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DAI 2020 Special Exhibitions

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The Dayton Art Institue special exhibition season begins with Samurai, Ghosts and Lovers: Yoshitoshi’s Complete 100 Aspects of the Moon, on view February 22–May 3, 2020, and continues with New Beginnings: An American Story of Romantics and Modernists in the West, May 30–September 12, 2020 and Picasso to Hockney: Modern Art on Stage, October 17, 2020–January 17, 2021.

“We are excited with our lineup of exhibitions for the coming season,” states Dr. Jerry N. Smith, DAI Chief Curator. “We close our 2019-2020 Centennial celebration with the opening of an exhibition organized by the DAI around our recent acquisition of a rare, complete set of Yoshitoshi’s 100 Aspects of the Moon, one of the greatest achievements in Japanese woodblock printmaking. We follow this up with a look at the diverse and colorful art of the American Southwest, drawn from the Tia Collection, one of the most extensive private collections of art of the American West in the world. We close out the year with a look at what happened when major artists like Pablo Picasso, Joan Miró, Henri Matisse, David Hockney and many others designed sets and costumes for the stage. In short, it will be a bold and colorful year of major, internationally recognized art offerings in 2020 at the DAI.” 

Samurai, Ghosts and Lovers: Yoshitoshi’s Complete 100 Aspects of the Moon

February 22–May 3

The Dayton Art Institute will be the exclusive venue for this exhibition, organized by the

DAI from a recent acquisition of a complete set of Tsukioka Yoshitoshi’s 100 Aspects of the Moon. The series is one of the outstanding achievements in the history of Japanese woodblock prints and is a tour-de-force, combining striking designs with dramatic stories from Japan’s past. The prints depict heroism and humor, love and loss, mystery and magic, with the linking motif of the presence of the moon. This exhibition will provide a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see all 100 prints on view together, and it is a fitting conclusion to the museum’s centennial celebrations.

New Beginnings: An American Story of Romantics and Modernists in the West

May 30–September 13

This major traveling exhibition is drawn from the internationally admired Tia Collection. New Beginnings: An American Story of Romantics and Modernists in the West offers the dynamic story of art of New Mexico in the early 20th century through bold colors and dramatic compositions. This exhibition features more than 110 works by 72 artists, including painting, sculptures, photographs and prints. It highlights the evolution of art in the Southwest, from the late Romantics and Classicists to the advent of early Modernism.

Picasso to Hockney: Modern Art on Stage

October 17, 2020–January 17, 2021

Picasso to Hockney: Modern Art on Stage is a traveling exhibition drawn from the McNay Art Museum’s renowned Tobin Collection of Theatre Arts. It features more than 120 objects of set and costume designs and offers fresh insights into artists and movements, from Cubism and Constructivism to Surrealism and Pop Art. This exhibition contains works by some of the most celebrated artists of the 20th century, including Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse, Fernand Léger, Natalia Gontcharova, Joan Miró, Louise Nevelson, Robert Indiana, Jim Dine, David Hockney, and many others.

In addition to the slate of Special Exhibitions, the DAI will present a series of smaller Focus Exhibitions, highlighting a diverse range of art.

Focus Exhibitions planned for 2020 include The Roaring (and The Quiet) ‘20s, which draws from the DAI collection and looks at the dramatic decade of the 1920s. Bukang Y. Kim: Journey to the East is an immersive installation of recent scroll paintings by the Cincinnati-based Korean artist. Archiving Eden: Dornith Doherty Photographs features images by the internationally recognized photographer of seed banks and the global preservation efforts by agriculturalists who are working to assure stable food sources despite climate change and decreased agricultural diversity. Preserving the Pure Land: The Art of Japanese Painting Conservation, will feature the DAI’s recently conserved, 400-year-old painting Thirteen Buddhist Figures, which will be shown for the first time in more than 40 years. The Focus Exhibition season will close the year with The Art of Norman Rockwell (working title), a DAI exclusive exhibition with paintings and drawings by America’s most beloved artist and illustrator. Additional Focus Exhibitions will take a deep dive into the DAI’s extensive collection to feature highlights of photography and works on paper. Watch the DAI’s website and social media for dates and more information.

“2020 will be a busy year for exhibitions at the DAI. We look forward to complementing our lineup of Special Exhibitions with a variety of Focus Exhibitions, which provide our guests multiple offerings during any visit,” added Smith. “These are visually and intellectually stimulating installations that might look at a single artist, like Norman Rockwell, or a theme, like the conservation of centuries-old scroll paintings. There will be plenty to see and enjoy throughout the year.”

“Our curatorial team has put together an outstanding selection of diverse exhibitions to kick off our second century,” said DAI Director & CEO Michael R. Roediger. “It’s the perfect time to become a member and enjoy a full year’s worth of amazing art experiences at your Dayton Art Institute.”

The DAI’s centennial exhibition season is currently concluding with the Special Exhibition Maker & Muse: Women and Early 20th-Century Art Jewelry, on view through January 19, as well as the Focus Exhibitions William Preston Mayfield Photographs, on view through January 5, Mona Lisa Today, on view through January 12, and Art of Ernest Blumenschein, on view through February 23.

For more about exhibitions at the Dayton Art Institute, visit www.daytonartinstitute.org/exhibitions.

Membership to the DAI starts at just $40 and offers free admission to the museum’s collection galleries and all exhibitions, as well as discounts on many events and programs. For more information about membership, go to www.daytonartinstitute.org/membership or call 937-223-4ART (4278).

Oktoberfest Receives Record Breaking Support

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Dayton’s favorite fall festival concludes on Sunday, September 29 At the midpoint of the Dayton Art Institute’s 48th Oktoberfest celebration, the museum reports it has received record community support for the annual fundraiser. A Dayton tradition since 1972, Oktoberfest is the museum’s largest annual fundraising event, raising nearly $450,000 to support critical operations for the museum.

