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On June 16, a small group of UD supporters gathered at the Philadelphia Museum of Art for a private, after-hours tour of Paris through the Window: Marc Chagall and His Circle. The event was organized by the Friends of Art History with the generous support of alumni Gordon and Carolyn Daniels.
Dr. Michael Taylor, the Museum's Muriel and Philip Berman Curator of Modern Art, escorted UD visitors through the exhibition that he organized around works produced by the Montparnasse avant-garde of the early twentieth century. This presentation was the PMA's contribution to the first annual Philadelphia International Festival of the Arts on the theme of "Paris: 1910-20." UD art lovers enjoyed the rare opportunity of having an intimate viewing experience with an internationally renowned scholar and curator. Taylor's engaging commentary and deep knowledge of the work of Chagall and other School of Paris artists offered the group not only insight into the seventy works on view, but also an introduction to the decision-making and expertise required to curate a successful exhibition.
This function was an especially important occasion for the Department because it celebrated the receipt of a $678,449 grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. The award will be used to underwrite fellowships in the new curatorial track doctoral program. The event also cemented a relationship between the Philadelphia Museum of Art and the Department. Dr. Taylor, an early proponent of the Department of Art History's innovative curatorial initiative, was instrumental in formalizing an agreement between the Department and the PMA to train Art History doctoral interns.
After the tour, the evening continued with a lively dinner at the Water Works restaurant, overlooking the Schuylkill River. Guests lingered with Dr. Taylor, and with Dr. George Watson, Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, Dr. Matt Kinservik, Interim Associate Dean for the Humanities, and Dr. Nina Athanassoglou-Kallmyer, Professor and Chair of Art History, to ask questions, discuss the arts, and hear about the contributions of the Department of Art History to the intellectual, social, and cultural life of the University of Delaware.
