Saturday, Oct. 185:30-9 p.m.

Tarpon Springs Yacht Club, 350 N Spring Blvd., Tarpon Springs

Please join us for a laid-back evening of food, fun and music while supporting the educational mission of the Leepa-Rattner Museum of Art

Leepa-Rattner Museum of Art

2014

Casual dress

Limited seating

Cash bar and silent auction 5:30 p.m.; Buffet opens 6:45 p.m.

Music by the De Lei’ed Parrots.

$60 advance, $70 day of event.

Sponsored by: Walmart Stores 9944, 4667 and 6400.

Reservations and information: 727-712-5229 by Oct. 14

Leepa-Rattner Museum of Art

Saturday, Sept. 27, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sunday, Sept. 28, 1-5 p.m.

of ArtLeepa-Rattner Museumat St. Petersburg College

Tarpon Springs Campus | 600 Klosterman Road | Tarpon Springs | spcollege.edu/museum | 727-712-5762

Free museum admission both days

Shop original works of art by more than 30 local artists in air-conditioned comfort

Art Book Nook

Food & beverages available    

33St. Petersburg College is an Equal Access/Equal Opportunity institution. 14-0440-07

MISSION STATEMENTThe mission of the Leepa-Rattner Museum of Art is to collect, conserve, exhibit and protect the works of art entrusted to its care and stewardship. Through its exhibitions, programs and expanding collection of 20th and 21st century art, the museum strives to engage and inspire our diverse community by providing opportunities for education, enlightenment, interpretation and research to students, scholars and visitors.

Ann Larsen, Director 727-712-5225R. Lynn Whitelaw, Curator 727-712-5210Patricia Buster, Education Coordinator 727-712-5226Beth Becker , Visitor Services Coordinator

727-712-5227Michele Bredal, Curatorial Prep Assistant 727-712-5202Jennifer Carlevatti, Public Relations &

Marketing Specialist 727-712-5232Shelly Clark, Development Officer

St. Petersburg College Foundation 727-302-6453

Arlene L. Ehrlich, Weekend Visitor Services 727-712-5762

Larry Fineout, Preparator 727-712- 5212Aziza Gaisi, Education Assistant

727-712-5220Karen Keith, Weekend Visitor Services 727-712-5762Cristina McCormack, Staff Accountant 727-712-5203Lynn F. Pierson, Museum Store Manager 727-712-5217Amanda Robinson, Museum Collections Manager 727-712-5200Michele Schneidenbach, Membership

Coordinator & Administrative Assistant 727-712-5222

Leepa-Rattner Museum of Art Board of Directors

William Schumacher, ChairmanVonda Woods, TreasurerJairo Garcia, SPC Student RepresentativeMary Mitchell AveryEvelyn M. BilirakisAnna BillirisAlison Crumbley Ken DambrosioMaria EdmondsDestry FudgeHoush Ghovaee Deveron M. GibbonsMarleen P.I. GravitzEdward C. Hoffman, Jr.Taylor IkinRalph MelickDr. Carolyn RootRobin SaengerKathleen A. SimonDr. Jonathan SteeleTownsend TarapaniDr. Francisco M. TorresGary Zino

Ex-Officio Board MembersDr. William D. Law Jr., President, SPCDr. Marvin L. Bright, Provost, SPC Tarpon

Springs CampusAnn Larsen, LRMA Director, Board SecretaryFrances Neu, Vice President, Institutional

Advancement and Executive Director, St. Petersburg College Foundation, Inc.

Where did it go?Summer at the museum was anything but slow, and brought a variety of visitors to see An Arts Legacy: George Inness, Jr. in Tarpon Springs, along with the two complementary exhibits by local artists and 10 exhibition-related events. We were delighted with the many first-time visitors who came from near and far, and the numerous members who proudly brought friends and family to see “their” museum. It was truly a broadly supported and community-inspired exhibition that paid homage to the creative heritage of Tarpon Springs. Thank you, all, for such spirited support!