According to the museum, Friday’s Preview Party set attendance records, and preliminary numbers indicate record revenue for that event. On Saturday, the DAI saw more than 15,000 through the gates for the first day of the two-day festival.

“The community’s support for this event and the museum during our centennial year has been outstanding,” said Dayton Art Institute Director and CEO Michael R. Roediger. “It’s been fantastic to welcome so many people to the museum grounds this weekend–we hope to see another record crowd on Sunday as we conclude the festival. The money raised at Oktoberfest helps support museum operations and programs throughout the year.”

Oktoberfest 2019, presented by Miller Lite, continues on Sunday, September 29, from noon to 7 p.m. Oktoberfest includes a fully covered Main Stage area and Food Court, and a “TV Cave” with four big-screen TVs for all the weekend sports action. Live music will be featured in the food tent and on the main stage. Two large tents include more than 60 artisans. The ACCO Brands FamilyFest returns on Sunday, noon–4:30 p.m., with special activities for all ages in the museum and on the grounds near the museum entrance. The museum’s collection galleries, as well as the Museum Store and Leo Bistro, will be open noon–5 p.m. Admission to the museum’s collection galleries and focus exhibitions is included in Oktoberfest admission. General admission for Oktoberfest is $10 adults, $7 seniors and youth. Children 6 and under are free. Go to www.daytonartinstitute.org/oktoberfest for more information about Oktoberfest.

The DAI’s centennial celebration continues next Sunday, October 6, with Arts, Beats and Eats, a FREE community open house event taking place from noon to 7 p.m. On the museum grounds, a stage will feature live music from local bands Kick-N-Flava, Shakedown and Hey There Morgan throughout the day, alongside costumed superheroes, jugglers, an art car and outdoor games. There will also be a food truck rally, featuring Bella Sorella Pizza, Rolling Indulgence, Crème de la Crème Cakery and other food trucks, as well as a fall beer garden. Inside the museum, the Mimi and Stuart Rose Auditorium will feature live entertainment, Zoot Theater will have a puppet petting zoo–recreating the famous “Weng’s Zoo” of the 1940s–in the Hale cloister, and the Shaw Gothic Cloister will host art activities, a LEGO mural community art project, and a host of local non-profits set up with information, activities, and giveaways.

Arts, Beats, and Eats is presented with sponsorship support from the Miriam Rosenthal Foundation for the Arts, Vectren, Iddings Foundation, PNC and Frank M. Tait Foundation.

For more information about the Dayton Art Institute, visit www.daytonartinstitute.org or call 937-223-4ART (4278). Connect with the Dayton Art Institute on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Pinterest for additional information, behind-the-scenes photos and videos, and exclusive offers.

DAI Joins “Museums For All Program”

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As part of its ongoing efforts to make the museum accessible to all in the Dayton community, the Dayton Art Institute has joined the Museums for All program and announced the creation of Art Connections, a special discounted family membership available for anyone who receives SNAP benefits. 

Museums for All is a signature access program of the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), administered by the Association of Children’s Museums (ACM), to encourage people of all backgrounds to visit museums regularly and build lifelong museum-going habits.

The program supports those receiving food assistance (SNAP) benefits by offering discounted admission at participating museums, for up to four people, with the presentation of a SNAP Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card. The DAI will offer a discounted admission rate of $3 per adult, with free admission for youth ages 17 and younger, when a SNAP EBT card is presented at the museum’s Guest Services Desk.

The DAI is the first museum in Dayton to be part of this initiative; other participating Ohio museums include the Cincinnati Museum Center and the Akron Art Museum

In conjunction with its participation in Museums for All, the DAI will also offer a special Art Connections Family Membership for anyone in the community who is currently receiving SNAP benefits. Art Connections offers a specially discounted family membership for only $10 per year.

Art Connections memberships may only be purchased at the DAI’s Guest Service Desk, during regular museum hours. A valid SNAP EBT card must be presented at the time of purchase to receive this membership discount.

“Participation in Museums for All is part of the Dayton Art Institute’s broad commitment to seek, include, and welcome all audiences,” said Michael Roediger, CEO and Director of the Dayton Art Institute. “As the museum celebrates its centennial and looks ahead to its next 100 years, it’s important that this community resource is accessible to all.”

The Museums for All program helps expand access to museums and also raise public awareness about how museums in the United States are reaching their entire communities. More than 250 institutions participate in the initiative, including art museums, children’s museums, science centers, botanical gardens, zoos, history museums, and more. Participating museums are located nationwide, representing more than 40 states.

For more information about the Dayton Art Institute and these programs, please visit www.daytonartinstitute.org or call 937-223-4ART (4278).

DAI holds Bond Burning Ceremony

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A brief ceremony and symbolic “bond burning” were held at The Dayton Art Institute today, Thursday, October 26, to announce the early payment of $11.7 million in bond debt held by the museum.

 

“This is an important step forward in our continuing efforts to ensure a sound financial future for The Dayton Art Institute, as the museum prepares to celebrate its centennial in 2019,” says Director and CEO Michael R. Roediger. “Since 2011, the museum staff, Board of Trustees, and Finance and Endowment Committees have been committed to reducing debt and being financially sound and responsible. In that time, The DAI has reduced its debt from $16.5 million to less than $600,000.”

 

 

A final payment of $11.7 million was applied to the 1996 museum renovation bond–originally totaling $14.4 million–which was paid off nine years ahead of schedule. This final payment was made possible thanks to the strategic financial leadership of The DAI’s staff, Board of Trustees, and Finance and Endowment Committees; gifts from benefactors Jim Dicke I and Jim Dicke II; unrestricted planned gifts; and a strong stock market. It is the second major prepayment on this bond in the past year, following a $1.2 million prepayment at the end of 2016. The bond originally helped fund museum renovations in the mid-1990s, which included the addition of the Entrance Rotunda and James F. Dicke Gallery of Contemporary Art.

