts Council Agency, John Deere Foundation and the Doris and Victor Day Foundation.

Michael Meilahn, Nick Nebel, Corn Zone, 2007, blown glass, polyester rope and video projections with sound, purchased through an anonymous gift in honor of Thomas Gildehaus (Figge Art Museum supporter and member Board of Trustees 2003-2009, 2011-2014 and Board President 2005-2009), 2009.3.a-bb

Terry Rathje, Allinittogether, 2015Image courtesy of Terry Rathje.

Mobile tour Don’t forget to take advantage of the Figge Mobile Tour! The tour is available for all visitors to enjoy and is designed to deliver behind-the-scenes content and facts about hand-selected works right to a visitor’s own cell phone or tablet–completely free of charge. Enhance your visit and delve a little deeper into the works on display. To participate, dial 563.424.3997.

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THURSDAY, JUNE 255:30 p.m. Opening Reception FREE American Moderns on Paper Mingle with members and museum staff. Complimentary hors d’oeuvres and cash bar.

7 p.m. Curator Talk FREE

Erin Monroe, the Robert H. Schultz, Jr. Assistant Curator at the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art, will speak about curating the exhibition American Moderns.

SUNDAY, JUNE 28UIMA Exhibition Closes Eye on UI

Exhibition Closes Figgeo Contemporary: Pinder

TUESDAY, JUNE 30Exhibition Opens FREE Corn Zone

JUNE EVENTS

DOCENT-LED TOURS FREE (no reservation required)

Saturday, June 27 1:30 p.m. American Moderns

Sunday, June 28 1:30 p.m. American Moderns

Fabulous Faux Finishes Workshop10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, June 27 • Instructor: Mary Stringer$35/members; $45/non-members • Supply list • $30 materials fee payable to instructor

Oil Pastel Workshop10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Saturday, July 18 • Instructor: Gloria Burlingame$40/member; $50/non-member • Supply list

Art Glass – Your Design!10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, August 29 • Instructor: Lu Ann Steffen $60/member; $70/non-member • Supply list • $50 materials fee payable to instructor

SUMMER WORKSHOPS

In 2015, the Figge Art Museum celebrates the 10th anniversary of its opening, and the 90th anniversary of the opening of its predecessor,

the Davenport Municipal Art Gallery. The museum first opened in October 1925 in the former Battery B Armory building on Fifth Street in downtown Davenport, with a collection of 334 paintings donated by former mayor Charles August Ficke. In order to accept the gift, the city persuaded the State of Iowa to pass a law allowing it to open and maintain a municipal art gallery.

By the 1950s, the collection had grown through multiple gifts and purchases made possible by support groups such as the Friends of Art, and the armory

building had begun to deteriorate. The City Park Commission approved the construction of a new museum campus on a 12-acre tract on West 12th Street for the art museum and the Davenport Public Museum, now the Putnam Museum. The new gallery opened in May 1963.

The museum was accredited by the American Association of Museums in 1983 and was later renamed the Davenport Museum of Art. As the collection and the museum’s programs and events continued to expand, the building was no longer adequate. The City of Davenport granted permission to the museum leadership to select a site in downtown Davenport.

An eight-member selection committee was formed to plan the new facility and choose a project architect. The committee’s criteria for selection included three requirements:

1 The museum should become an architectural symbol for the community.

2 The museum should be a 21st Century facility that serves as a “new public square.”

3 The museum should stand as a testament to the traditional Midwestern emphasis on self-improvement through education.

After an international competition with 54 prominent firms responding with materials about their prior work and profiles of their practices, British architect Sir David Chipperfield was awarded the contract for the design. The museum ceased to be a City entity, and transferred to nonprofit status, with the City of Davenport retaining ownership of its collection.

Chipperfield and his staff worked with museum representatives to develop the design approach and program of spaces and functions over a period of two years. The team created two designs for the project. The first design was for a building sited at the corner of Second and Harrison Streets, which had a more vertical emphasis than the final design. Midway through the process, the museum gained rights to expand the project site to include the full block fronting River Drive, and the building was moved to the south side of the site, with parking for museum staff and U.S. Bank Building employees on the lower level.

