Director's Welcome

Dear Web Surfer

Cleveland always looks beautiful in the spring. This year the city shows itself off inside the museum as well, as Transformations in Cleveland Art, 1796-1946 opens May 19 to the public. This exhibition is the first major museum survey of the evolution of the visual arts in Cleveland, an initiative inspired by the occasion of the city's 200th birthday. Curators William Robinson and David Steinberg have collaborated on this project from its inception and have, with the collaboration of several colleagues, organized a fascinating show and written an important companion catalogue. The exhibition offers diverse pleasures. The works of art, which we have borrowed from museums and private collections around the country, supply one surprise after another, from unexpected preindustrial views of familiar sites to unexpected expressions in a wide variety of artistic styles. What emerges is a portrait of a city that provided a home for artists of diverse backgrounds, and which inspired a remarkable range of talents. For history buffs, the show provides a unique overview of the history of the city as seen through the eyes of its artists.

Most of our Cleveland Art programs will take place during June and July as part of our Summer Evening festivals. One series of lectures begins on May 19 and features prominent Cleveland historians Bob Rich, Walter Leedy, and John Grabowski on Sunday afternoons at 3:00. May also sees the build-up to Parade the Circle, co-presented by the museum and University Circle Incorporated. This year's parade is Saturday, June 8 and we offer a plethora of workshops to help you get ready to march, if you're so inclined. Last year some 1,500 people participated, and more than 25,000 spectators thronged the route. Thanks once again to the parade's sponsors, Metropolitan Savings Bank, the George Gund Foundation, and the Ohio Arts Council. Finally, thanks to everyone who so enthusiastically supported our Pharaohs exhibition. The museum proudly welcomes the more than 2,500 new members who joined our ranks during Pharaohs, a record number for a major membership campaign. The family -- now 18,000 strong -- continues to grow!

Sincerely,

Robert P. Bergman, Director