 

In addition to paying off this debt, the museum has reduced the annual draw from its endowment to five percent or under for the last five years, and has created and implemented a centennial master plan for building enhancements, capital improvements, and gallery reinterpretation.

 

“For any organization, moments like this are a cause for celebration and a reaffirmation of new and exciting times ahead,” said Jim Dicke II, Emeritus Chair of The DAI’s Board of Trustees. “The support of Dayton, the Miami Valley and southern Ohio continues to make The DAI a special gem in the state. This is a landmark day.”

 

The Dayton Art Institute will celebrate its centennial as an organization in 2019. The museum’s historic building, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, was completed and opened in 1930. Today, the museum’s permanent collection contains more than 26,000 objects, spanning 5,000 years of art history. The museum galleries display about 1,000 works from the permanent collection at any time. In addition to exhibiting its permanent collection and outstanding special exhibitions, the museum is renowned for education programming that includes an array of offerings for diverse audiences.

 

For more information about The Dayton Art Institute, please visitwww.daytonartinstitute.org or call 937-223-4ART (4278). Connect with The Dayton Art Institute on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest for additional information, behind-the-scenes photos and exclusive offers.

Oktoberfest Weekend Kicks Off with Lederhosen Lunch

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Lederhosen Lunch- Friday 11am – 2pm

Featuring brats, metts, schnitzel sandwiches, German salads, homemade noodles, and live entertainment. There’s no charge to enter the grounds for this special event, hosted by The Dayton Art Institute’s Former Associate Board members. You may also buy your event tickets, as well as mugs & tees while you are here. Yes, beer and wine are available!  There will be live music by the Good Times Accordion Band from 11:30 am to 1:00 pm.

Lederhosen Lunch Menu

Combo: Includes brat, mett or tenderloin, two sides (German potato salad and homemade noodles) and dessert, $10

Coke Products: $3

Individual Brats/Metts/Tenderloins: $5

Individual Sides: $3

Beer: $5 (special Lederhosen Lunch price, 11:00 – 2:00 only)

RTA will provide free shuttles from downtown Dayton to the Lederhosen Lunch. Shuttles run from 10:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. Look for shuttle stop locations along Monument Avenue, Wilkinson Street, Second Street, Main Street and Fifth Street.

Volunteers needs for DAI’s Oktoberfest

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The Dayton Art Institute  really needs volunteers Oktoberfest!

It takes nearly 2,000 volunteers to support this museum fundraiser, and we need your help – please consider volunteering at Oktoberfest!  This is their largest and most important fundraising event of the year, with proceeds directly benefiting the museum. Many volunteer opportunities are available, including admission gates, the mugs & tees booth, soft drink booths, and assisting with the ACCO Brands FamilyFest.

Follow the link below to learn more about volunteer opportunities, they really need to fill a lot of Sunday shifts!  You’ll need to create a VolunteerHub account or login with your existing account to view available shifts.

All volunteers must be at least 15 years of age or older (21 years of age or older to work in beer or wine areas). Volunteers under 18 must have signed parental permission to volunteer at Oktoberfest.

DAI Looking For Museum Guides

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Museum Guides

The Dayton Art Institute is seeking dedicated volunteers for its new class of Museum Guides (formerly known as Docents).  Museum Guides are lively, lifelong learners whose passion for art prompts their desire to support the community and the museum by providing engaging experiences in the galleries. Managed by the education department to support its aims, this is a volunteer customer service role with specialized training to actively involve youth and adults with the museum collection and special exhibitions. Museum Guides represent a variety of interests that reflect those of our guests, including business, medicine, teaching, community volunteers, and art, among others. Volunteers are needed on weekdays, weekends, and evenings.

Hours/Time Commitment:

Cumulative nine-month training period.  During the initial six months (September – February), museum education and curatorial staff lead meetings to teach art history, its application to the museum collection, and gallery engagement strategies approximately once a week. Trainees will be introduced to pre-existing gallery experience outlines, then follow and assess eight guided visits over two months (mid-January through mid-March), including at least one each for schools, special exhibitions, drop-in visits and Saturday Sound Bites. During the period of mid-March to mid-April, trainees will partner with mentor museum guides to lead two gallery visits. To complete training, each candidate will successfully provide a guided visitor experience between mid-April and mid-May for staff and mentor museum guides that includes at least one original gallery engagement strategy.

During the training period, candidates will fulfill the role of a museum Ask Me Ambassador volunteer, committing two hours per month to assist visitors with way-finding and basic information in the galleries, and participate as assigned in the galleries for large museum events such as Oktoberfest and Passport to Kindergarten. When training is successfully completed, a signed 1-year commitment to the museum is required.

An ongoing training schedule follows completion of the initial training period and occurs monthly in large group sessions (generally 1st Thursday evenings and 3rd Wednesday mornings from August – April). Small group training sessions also take place each year: three for special exhibitions and one for The Lange Family Experiencenter, as well as those for revised or other new gallery experiences and engagement strategies. Museum Guides provide a minimum of 10-15 guided visits per year, which can be met by signing up for opportunities, taking substitute requests, and accepting requests on short notice. Each year, every Museum Guide participates in at least two large events supported by the education department, including Passport to Kindergarten, Oktoberfest, large school visits, or similar programs.

How to Apply:

First, carefully read the 2017 Museum Guide Overview and Guidelines.  Next, complete the Museum Guide Application and background check form and return to The Dayton Art Institute, Attn: Susan Martis, Ph.D., Curator of Education at [email protected]. Email is the preferred method for applying, with all attachments in .pdf format only.  The subject line of your email should include your full name and title of volunteer position (for example: Susan Martis, Museum Guide).  Please do not submit other materials such as cover letter and/or resume.