Davenport Municipal Art Gallery

BUILDING A MASTERPIECE

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Chipperfield’s sketches for the project imagine a horizontal building, reflecting the river, and a vertical building that serves as a vantage point and tower. The final design combines both ideas. Chipperfield prefaced his design notebooks with a quote from Mies van der Rohe, the German architect whose minimalist aesthetic revolutionized modern architecture:

“The first problem is to establish the museum as a centre for the enjoyment and not the internment of art. Thus the barrier between the work of art and the community is erased.”

The 114,000 square foot-building was funded through lead gifts from the V.O. Figge and Elizabeth Kahl Figge Charitable Foundation, the Vision Iowa grant program, the City of Davenport, Scott County Iowa and gifts from other foundations, families, individuals, businesses and organizations. The total construction cost was $46 million. The U.S. architect of record was Herbert Lewis Kruse Blunck of Des Moines, and the general contractor was Russell Pepper Construction.

ABOUT FIGGE ARCHITECT SIR DAVID CHIPPERFIELD

Born in London in 1953, Chipperfield studied at Kingston School of Art. He worked for architects Douglas Stephen, Richard Rogers and Norman Foster before establishing David Chipperfield Architects in 1983.

David Chipperfield Architects has won over 20 national and international competitions, and has designed buildings across the world, including the Neues Museum in Berlin, the Museo Jumex in Mexico City, and the Kunsthaus Museum in Zurich.

Current projects include the new home of the Nobel Center in Stockholm, Sweden, and the new contemporary wing of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. The Figge was his first major commission in the United States. In recognition of his work, David Chipperfield was awarded the 2011 Royal Institute of British

Architects Gold Medal and the Japan Art Association’s Praemium Imperiale in 2013, among other honors. He was appointed a Commander of the British Empire in 2004.

Davenport Museum of Art

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Sir David Chipperfield

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WEDNESDAY, JULY 110:15 a.m. Big Picture – In the House! FREE

Join the Figge Big Picture Outreach Program for this special hour-long IN-HOUSE series geared for all young art enthusiasts ages 5-12! No reservation required. Families welcome!

THURSDAY, JULY 2UIMA Exhibition Opens FREE

Exploring the Demimonde

6-8 p.m. Wine & Art Mixed: Media Fiber Arts Create art paired with a glass of wine, light hors d’oeuvres and socializing. $20 per person. Registration required by calling 563.326.7804 x2045.

7 p.m. Art Film: The Show That Shook The World FREE

Join us in the John Deere Auditorium for a look at the 1913 Armory Show in New York, which included works by Picasso, Matisse and American modernists. The film features previously unknown footage of Marcel Duchamp discussing the show and his Cubist painting “Nude Descending a Staircase,” which was likened to “an explosion in a shingle factory” by one scandalized visitor.

SATURDAY, JULY 4Museum Closed to the Public

6 p.m. Red, White & Boom FREE

Private member event Figge members are invited to celebrate Independence Day at the Figge and dig in during the FREE ice cream social (while supplies last) and a cash bar. Fireworks begin at 9:30 p.m. RSVP before July 1 to Sara Morby at [email protected] or call 563.345.6642.

SUNDAY, JULY 5Exhibition Opens FREE

A Gift for the Quad Cities: The Figge Art Museum 10th Anniversary Exhibition



JULY EVENTS

FRIDAY, JULY 3C.A. Ficke Society DinnerInvitation onlyThe Figge Art Museum celebrates the one-year anniversary of the dedication of the Katz Gallery with a special dinner in honor of our Ficke Society members.