A special welcome goes out to our newest members who joined over the summer. We’ll look forward to seeing you at upcoming events, and remind all of our members that the museum is a

from the

Much to our dismay, works of art sometimes deteriorate as they age (just like their human counterparts). To preserve the objects entrusted to its care, LRMA often retains the services of highly trained art conservators.

Art conservation involves maintaining and preserving works of art and protecting them from future damage and deterioration. Here, Stephanie Hornbeck, of

wonderful place to spend time between events—when you can “unplug” and enjoy a quieter, more contemplative visit.

Our new fall exhibitions feature work by three contemporary artists whose takes on landscape are decidedly different than those of George Inness, Jr., but whose work opens new creative vistas for exploration and inspiration. Even Isabelle’s, our museum store, will get in on the “landscape” theme this fall with a special shopping event for those who love fashion!

Check out our upcoming events in these pages, and take full advantage of your museum this fall.

Ann Larsen

In this new section, we bring you a peek “behind the scenes” at LRMA

Caryatid Conservation Services, Inc., works on Abraham Rattner’s Fall of Icarus (1950-1951). She successfully treated the sculpture for bronze disease, a condition that results when the metal alloy breaks down and a white powder forms. Fall of Icarus is now back on display and better than ever!

Treatment for Fall of Icarus was funded through LRMA’s Adopt-A-Masterpiece Program, with funds donated by the Friends of Helen Gilbart in honor of her 10 years of service to the Board of Directors. For others wishing to support conservation of works in LRMA’s collections, contact Ann Larsen, Director, or Lynn Whitelaw, Curator.

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Events and exhibitions are subject to change.

For up-to-date information, visit www.spcollege.edu/museum or call 727-712-5762.

Special exhibitionsOct. 12, 2014 – Jan. 4, 2015

Since acquiring the contemporary art collection from the former Gulf Coast Museum of Art, LRMA annually presents an exhibition that explores themes and concepts relevant to artists today. The theme of “landscape” has been the subject of exhibitions this past year, including the photography of Clyde Butcher and paintings of George Inness, Jr. This fall, Uncertain Landscape: Victoria Block and Alain Salesse and Disappearing Landscape: Janos Enyedi, each share a message of subjective landscapes based on real or imaginary observations.

Uncertain Landscape: Victoria Block and Alain Salesse NORTH AND SOUTH GALLERIESArtists Victoria Block and Alain Salesse live in Montreal, Canada, but spend the winter months in Pinellas County. While they have exhibited in the Tampa Bay area before, this is their first joint exhibition. Block and Salesse’s works are an exploration of personal landscapes expressed through a variety of media. For Block, large impressionistic paintings, accompanied by drawings, ceramic installations and mixed media pieces create a visual interplay that conjures up associations and memory. For Salesse, sculpture and technology synthesize in large ceramic egg forms that explore tactile realities. These fabricated, self-contained worlds convey an inner vision that requires interaction to activate the imagination. Both artists invite us into their created worlds.

“The real voyage of discovery consists not in

seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes.”

Marcel Proust, French novelist (1871-1922)

Disappearing Landscape: Janos EnyediTERRACE AND LOBBY GALLERIESJanos Enyedi (1947-2011) was a nationally known sculptor whose meticulous re-creations of factories and buildings in America’s rust belt bring a sense of dignity to these decaying structures. Enyedi, who lived and worked in the Washington, DC, area for over two decades, moved to St. Petersburg’s rapidly expanding Warehouse Arts District in 2010. He left a large body of work before his untimely death in 2011, including metal sculpture, large-format digital photography and industrial vignettes (referred to as three-dimensional paintings). Creative Loafing art critic, Megan Voeller, wrote of Enyedi’s work, “throughout such endeavors, his fascination remained grounded in the visual qualities of the landscape rather than in taking sides on political or environmental issues related to industry.”