Download Museum Guide Overview and Guideline

Download Museum Guide Application

Download Background Check Form

Submission deadline: July 28

US Debut for Ubuhle Women: Beadwork and the Art of Independence Is At DAI

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The Dayton Art Institute will be the first museum in the United States to host the new touring exhibitionUbuhle Women: Beadwork and the Art of Independence.

Ubuhle Women presents a spectacular overview of a new form of bead art, called the ndwango (“cloth”), developed by a community of women living and working together in rural KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. The special exhibition opens June 24 and will be on view at the museum through September 10.

Ubuhle (pronounced Uh-Buk-lay) means “beauty” in the Xhosa and Zulu languages and describes the shimmering quality of light on glass that for the Xhosa people has a special spiritual significance. From a distance, each panel of the ndwango seems to present a continuous surface; but as the viewer moves closer and each tiny, individual bead catches the light, the meticulous skill and labor that went into each work—the sheer scale of ambition—becomes stunningly apparent. A single panel can take more than 10 months to complete.

“Like all art, the works on display in Ubuhle Women are products of their context, providing guests with an opportunity to experience a new perspective,” said Katherine Ryckman Siegwarth, The Dayton Art Institute’s in-house curator for the exhibition. “These artworks present various topics relevant to the artists’ lives—financial stability, health issues, and importance of family, as well as how artworks can serve as memorials to those lost. These themes are universal and relatable topics to our guests, making the artworks accessible as well as impactful.”

The plain black fabric that serves as a foundation for the Ubuhle women’s exquisite beadwork is reminiscent of the Xhosa headscarves and skirts that many of them wore growing up. By stretching this textile like a canvas, the artists use colored Czech glass beads to transform the flat cloth into a contemporary art form of remarkable visual depth. Using skills handed down through generations, and working in their own unique style “directly from the soul” (in the words of artist Ntombephi Ntobela), the women create abstract as well as figurative subjects for their ndwangos.

 

Migration has defined the history of modern South Africa. The late-19th-century discovery of gold and diamonds—and, to a lesser extent, the cultivation of sugar cane—transfigured South African society with its demands for a large, flexible workforce of able men. As workers left their homesteads in rural areas to earn cash salaries, traditional social systems based on direct production from the land began to change.  Low pay and harsh working conditions forced many cane cutters to live apart from their wives and families for up to nine months of the year, which led to a breakdown of family life and traditional values.  Ubuhle was conceived in response to this social and cultural transformation.

Established in 1999 by two women—Ntombephi “Induna” Ntobela and Bev Gibson—on a former sugar plantation in KwaZulu-Natal, Ubuhle began as a way of creating employment for rural women by combining traditional skills and making them profitable. By incorporating a skill that many local women already had—beadwork, a customary form of artistic expression for generations of South African women—and teaching it to those who did not, they began to provide women with a private source of income and a route to financial independence.

 

Since 2006, the Ubuhle community has lost five artists to HIV/AIDS and other illnesses, nearly halving the number of active artists. Many of the ndwangos thus function as memorials to Ubuhle sisters who have lost their lives. Remembering the dead is a key motivation for the creation of many of these artworks, and it imbues them with a spiritual significance.

Due to the slow, meticulous process of creating a ndwango, the act of beading itself becomes a form of therapy: a way of setting down the issues that are closest to the artists’ hearts; a way of grieving; and a place to encode feelings and memories. In a sense—through their presence in the artist’s thoughts during the act of creation—the deceased enter the very fabric of the work, and so the ndwango becomes a site of memory.

 

The Ubuhle community exists today due mainly to the determination of Bev Gibson and Ntombephi Ntobela. Ntombephi is a master beader from the Eastern Cape whose tremendous skill, both as artist and teacher, has been the foundation block of this community. Ntombephi is known as “Induna,” which means “leader,” a term of great respect in South Africa. The title also suggests the responsibility she feels for the community as guardian of its future. Bev herself does not bead, but she has created the space for Ubuhle artists to explore, experiment, and transform the traditional art form. Bev has also been an indomitable source of energy and persistence in the emergence of Ubuhle’s growing vision. She and Ntombephi each bring their own unique skills to the establishment of the community, and it is largely thanks to them that these works exist at all.

 

“The Dayton Art Institute is thrilled to be the first venue for this new touring exhibition, which was originally developed by the Smithsonian Anacostia Community Museum,” said The Dayton Art Institute’s Director and CEO Michael R. Roediger. “Not only is the artwork beautiful, but the stories of the artists are also extremely moving. These dazzling artworks will amaze everyone who sees them—you do not want to miss this exhibition!”

The Dayton Art Institute’s presentation of Ubuhle Women: Beadwork and the Art of Independence receives support from Benefactor Sponsor Premier Health; Patron Sponsor Macy’s; Supporting Sponsors Liberty Health Care Corporation, Miller-Valentine Group and Synchrony Financial; Community Partner Central State University; Media Partners Dayton Daily News and WHIO-TV; with additional support from American Medical Response, Bead Stash, Dayton Chapter of Links, Inc., and Dr. Grace L. DeVelbiss, Frownies Skin Care, IGS Energy, School of Advertising Art, Taft/, and University of Dayton; JPS Preview Reception Sponsor is Jessup Wealth Management.

 

A number of events and programs will be held in conjunction with the exhibition, including:

 

  • ARTventures: Beaded Butterflies, July 8, 1–3 p.m.
  • Vine & Canvas Wine Tasting Series: Women & Wine, July 14, 6:30–9 p.m.
  • Draw from the Collection: Contemporary Beading, July 15, 1–3 p.m.
  • Curatorial Conversations: Ubuhle Women Exhibition Tour, July 20, 6–7 p.m.
  • Tony West and the Imani Dancers, August 12, 1–2 p.m.
  • Behind the Scenes of Ubuhle Women, August 31, 1–3 p.m.