Members: AnonymousAmir and Lisa ArbisserTara BarneyBeaux Arts Fund CommitteeMelvin and Randy Berlin

Robert F. Bina and Delores De Wilde BinaElise A. Brett *Paul S. and Rosemari CarusoMartha Easter-Wells

Frances EmersonThomas K. and Jennifer FiggeJames E. Foley *Bonnie FoxBud Fox *John and Kay HallShirley HarrisZeivel HarrisMichael and Hedy HusteddeDavid and Margaret IglehartJudith Katz *Ruth Evelyn and Isador Katz *J. Randolph and Linda LewisRobert and Sherry LindsayBrian and Diana LovettWalter E. Neiswanger *

Raelene and Scott PullenChris and Mary RayburnPaul and Karen RohlfDavid and Wynne SchaferTim Schiffer and Pamela Kendall SchifferVirginia Seifert *Steve and Anne SinnerJohn and Diane Slover, Jr.Mrs. John H. StaakCatherine WeidemanCal and Jill WernerJane Werner *

* Denotes deceased member

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THURSDAY, JULY 95:30 p.m. Exhibition Reception FREE A Gift for the Quad Cities: The Figge Art Museum 10th Anniversary ExhibitionMingle with museum members and staff to celebrate the opening of the exhibition. Complimentary hors d’oeuvres and cash bar.

7 p.m. Exhibition Talk FREE Figge Executive Director Tim Schiffer will speak in the John Deere Auditorium about the history of the museum’s collections and its collecting priorities.

TUESDAY, JULY 14 2-7 p.m. Farmers Market Chalk Art FREE

Families are welcome to design a chalk square in front of the Freight House at the Farmers Market to be enjoyed by all market visitors.



THURSDAY, JULY 165 p.m. Cookout and Sculpture Celebration Join us on the Plaza for all you care to eat grilled favorites and picnic sides for $10 in celebration of Terry Rathje’s sculpture Allinitogether. Rathje will speak in the museum lobby at 7 p.m. Families welcome!

5 p.m. Papergirl Activity FREE

Guests are invited to create works for the Papergirl project in the museum lobby, which will be distributed by volunteers on bicycles across the Quad Cities.

7 p.m. Art Talk: Public Art FREE

Artist Terry Rathje will speak in the lobby about his work at 7 p.m. Families welcome!



THURSDAY, JULY 237 p.m. Symphony with American Moderns on Paper FREE

Mark Russell Smith, music director of the Quad City Symphony Orchestra, will discuss, and play excerpts from, the works of American composers that mirror the works in the exhibition American Moderns on Paper.



THURSDAY, JULY 305 p.m. $5 Burger Baskets and Cash Bar 6:30 p.m. PechaKucha Night FREE

Presenters show 20 slides and speak about them for 20 seconds each on a subject of their choosing.


Saturday, July 11 1:30 p.m. American Moderns

Sunday, July 121:30 p.m. American Moderns

Saturday, July 181:30 p.m. American Moderns

Sunday, July 191:30 p.m. American Moderns

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TUESDAY, AUGUST 4 2-7 p.m. Farmers Market Chalk Art FREE


WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 510:15 a.m. Big Picture – In the House! FREE


THURSDAY, AUGUST 610 a.m.-9 p.m. Figge 10th Birthday Celebration! FREE

Figge fans, friends and family are invited to come together to celebrate the 10th birthday of the Figge with special tours, activities, performances and art projects all day!

5 p.m. Birthday Party on the Plaza FREE

Grilled favorites will be for sale in celebration of the Figge’s 10-year birthday!Sponsored by MidAmerican Energy

SUNDAY, AUGUST 911 a.m. Art Off the Wall Auction Socialize with fellow Friends over mimosas and champagne, while bidding on a selection of art, antiques and collectibles donated by area artists and collectors. $35 per person with open bar. RSVP by Monday, July 27, to Sara Morby at 563.345.6642.



THURSDAY, AUGUST 136-8 p.m. Wine & Art: Sunset Serenade – Acrylic Painting Create art paired with a glass of wine, light hors d’oeuvres and socializing. $20 per person. Registration required by calling 563.326.7804 x2045.

7 p.m. Art Talk FREE

Giselle Simon from the University of Iowa’s preservation/conservation department will speak about caring for works on paper as a companion event to the American Moderns on Paper exhibition.

TUESDAY, AUGUST 182-7 p.m. Farmers Market Chalk Art FREE




AUGUST EVENTS

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THURSDAY, AUGUST 207 p.m. Author Talk FREE

Sally Pemberton, Murdock Pemberton’s granddaughter, will be speaking about her book, Portrait of Murdock Pemberton: The New Yorker’s First Art Critic. This is a companion event to the American Moderns on Paper exhibition.