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Images clockwise from bottom left:Janos Enyedi (American, 1947-2011), Hardhats Must Be Worn Beyond this Point – Souvenir, Washington, DC, 1976, Acrylic on hand-folded paper, basswood Plexiglas on illustration board, 33 x 64 x 5 in., From the Janos Enyedi Collection, on loan from Diana Enyedi, Photo: Greg Staley; Victoria Block (American/Canadian, b. 1953), Slipstream, 2006-2014, Ceramic, 54 x 60 in., 8 pots (various sizes), On loan from the artist; Alain Salesse (Canadian, b. 1958), Romeo and Juliet: Detail, 2013, Ceramic, glaze, glass and metal, On loan from the artist; Abraham Rattner (American, 1893-1978), Untitled (Cryptographer), c. 1918-20, Charcoal and pastel on blue paper, 24 3/4 x 18 11/16 in., On loan from the St. Petersburg College Foundation, Inc., LRMA 1997.1.2.20; Chaim Gross (Austrian/American, 1904-1991), Self Portrait, 1975, Lithograph, 20 7/8 x 14 in., Gift of Lothar Uhl, in honor of new LRMA director, Ann Larsen, LRMA, 2014.1.001

In 2012, for the 10th anniversary of the Leepa-Rattner Museum of Art, the museum’s eight permanent exhibition galleries were reinstalled to correspond to a new mission in support of 20th and 21st century art. New gallery spaces were dedicated to art created in Florida, fine art crafts and works on paper to better reflect the growth of the permanent collection and the acquisition of art from the former Gulf Coast Museum of Art.

Many people lamented the loss of the more extensive presentation of Abraham Rattner, Esther Gentle and Allen Leepa’s life work. Beginning in September, many of the original texts, themes and historical perspectives will be reinstalled and updated in the galleries. This installation will emphasize the works of Abraham Rattner against the historical events of the 20th century while also including a special exhibition that focuses on the large holdings of drawings by Rattner. Over the next year, In Black and White: Drawings by Abraham Rattner will present more than 40 drawings, sketches and studies that document Rattner’s artistic and humanist themes. Many of these drawings have never been shown before and demonstrate Rattner’s extraordinary talents as a draftsman. Because works on paper should not be exposed to long periods of light, the drawings will be changed out after six months.

Chaim Gross: Works from the CollectionLRMA is fortunate to have a small collection, dating from the 1940s through the 1970s, of sculpture, prints and works on paper by noted expressionist artist Chaim Gross (Austrian/American,1904-1991). Gross immigrated to the United States in 1921, studied sculpture in New York City at the Beaux-Arts Institute of Design and the Art Students League, and by 1935 was recognized as a significant American artist. Primarily a sculptor, Chaim Gross was also known for his two-dimensional works on paper, including drawings, watercolors and prints.

This exhibition includes a small bronze sculpture, five lithographs, three watercolors, and three works created for humanist causes, including two stamps issued by the United Nations. These works demonstrate subject matter and recurring themes in Gross’ art, including motherhood, childhood, daily life and religion.

The Leepa-Rattner Museum of Art is pleased to announce its 2014-2015

Special Exhibitions Schedule.

Oct. 12, 2014 – Jan. 4, 2015Uncertain Landscape:

Victoria Block and Alain Salesse Disappearing Landscape:

Janos Enyedi

Jan. 18 – Feb. 15, 201540th Annual International

Miniature Art Society of Florida (MASF) Exhibition

March 1 – May 3, 201565th Annual Florida Artists Group

(FLAG) Exhibition

May 17 – Aug. 16, 2015Henry and Abe: Finding America

To view the complete exhibition schedule, including Focus Friday presentations and

Works on Paper Gallery exhibitions, visit our website at www.spcollege.edu/museum.

Please join us for

the opening reception of

Uncertain Landscape: Victoria Block

and Alain Salesse

and

Disappearing Landscape: Janos Enyedi

and the dedication of LRMA’s

updated Donor Wall.

Saturday, Oct. 116 p.m. – Patron-Level Members Preview

7 p.m. – Opening ReceptionFree for members;

$10 for non-members

RSVP to 727-712-5229

in the Permanent Galleries

on Paper Gallery

fall 2014

For up-to-date information on these and other exciting programs at the Leepa-Rattner Museum of Art, visit www.spcollege.edu/museum or call 727-712-5762.