 

For more about the exhibition and related programs, visit daytonartinstitute.org/ubuhlewomen. Use the hashtag #UbuhleWomen to join the conversation on social media.

 

Admission to Ubuhle Women: Beadwork and the Art of Independence is free for museum members. Non-member admission is $14 adults; $11 seniors (60+), students (18+ w/ID), active military and groups (10 or more); $6 youth (ages 7-17); and free for children (ages 6 & under). Prices include admission to the special exhibition and the museum’s permanent collection. Guided tours are available for individuals, groups and schools. For more information or to schedule a tour, contact Rique Hagen, at 937-223-4278, ext. 332 or [email protected].

 

Tickets for the exhibitions and related programs may be purchased at the museum’s Guest Services Desk or by phone at 937-223-4ART (4278) during regular hours, or online at daytonartinstitute.org. Connect with The Dayton Art Institute on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest for additional information, behind-the-scenes photos and exclusive offers.

 

Ubuhle Women: Beadwork and the Art of Independence was developed by the Smithsonian Anacostia Community Museum, Washington, D.C., in cooperation with Curators Bev Gibson, Ubuhle Beads, and James Green, and is organized for tour by International Arts & Artists, Washington, D.C.

 

 

It’s Art Museum Day!

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The DAI will waive its suggested admission and offer free general admission to the permanent collection on Thursday, May 18, 11:00 am – 8:00 pm, as part of the celebration of the Association of Art Museum Directors’ (AAMD) Art Museum Day, coinciding with International Museum Day.

Free Meet the Museum tours will be offered at 2:00 p.m. & 7:00 p.m. (meet in the Entrance Rotunda). From 4:00 – 7:00 p.m., guests can sample art studio programs in The Lange Family Experiencenter studio.

The DAI will also offer $10 off the purchase of a new Individual, Duo or Family Membership on May 18.

In addition, special pricing of $5 will be offered for that evening’s Curatorial Conversations gallery talk, which will look at the focus exhibition Red: Endless Attraction in Gallery 218. The talk begins at 6:00 p.m. and is limited to 20 people; advance reservations are recommended by calling 937-223-4278.

The theme of this year’s Art Museum Day is Art Museums Foster Vibrant Communities. AAMD members across the United States, Canada, and Mexico will offer programs and initiatives to celebrate the arts and the important role art museums play in their communities. In addition to bringing the best of human creativity to people across North America, museums serve as engines for the creative economy, partners with school systems and civic organizations, and anchors for public spaces and neighborhoods, making their regions better places for everyone who lives and works there.

Share your experiences on Art Museum Day via social media, using the hashtags #ArtMuseumDay and #DAIselfie.

Yoga At The Museum Returns

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The Dayton Art Institute’s popular Yoga at the Museum series returns in 2017, with new sessions on Sunday, February 12 and Sunday, March 5.

On February 12, The DAI partners with Indigo Yoga for a session in the Shaw Gothic Cloister, taking place from 11 am to 12:30 pm. In this inspiring vinyasa yoga experience, Barb Morsa and Amy Fecher from Indigo Yoga will offer an upbeat, creative-flowing class, seamlessly linking breath with movement. Fluidity, rhythm and grace allow students of all levels to experience Prana, the universal source of breath, life-energy and conscious intelligence. Alignment and body centered cues will encourage participants to feel the practice from the inside out. The session will be followed by a champagne toast, and attendees are invited to explore the museum’s permanent collection galleries.

On March 5, certified yoga instructor Emily von Stuckrad will lead a unique yoga session on the stage of the museum’s Renaissance Auditorium, from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. A 60-minute gentle yoga practice will be followed by 15 minutes of food/meditation pairing, and mimosas. Limited space is available for this special session.

Advance registration is recommended for Yoga at the Museum sessions. All sessions are now priced at $15 for museum members and $18 for non-members. Guests must bring their own mat. No bottled water is allowed in the galleries; The DAI will provide refreshments.

For more information or to register for Yoga at the Museum, go to www.daytonartinstitute.org/yoga or call 937-223-4ART (4278) during regular museum hours. Tickets for most Dayton Art Institute events, exhibitions and programs may also be purchased online at www.etix.com.

DAI Looking For Volunteers for Oktoberfest, Sept. 23-25

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image005The Dayton Art Institute is seeking community volunteers as it prepares for its 45th annual Oktoberfest, taking place September 23-25.

The Dayton Art Institute needs volunteers to assist with a variety of roles throughout the three-day festival. Oktoberfest is the museum’s largest annual fundraiser, and it wouldn’t be possible without the support of more than 2,000 volunteers each year.

“Our volunteers are the lifeblood of Oktoberfest, and we truly appreciate the many hours of time they donate to help support the museum,” said Oktoberfest Chairs Dave Seyer and Keith Wyatt. “We are honored to be chairing this year’s event and look forward to an amazing weekend on the grounds of The Dayton Art Institute!”

There are many different volunteer opportunities available at Oktoberfest 2016, including selling Oktoberfest mugs and t-shirts, selling soft drinks and water, staffing admission gates, serving as greeters in the museum, and assisting with family activities at the ACCO Brands FamilyFest.

Those interested in volunteering at Oktoberfest must register through The Dayton Art Institute’s website. For more information and to register, visit www.daytonartinstitute.org/oktoberfest.

OVERVIEW OF OKTOBERFEST WEEKEND:

oktoberfest_food_web450LEDERHOSEN LUNCH: Join The DAI on Friday, September 23, 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m., for a community lunch, hosted by The DAI’s Associate Board Alumni. Admission to the festival grounds is free; brats, metts, schnitzel sandwiches, German salads, homemade noodles and beverages are available for purchase. Guests can also buy event tickets, Oktoberfest mugs, and Oktoberfest t-shirts.

