July 2020
Bennington Museum Monthly
This past month the team has been busily preparing the Museum for your arrival. We've removed the bars from the courtyard windows, spruced up the garden beds, and installed new exhibitions, all while creating a COVID-safe environment. In short, we are ready to welcome you back!
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Re-Opening on July 3rd
On Friday, July 3rd, Bennington Museum will celebrate the long-awaited start of the summer season- and we want YOU to be there!
The Museum opens at 1pm (in-line with our
new days and hours),
the Avocado Pit will arrive at 5pm, and the Bennington Traditional Jazz Band will begin playing at 6pm. Bring your own blanket or lawn chair and stake out a place in the courtyard to enjoy a lovely summer evening with friends.
Remember, masks are required in the Museum and temperatures will be checked upon entry!
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And Every Friday After That...
That's right- the celebration will continue for every Friday this month, so mark your calendars now. After all, what could be better than music, drinks, and
tacos
?
Brian D'Angelo:
July 10
Joe Tucker:
July 17
Greg Van Houten
: July 24
We would like to offer a performance space for musicians, poets, storytellers, etc. in our courtyard every Friday night this summer. Interested performers should apply
HERE
to be added to the roster.
Performers may offer a tip basket, and we will record these performances and provide an online link for anyone who would like to donate to the artists.
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New Exhibits on Display
Click on the images below to learn more!
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Nights in White Satin: a Courtyard + Cork Event
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Many arts organizations and
historic houses
are figuring out how to have successful, safe, social events outside this summer. Great ideas travel fast!
Coming up mid-month, Bennington Museum is hosting a midsummer
wine pairing
event in our courtyard.
Saturday, July 18th from 5pm to 7:30pm (rain date Sunday, July 19th)
Limited to 12 people (8 minimum with reservations made 1 week in advance)
Price: $60/$50 per person/member, includes a private tour of the Museum with the Executive Director prior to seating.
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Virtual Programming
Grandma Moses
Bennington Museum is partnering with the
Shelburne Museum for a virtual exhibition, "Painting at Home with Grandma Moses", that focuses on the artist’s imaginative modern-era landscapes that stir feelings of nostalgia for decades past.
The exhibition opened on June 18th, and the Bennington Museum Curator and Executive Director served as panelists for the virtual reception which had nearly 200 attendees.
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Norman Rockwell
Earlier this month, Don Trachte, Jr. spoke with a rapt Zoom audience to share the story behind the Rockwell painting, "Breaking Home Ties", the debate about its origins, and the shocking secret he and his brother found behind the walls of their father’s studio. We will post the recording of this session to our website soon, but in the meantime stay tuned for more talks like this!
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Chats with Jamie
Bennington Museum Curator, Jamie Franklin, continues to interview regional artists and historians so that we can learn a bit more about what they do. Visit the Museum's
youtube page to catch up on any of the discussions which, so far, include notables such as J. Blackwell, Kevin Bubriski, Leslie Parke, Laura Christensen, Ellery Fouch, Ken Rush, and Mara Superior.
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This June brought two amazing challenges. The first was a $26,000 dollar for dollar match from an anonymous donor, which we successfully completed in two weeks. The Museum board was so impressed with the dedication of our supporters that they offered an additional $12,000 all-or-nothing match in the final five days of the fiscal year.
Yesterday we met that challenge as well, raising over $80,000 for the final push.
It has been wonderful, and humbling, to witness the outpouring of support from this community for YOUR museum. Your gifts were a much needed financial boon during these tough times, but more so, your unwavering generosity was the morale boost we all have needed. Thank you for making what we do here possible.
While this would be a wonderful ending to our July newsletter, we must also share with you a recent emergency at the Musuem. Just yesterday heavy rains seeped into our building on the ground floor. The staff immediately jumped to action and we are relieved to report that all the (re)Sounding instruments on display are safe.
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Service Pro arrived and stayed into the evening demolishing tiles, removing carpet, and disinfecting the floors. Fortunately, the drywall should be salvageable.
Our new executive director is determined to open on time, already displaying the gritty determination that is a hallmark of our Bennington Museum.
It may go without saying, that while we met this end of year challenge with flying colors, your support at the beginning of this fiscal year will still be quite appreciated!
Two steps forward and one step back, but always onward...
We look forward to seeing you again soon!
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Bennington Museum engages and transforms our visitors and our community by connecting you to the region’s diverse arts, rich history, and culture of innovation.
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