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SEPTEMBER 1 MondayLabor Day

Museum and administrative offices closed

5 FridayFocus Friday (formerly First Friday Focus)Noon, Focus Gallery, $6 for adults, $5 for seniors, free for members

First Friday Focus is now Focus Friday. The program title was changed because several first Fridays in the 2014-2015 season fell on holidays.

Focus Friday is an opportunity to learn more about art, art history and the museum’s expanding collection. Each month, from September through May, a different object is the focus of a short, informal presentation and discussion conducted by one of LRMA’s docents. For September, Theo Wujcik’s 1994 work, Dine’s Dilemma, will be featured. September’s Focus Friday honors Wujcik, who died in March, 2014.

19 FridayArt, Books and Community (ABC) Reading Club1:30 p.m., $6 for adults, $5 for seniors, free for members

Palm Harbor Library Director Gene Coppola facilitates this bimonthly program held at the museum. Members select, read and discuss books about modern art and enjoy light refreshments. September’s selection is American Mirror: The Life and Art of Norman Rockwell by Deborah Solomon.

24 WednesdayLeap into Art at Leepa-Rattner!3 p.m., Challenge of Modern Art Gallery, $6 for adults, $5 for seniors, free for members and children

Great for ages four to eight, this program features stories about art read by Palm Harbor Library associates and a related hands-on activity led by LRMA’s education staff. Families are encouraged to arrive early to view the galleries. The theme for September is Canine Creations and the books are Little Dog by Lisa Jahn-Clough, Dog Loves Drawing by Louise Yates and My Dog Thinks I’m a Genius by Harriet Ziefert with illustrations by Barroux.

27 Saturday Smithsonian Magazine’s Museum Day Live!10 a.m.-5 p.m., free admission with coupon

LRMA will join other participating museums around the country and offer free admission for the day. A free coupon is required and can be printed at www.smithsonianmag.com/museumday.

27 Saturday-28 SundayArtists’ MarketSaturday: 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Sunday: 11 a.m.-5 p.m., Free museum admission (donations welcome)

Shop original works of art by more than 30 local artists in air conditioned comfort!

OCTOBER10 FridayFocus FridayNoon, Focus Gallery, $6 for adults, $5 for seniors, free for members

Focus Friday is an opportunity to learn more about art, art history and the museum’s expanding collection. Each month, from September through May, a different object is the focus of a short, informal presentation and discussion conducted by one of LRMA’s docents. For October, Hispanic Heritage Month, Alberto Sosabravo’s Homenaje al Aduanero Rousseau will be featured.

11 SaturdayUncertain Landscape: Victoria Block and Alain Salesse and Disappearing Landscape: Janos EnyediOpening Reception6-7 p.m. Patron-Level Members’ Preview, 7-9 p.m. Opening Reception, Free to current members; $10 per person for non-members

RSVP required – call 727-712-5229

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12 SundayUncertain Landscape: Victoria Block and Alain Salesse and Disappearing Landscape: Janos Enyedi

Open to the public

Gallery Talks - Uncertain Landscape: Victoria Block and Alain Salesse3 p.m., Special Exhibition Galleries, free museum admission (donations welcome)

Victoria Block and Alain Salesse will present gallery talks about their works on view.

16 ThursdayLRMA Resource Center Grand Opening10 a.m., LRMA Resource Center, $6 for adults, $5 for seniors, free for members

Join us for introductory tours of the archives and our special collections.

18 SaturdayStone Crab Fest5:30-9 p.m., Tarpon Springs Yacht Club, $60 advance; $70 day of the event

Celebrate the opening of stone crab season by making reservations for our most delicious event of the year. Seating is limited, so call early to reserve your tickets at 727-712-5229. Cash bar and silent auction open at 5:30 p.m. Proceeds support LRMA’s educational mission.

27 MondaySPC ArtBreak12:25-1:40 p.m., Leepa-Rattner Museum of Art, no admission fee for students

SPC students are invited to explore the museum during their campus activity break and enjoy art activities, behind-the-scenes tours, refreshments and music.