PREVIEW PARTY: Oktoberfest begins with the Preview Party, presented by Premier Health, on September 23, 7-11 p.m. Highlights include complimentary draft beer, wine and soft drinks (plus cash bar for premium craft and international beers), arundipreviewmore than 65 artisan exhibitors and 30 food vendors, and entertainment by festival favorites, the Chardon Polka Band. Advance tickets for the Preview Party are $55 for members and $75 for non-members. All tickets purchased at the gate are $95.

SATURDAY & SUNDAY: Oktoberfest 2016, presented by Miller Lite, takes place Saturday, September 24, noon – 11:00 p.m., and Sunday, September 25, noon – 7:00 p.m. Oktoberfest includes a fully covered Main Stage viewing area, Food Court, and “TV Cave” with four big-screen TVs for all the weekend football action. Live music will be featured on two stages throughout the weekend. The ACCO Brands FamilyFest offers activities for all ages in the museum and on the grounds.

10708790_10152568733062284_7713379004411192555_oOktoberfest advance tickets (Saturday & Sunday) are $5 adults, $3 seniors and youth (ages 7-18). Tickets purchased at the gate are $7 adults, $5 seniors and youth. Children 6 and under are free.

Advance tickets for the Preview Party and Oktoberfest go on sale August 15 and may be purchased online at www.daytonartinstitute.org/oktoberfest, by calling 937-223- 4ART (4278), or in person at the museum’s Guest Services Desk during regular hours.

For more information about The Dayton Art Institute, please visit www.daytonartinstitute.org or call the museum at 937-223-4ART (4278). Tickets for most Dayton Art Institute events, exhibitions and programs may also be purchased online at www.etix.com. Be sure to connect with The Dayton Art Institute on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest for additional information, behind-the-scenes photos and exclusive offers.

American Impressionism On Display at the DAI

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primary-banner-impressionismThe Dayton Art Institutes laste show, “American Impressionism: The Lure of the Artists’ Colony,” runs through May 31. It comes from the Reading Public Museum in Pennsylvania. It’s a comprehensive look at more than 100 works by American Impressionists from the 1880s through the 1940s, including John Singer Sargent, Mary Cassatt, William Merritt Chase, Childe Hassam, John Twachtman, and many others.

 

Arranged according to the artists’ colonies that played a critical role in the development of American Impressionism around the turn of the century, this exhibition examines artistic communities at Cos Cob and Old Lyme in Connecticut; Cape Cod, Cape Anne, and Rockport, in Massachusetts; New Hope and Philadelphia in Pennsylvania; Taos, New Mexico; and throughout California. Within each of these colonies, artists were able to teach, collaborate and escape the daily rigors of their city studios. Often located in scenic locations within striking distance of major cities, artists’ colonies served up steady doses of natural beauty and provided ample subject matter for the practitioners.

The resulting selection of lyrical landscapes, ranging from snow-covered hills to sun-filled harbors and seascapes, penetrating portraits, and remarkable still-life paintings documents an important moment in the history of American art.

 

 

 Museum Hours:dai

Tuesday – Saturday: 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Sunday: Noon – 5:00 p.m.
Extended hours until 8:00 p.m. on Thursdays
Closed Mondays

Exhibition Admission*

Museum Members: Free
Adults: $14
Seniors (60+): $11
Students (18+ w/ID): $11
Active Military: $11
Groups (10 or more): $11
Youth (ages 7-17): $6
Children (6 & under): Free

* Prices include admission to the exhibition and the museum’s permanent collection. Admission prices include a $2 fee for Building Preservation and Art Conservation.

Would you like to be DMM’s guest to view this exhibit?  Just fill out this form below to win a 4 pack of tickets and leave a comment below on why we should pick you to win.  We’ll name the winner on Sunday, April 12th.[form 55 “DMM Contest Entry – Generic”]

‘Ambassador of Americana’ presents all-new Big Retro Slide Show

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DaytonThe Dayton Art Institute’s Fifth Third Bank Arts Night Out series continues on Thursday, November 6, with the return of “Ambassador of Americana” Charles Phoenix and his Big Retro Slide Show.

 

Phoenix is a performer, humorist, chef and author. Through his live shows, videos, media appearances and books, the self-proclaimed “retro daddy” explores America’s classic and kitschy pop culture past and present, and often predicts retro-inspired future trends. Fans enjoy his unique spin and genuine reverence for all things Americana. Exuding a joy of life and exuberant enthusiasm, he encourages people to, “Get in touch with your inner Americana, embrace it, have a sense of humor about it, and proudly share it with the whole wide world.”

 

While growing up in Ontario, California, Phoenix became enamored with theme park environments, fashion fads, and used cars on his dad’s car lots. As a teenager, he began a thrift shopping spree that lasted 30 years. After moving to Los Angeles and enjoying careers as a fashion designer and classic car dealer, his life changed forever when he found a shoebox full of vintage Kodachrome slides, marked “Trip Across the United States 1957,” in a thrift shop. Collecting vintage slides soon became an obsession and he’s been collecting ever since. His vast archive of slides is called the “Slibrary,” employs a “Slibrarian,” and is the basis for his popular Big Retro Slide Shows.

 

Phoenix performs his slide shows across the country, featuring a wide variety of themes, from road trips and Southern California to his annual holiday celebrations. The Big Retro Slide Show is a sly, entertaining live comedy performance that celebrates mid-century Americana. With his unstoppable enthusiasm and wry, eagle eye for the very best and most bizarre of his massive collection of Kodachrome slides, he supercharges the classic living room slide show into a hysterical celebration of vintage American life and style.sanfernandovalleyland

 

His Big Retro Slide Shows include tributes to local landmarks, legends and lore. During his 2012 visit to Dayton, Phoenix was introduced to many of the area’s vintage gems, and he plans to see more of the best retro sites in the Gem City and surrounding communities during his return visit. The public is invited to share their favorite retro sightseeing suggestions, either via The DAI’s Facebook page, at www.facebook.com/daytonartinstitute, or emailing [email protected].

