18 Apr TIO DENVER: “SPUN: ADVENTURES IN TEXTILES”
On April 11, the Denver Art Museum (DAM) announced the receipt of a $1.75 million gift from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation that will continue the transformation of the museum’s textile art department. A grant of $1.5 million in the form of a challenge to be matched one-to-one within three years will help establish a $3 million endowment to support a full-time textile conservator. In addition to the endowed position, the grant will provide $250,000 for a fellowship in textile conservation. The fellowship will be filled after a national call for qualified candidates and will consist of advanced-level training, research and outreach.
“Textiles are triggers of cultural exchange and creative expression around the world,” said Christoph Heinrich, Frederick and Jan Mayer Director of the Denver Art Museum. “The DAM is devoted to exploring, preserving and presenting this underrepresented art form. I can’t wait for visitors to be pleasantly surprised by the range of textile art available as showcased this summer in ‘Spun: Adventures in Textiles.’”
The DAM’s textile art initiative gained momentum in 2012 thanks to a gift from the Avenir Foundation and several private donors who endowed a textile art curator and enabled the expansion of the textile art galleries. This new space dedicates six times the previous space to showcasing the museum’s textile art collection. To become a significant center for the study and appreciation of textile arts, the DAM is committed to a department that offers not only visitor-centric experiences, but also creates opportunities for educational and professional development.
“This generous grant from the Mellon Foundation will secure the future of conservation care for a very important segment of our permanent collection,” said Sarah Melching, Silber Director of Conservation. “As a result of this generous backing, the DAM is poised to become a major contributor nationally to the field of textile conservation and training therein.”
DAM’s “Spun: Adventures in Textiles” will take a wide-ranging look at textiles from pre-Columbian weavings to Navajo blankets to an examination of how contemporary artists are working with fabric. The museum’s newly opened and renovated textile art galleries—debuting in May 2013— and its inaugural show “Cover Story” are at the heart of this campus-wide event.
In addition to showcasing textile art, the space will also encourage visitor creativity, presenting a variety of textile art-related programming. The interactive PreVIEW space will offer visitors a behind-the-scenes glimpse at how DAM staff prepares works of art for display. For two hours on a weekly basis, visitors can observe and interact with conservation and other staff as they assess, handle and treat objects from the textile art collection. Visitors will also learn about tools, processes and equipment, special conditions necessary for fragile objects and the general “hows and whys” of conservation.
About DAM:
The Denver Art Museum is located on 13th Avenue between Broadway and Bannock Streets in downtown Denver. Open Tuesday– Thursday, Saturday–Sunday 10 a.m.–5 p.m., Friday 10 a.m.–8 p.m., except the final Friday of the month January–October when the museum stays open until 10 p.m. for the Untitled event; closed Mondays, Thanksgiving and Christmas. Admission for Colorado residents: $10 adults, $8 seniors and students. Admission for non-Colorado residents: $13 for adults, $10 for seniors and students, $5 for visitors aged six to eighteen, free for children under 6. General Museum admission is free the first Saturday of each month, thanks to Target and the citizens who support the Scientific and Cultural Facilities District (SCFD). Some exhibitions require a special ticket. The Cultural Complex Garage is open; enter from 12th Avenue between Broadway and Bannock or check the DAM website for up-to-date parking information.
For information in Spanish, call 720-913-0169. For more information, call 720-865-5000 or visit www.denverartmuseum.org.
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