Wednesday, February 27, 2008

Cathie Bleck : New Britain Museum of American Art : Reception + Book Signing + Lecture















Kind thanks to all of you that came out for the reception on a sunny Sunday, Feb. 24th. It was a big honor and so much appreciation goes out to the director Douglas Hyland for creating a vision and a space for my solo exhibition-I cannot thank you enough. My husband George and I picked up our son James in NY city and headed up to the museum on Saturday so we could take it all in quietly the day before. On Sunday we had a huge turnout of art enthusiasts and great people from all over Connecticut and some New Yorkers, it was pretty overwhelming. My husband's grandmother, Cari Jackson now 99 years young took painting lessons for 20 years with Sandy Low, an artist and collector and one of their founding fathers of the museum. It was historic for me because of this to have my first museum show with them.
Dear friends: The incredible Artist, Barbara Kilpatrick and her husband, Dr. Chuck Bardes came over from their weekend home in Ghent. Also, the talented and gracious Diane Meier of Meier Brand, NY and her charming husband, Frank Delaney, well known Irish author and BBC, NPR broadcaster traveled from Washington, CT. My brother Jim Bleck, of Bleck Design Group and his sweet wife Jane came down from Chelmsford, MA and collector Linda Griffith, MIT super scientist came in from Cambridge. The honorable educator and fine illustrator Murray Tinkelman and his wife Carol came by to say hi as well. Also, two of North Americas finest illustrators shared the day : Cynthia Von Buhler, from Staten Island,NY and Jody Hewgill all the way from Toronto. Jody and I had traveled to Rome together last year for a show we are in still circulating in Italy on 43 of the top female illustrators in the world. Cynthia just finished up an almost year long solo show at the Staten Island Museum came with her husband, Russell. Jody was joined by her husband, the all around talented Balvis Rubess. Michael Sloan brought his wife and all of his beautiful children-sorry my talk was so crowded and you had to hang outside with the kids. Other folks included my agent from NY for 12 years Jacqueline Dedell and her husband Ira Shapiro. They have been preserving land in the Cornwall area of CT. Thanks Ira for your purchase of "Bearing Gifts"! Artist Danielle Mailer came by at the end of the talk, sorry time was too short to talk and looking forward to visiting your class this spring. Thanks also to Lynn Connelly, Cora Lyn Diebler and her partner, Aunt Margie's cousin and family and all of the good folks from The New Britain Museum of American Art!! You all made the event so memorable...kind thanks!

Photos: Established in 1903, the New Britain Museum of American Art was the first museum devoted to work by American artists. Its collection includes over 4,000 works that span the last three centuries. Ann Beha Architects built a new wing recently which blends beautifully within the setting of historic homes and Walnut Hill Park, designed by Olmsted. My son James and I outside taking it all in, me and MIT scientist and collector, Linda Griffith, the cases in the show, Toronto artists Jody Hewgill and her husband Balvis Rubess, family shot James and George (missing Cari and Ana), Director Douglas Hyland having some fun, loads of art fans and a final picture so you can see the scale of my newer works.

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