 

In addition to his live shows, the popular entertainer has shared his vintage images and culinary creations – including his famous Cherpumple monster pie cake – on TV with Conan O’Brien and Martha Stewart, and he is often heard on National Public Radio. The Los Angeles Times dubbed him “the King of Retro,” and LA Weekly anointed him “Kodachrome King.”

 

For more about the retro world of Charles Phoenix, including videos and photos from the “slibrary,” visitwww.charlesphoenix.com and follow him on Facebook at www.facebook.com/charlesphoenix.usa.

 

The Fifth Third Bank Arts Night Out presentation of Charles Phoenix’s Big Retro Slide Show is on stage in The Dayton Art Institute’s NCR Renaissance Auditorium for one night only, Thursday, November 6, at 8 p.m.  The DAI’s Leo Bistro will be open for dinner on November 6, 5-8 p.m., offering a special menu for the show. Advance reservations are recommended, by calling 937-512-0146. Go to www.leobistro.com for more information.

Tickets for Charles Phoenix’s Big Retro Slide Show are priced at $30 for adults and $26 for seniors. Tickets are on sale now and may be purchased by phone, at 937-223-4ART (4278), in person at The Dayton Art Institute’s Guest Services Desk duringregular museum hours, and online at www.daytonartinstitute.org/artsnightout or www.etix.com.

World Famous Art Detective Appears At The DAI

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14407486893134907412The Dayton Art Institute’s visual arts theatre series, the Fifth Third Bank Arts Night Out series, continues on Thursday, November 21, with the real-life adventures of Robert Wittman – Art Detective!.

Robert Wittman spent more than 20 years in the FBI as the agency’s — and the nation’s — top art crime investigator, going undercover numerous times to recover $225 million worth of stolen art, ranging from $35 million Rembrandts to an original copy of the Bill of Rights. The London Times called him “the most famous art detective in the world” and The Wall Street Journal called him “a living legend.”

Known as the FBI’s Real Indiana Jones, Wittman is the author of The New York Times best seller Priceless: How I Went Undercover to Rescue the World’s Stolen Treasures.

Wittman joined the FBI as a Special Agent in 1988 and was assigned to the Philadelphia Field Division. As a result of specialized training in art, antiques, jewelry and gem identification, he served as the FBI’s investigative expert in this field. During his 20-year career with the FBI, he recovered more that $225 million worth of stolen art and cultural property resulting in the prosecution and conviction of numerous individuals. In 2005, he was instrumental in the creation of the FBI’s rapid deployment Art Crime Team. He was named as the Act’s Senior Investigator and instructed the team members in how to conduct cultural property investigations. He has represented the United States around the world conducting investigations and instructing international police and museums in recovery and security techniques.

Wittman gives informational presentations for museums, collector groups, businesses and government agencies. He also gives informational sessions for collectors concerning due diligence, provenance research and fraud protection.

Robert Wittman – Art Detective! Takes place in The Dayton Art Institute’s NCR Renaissance Auditorium on Thursday, November 21, at 8 p.m. His 90-minute presentation will be followed by a question-and-answer session and a book signing.

The Dayton Art Institute’s Leo Bistro will be open for dinner on November 21, 4:30-8:00 p.m., offering a special menu for the show. Advance reservations are recommended, by calling 937-512-0146. Go to http://www.leobistro.com for more information about the menu.

Tickets for Robert Wittman – Art Detective! are $30 for adults and $26 for seniors. Tickets are on sale now and may be purchased by phone, at 937-223-4ART (4278), in person at The Dayton Art Institute’s Guest Services Desk during regular museum hours, or online at http://www.daytonartinstitute.org/artsnightout.

The Fifth Third Bank Arts Night Out series began in the fall of 2012 as a theatrical series where visual art and the stage meet for three one-night-only performances. All performances are held on Thursday evenings at 8 p.m. in the museum’s NCR Renaissance Auditorium. The 2013 series concludes with Spontaneous Fantasia on December 5.

For more information about this and other programs at The Dayton Art Institute, please visithttp://www.daytonartinstitute.org or call the museum at 937-223-4ART (4278). Be sure to also connect with The Dayton Art Institute on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for additional information, behind-the-scenes photos and exclusive offers.

KILLER JOE and LIBERAL ARTS at THE NEON!

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Hello Everyone,

We’ve got two new films opening this weekend. First off is a film with Ohio & Dayton connections. LIBERAL ARTS – directed by and starring Josh Radnor (an Ohio native) – was shot mostly at Kenyon College. In addition to Elizabeth Olsen, the film also stars Dayton’s own Allison Janney. Our second film is a darkly comic crime thriller directed by William Friedkin (director of THE EXORCIST and THE FRENCH CONNECTION) starring Matthew McConaughey – KILLER JOE. (KILLER JOE is rated NC-17 for graphic violence & sexuality…no one under 17 will be admitted.)

In addition to our two new films, we will hold SLEEPWALK WITH ME and SEARCHING FOR SUGAR MAN for limited screenings. Audiences are loving SEARCHING FOR SUGAR MAN. People who gave the film a chance (knowing nothing about the subject) are so glad they came! Many folks are coming out of the auditorium wondering if the music is available. It is! Omega Music, just a block from THE NEON, has the soundtrack on hand. If you’re interested in the music, we hope you’ll support another locally owned business (they even have the soundtrack available on vinyl)!