THURSDAY, AUGUST 275 p.m. $5 Burger Baskets and Cash Bar6:30 p.m. PechaKucha Night FREE

Presenters show 20 slides and speak about them for 20 seconds each on a subject of their choosing.


Saturday, August 11:30 p.m. 10th Anniversary Exhibition

Sunday, August 21:30 p.m. American Moderns

Saturday, August 81:30 p.m. American Moderns

Sunday, August 91:30 p.m. 10th Anniversary Exhibition

Saturday, August 151:30 p.m. 10th Anniversary Exhibition



Sunday, August 231:30 p.m. American Moderns



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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 3 6-8 p.m. Wine & ArtCreate art paired with a glass of wine, light hors d’oeuvres and socializing. $20 per person. Registration required by calling 563.326.7804 x2045.

7 p.m. Artist Talk FREE

Local artist will speak about the American Moderns on Paper exhibition. Complimentary hors d’oeuvres and cash bar.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10Special Evening with Sir David Chipperfield6 p.m. Reception FREE

7 p.m. Discussion FREE Enjoy complimentary hors d’oeuvres and cash bar along with a discussion with Figge architect Sir David Chipperfield about how the Figge was built and his vision for the building.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 116 p.m. Cocktail Party7 p.m. 10th Anniversary DinnerAn evening experience with Figge trustees and architect Sir David Chipperfield. $100 per person with sit down dinner and open bar. RSVP by Tuesday, September 1, to Sara Morby at 563.345.6642.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 1210 a.m. Beaux Arts Fest FREE Artisans fill the plaza in front of the museum with handmade crafts until 5 p.m.

Noon Anniversary Lunch and Learn FREE

Join Ted Wolff, the plaza architect, in an insightful discussion about the Bechtel Plaza at the Figge and the vision for the future. Enjoy an informal lunch and presentation with a surprise guest. $25 lunch with open bar. RSVP by Tuesday, September 1, to Sara Morby at 563.345.6642.

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 13i ♥ Figge Exhibition Closes

8 a.m. Volunteer Appreciation Anniversary Brunch FREE

All volunteers from the Davenport Museum of Art days through today at the Figge are invited to join the Beaux Arts committee for a special appreciation brunch to celebrate 10 years of the Figge Art Museum. Free for volunteers with RSVP by Tuesday, September 1, to Sara Morby at 563.345.6642.

10 a.m. Beaux Arts Fest FREE Artisans fill the plaza in front of the museum with handmade crafts until 4 p.m.

11 a.m.-2 p.m. Spin Art on the Plaza FREE

SEPTEMBER EVENTS

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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 177 p.m. Artist Talk FREE

Wisconsin painter Tom Uttech, who is featured in A Gift for the Quad Cities: The Figge Art Museum 10th Anniversary Exhibition, will speak about his work in the John Deere Auditorium.

3:30-7:30 p.m. Teacher Appreciation Night FREE The Figge welcomes all educators to the museum for an Open House to show our appreciation. Enjoy complimentary food, door prizes and activities as you explore the education resources the museum has to offer. View and touch the new items in the Figge Outreach Collection and find out about opportunities for your students. The first 100 teachers will receive complimentary swag-bags! Register for our Grand Prize: A free study trip for your class which includes a docent guided tour, hands-on studio art activity and bus transportation.

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 20Exhibition closesAmerican Moderns on Paper

Free museum admission ends


Saturday, September 51:30 p.m. 10th Anniversary Exhibition

Sunday, September 61:30 p.m. 10th Anniversary Exhibition

Saturday, September 191:30 p.m. American Moderns

Sunday, September 201:30 p.m. American Moderns

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Funded in part by the Iowa Arts Council, a division of the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs and the National Endowment for the Arts.

Visit www.figgeartmuseum.org for complete event descriptions

or follow us on Facebook/Twitter for updates.

Documents

Building a Masterpiece Celebrating 90 Years - Figge Art …figgeartmuseum.org/figgeartmuseum/files/6d/6dbd3d06-4a87-4889-87fe... · Brian Allen Outreach Educator ... sketches and