Synopsis for LIBERAL ARTS: “Newly single and uninspired by his job in college admissions, the introverted Jesse Fisher (Josh Radnor) lives with his head buried in a book. His deep nostalgia for his own alma mater in Ohio – the dining halls and dorm rooms, the parties and poetry seminars – makes him wonder if his best days are behind him. So when his favorite professor (Richard Jenkins) invites him back to campus to speak at his retirement dinner, Jesse jumps at the chance. Meeting Zibby (Elizabeth Olsen) – a precocious classical music-loving sophomore – awakens in Jesse long-dormant feelings of possibility and connection.” (IFC Films) Visit the official site.

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Synopsis for KILLER JOE: “When 22 year-old drug dealer Chris (Hirsch) has his stash of drugs stolen from him by his mother, he has to come up with six-thousand dollars quick, or he’s dead. Desperate, he goes to the trailer-park to see his father, Ansel (Hayden Church), and he lays out the plan. Chris’s mother, who everyone hates, has a life insurance policy that would clear up his debt and make them all rich. The problem is that Chris’ mother is very much alive. Enter Detective “Killer” Joe Cooper, a hired hit man with the manners of a Southern gentleman, who will do the job – for an upfront fee, that Chris and Ansel can’t pay. Just as Joe is about to leave, he spots Dottie (Temple), Chris’ innocent younger sister. Joe makes Chris an offer, he’ll keep Dottie as sexual collateral until the money is collected and his fee can be paid.” (Voltage Pictures) Visit the official site.

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“Help support DATV and be inspired by short films that aim to make a difference in our lives. DATV presents the MEDIA THAT MATTERS SHORT FILM FESTIVAL on Thursday, November 8th at 7:30pm, at THE NEON in Downtown Dayton. The MEDIA THAT MATTERS SHORT FILM FESTIVAL is the premier national showcase for short films on the most important topics of the day. The films engagediverse audiences and inspires them to take action. The festival features 12 jury selected short films that tackle a broad range of social issues with humor, humanity and honesty in 12 minutes or less.” (provided by DATV) Tickets are $10 each, and we have a few available at our box office and on DATV’s site. For more details about the event and the films, visit the official site.

It’s unusual for me to talk about movies that aren’t playing at THE NEON…but I need to make an exception. SPARKLE, a new documentary made by NEON supporters and local filmmakers Julia Reichert and Steve Bognar, will premiere next week at Dayton Art Institute. “The evening will be quite unusual – a night of dance and cinema. SPARKLE is the story of legendary dancer Sheri ‘Sparkle’ Williams, who at age 50 (!) is still dancing with the world renowned Dayton Contemporary Dance Company. Our film is the story of how Sheri faces a devastating injury, which actually happened on stage. The evening will include the movie premiere, plus the world premiere of a new dance work choreographed specifically for Sheri Williams by Rodney A. Brown, a rising star in the world of contemporary dance choreography. The evening will also include a performance by the entire DCDC ensemble, AND several surprise guests. It promises to be a memorable night. Friday, Nov. 2 at 7 PM at the Dayton Art Institute’s newly renovated Renaissance Auditorium. Tickets are available at Ticket Center Stage, 937-228-3630, or at http://www.dcdc.org/ .” (taken from press notes)  You can also join the conversation on the official facebook page.

Thanks so much for your ongoing support!
All the best,
Jonathan

SHOWTIMES for Fri. Oct. 26 – Thu. Nov. 1:

KILLER JOE (NC-17) 1 Hr 42 Min
Friday – Thursday: 5:00, 9:30

LIBERAL ARTS (PG-13) 1 Hr 37 Min
Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 12:30, 2:45, 7:20
Monday – Thursday: 2:45, 7:20

SLEEPWALK WITH ME (NR) 1 Hrs 30 Min
Friday – Thursday: 5:15, 9:30

SEARCHING FOR SUGAR MAN (PG-13) 1 Hr 26 Min
Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 1:00, 3:00, 7:30
Monday – Thursday: 3:00, 7:30

COMING SOON:
As always, all dates are tentative. Many of these dates will change.
In some rare cases, titles may disappear
Nov. 2 – SAMSARA
Nov. 9 – FOR A GOOD TIME, CALL
Nov. 16 (5 Days Only) – THE DETAILS
Nov. 16 (2 weeks only) – A LATE QUARTET
Nov. 21 – THE SESSIONS
Nov. 30 – ANNA KARENINA
Dec. TBD – HITCHCOCK

Become a Leonardo League Volunteer at the DAI

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The Dayton Art Institute is in need of volunteers, especially  during the American Chronicles: The Art of Norman Rockwell exhibit that runs through February.  Leonardo League Volunteers support the operations of the museum on a day-to-day basis, performing functions such as:

Your volunteer commitment may be temporary, extending through the end of an exhibition, working a specific event or program, or you may make a long-term commitment to the museum. Volunteers making a long-term commitment are encouraged to become museum members and complete a minimum of 25 hours annually. As a result, volunteers are entitled to:

  • Complimentary tickets to exhibitions
  • Discounts at The Museum Store and The Cafe
  • Attend Volunteer Information Sessions for Training and Art Appreciation (VISTA)
  • Receive quarterly newsletters
  • Receive invitations to exclusive travel and social events

Regardless of the time and commitment you are able to provide, what you can give is honored and greatly appreciated. To begin the process of becoming a DAI volunteer, you must complete the Volunteer Application Form. Send completed application to: The Dayton Art Institute, Monica Walker, Human Resources Manager, 456 Belmonte Park North, Dayton OH 45405-4700. Or email [email protected] or [email protected].

NOTE: Submitting an application to The Dayton Art Institute tells us that you are interested in becoming a volunteer, it does not mean you are a volunteer. You must complete an interview and orientation before you are considered a volunteer. For additional information on becoming a Leonardo League volunteer, contact Monica Walker at [email protected].