29 WednesdayLeap into Art at Leepa-Rattner!3 p.m., Challenge of Modern Art Gallery, $6 for adults, $5 for seniors, free for members and children

Great for ages four to eight, this program features stories about art read by Palm Harbor Library associates and a related hands-on activity led by LRMA’s education staff. Families are

encouraged to arrive early to view the galleries. The theme for October is Slightly Spooky Stories and the books are Go Away, Big Green Monster! by Ed Emberley, The Art Teacher from the Black Lagoon by Mike Thaler with illustrations by Jared Lee and Everyday Mysteries by Jerome Wexler.

NOVEMBER2 SundayGallery Talk – Disappearing Landscape: Janos Enyedi3 p.m., Lobby and Terrace Galleries, free museum admission (donations welcome)

Diana Enyedi, wife of Janos Enyedi, will talk about her late husband’s works.

11 TuesdayVeterans Day

Museum administrative offices closed.

7 FridayFocus Friday Noon, Focus Gallery, $6 for adults, $5 for seniors, free for members

Focus Friday is an opportunity to learn more about art, art history and the museum’s expanding collection. Each month, from September through May, a different object is the focus of a short, informal presentation and discussion conducted by one of LRMA’s docents. For November, Kenneth Noland’s The Meeting, will be featured.

19 WednesdayLeap into Art at Leepa-Rattner!3 p.m., Challenge of Modern Art Gallery, $6 for adults, $5 for seniors, free for members and children

Great for ages four to eight, this program features stories about art read by Palm Harbor Library associates and a related hands-on activity led by LRMA’s education staff. Families are encouraged to arrive early to view the galleries. The theme for November is Growing Art Collections from the Heart and the books are The Art Collector by Jan Wahl with illustrations by Rosalinde Bonnet, You Are My Work of Art by SueDiCicco and Katie’s Picture Show by James Mayhew.

21 FridayArt, Books and Community (ABC) Reading Club1:30 p.m., Leepa-Rattner Museum of Art, $6 for adults, $5 for seniors, free for members

Palm Harbor Library Director Gene Coppola facilitates this bimonthly program held at the museum. Members select, read and discuss books about modern art and enjoy light refreshments. November’s selection is a John Singer Sargent book of the member’s choice.

27 ThursdayThanksgiving Day

Museum and administrative offices closed

Visit www.facebook.com/leeparattner and give us a like. In return, we’ll remind you about upcoming events a few days in advance. Go on, show us some love!

13 ThursdayTrunk Show: A Personal Landscape4 to 8 p.m., Isabelle’s Museum Store, Interactive and Focus Galleries

See page 8 for more details.

8… the art of shopping!

Proud member of the Museum Store Association

“Well, if I can’t get an autograph, I guess this is the next best thing,” thinks Sherry Arfa.

Trunk Show: A Personal LandscapeNovember 13, 4 to 8 p.m., Free AdmissionJoin us for a special presentation of extraordinary wearable art by fiber artist, Diane Prekup, whose work is proudly carried in Isabelle’s Museum Store. In addition, enjoy a variety of fine accessories by local and regional artists, each a treat for the eye and to own as part of your “personal landscape.”

Recent acquisitionsRecent donations to the permanent collection of the Leepa-Rattner Museum of Art approved by the Collections Committee and Board of Directors include:

1 off-set color lithograph, Jim Dine at Pace/Columbus, gift of Lothar Uhl

1 lithograph by Honoré Daumier, gift of Lothar Uhl

A “roaring” good timeMore than 400 members and guests turned out for the 1920s themed opening of An Arts Legacy: George Inness, Jr. in Tarpon Springs on May 10. Mr. & Mrs. George Inness, Jr. made an appearance, and a good time was had by all. Here are just a few of our favorite moments from that night.

New provost appointedOn July 14, 2014, Dr. Marvin L. Bright joined St. Petersburg College as Provost of the Tarpon Springs Campus. Formerly the Chief Officer of Student Success Initiatives at the Virginia Community College System, Dr. Bright brings more than 20 years of higher education experience to SPC. LRMA extends a warm welcome to Dr. Bright.

Denise P-R Schmeer vamps for the camera after winning the

ladies costume contest.

Tarpon Springs Mayor David O. Archie (left) and Retired Tarpon Springs Provost Dr. Conferlete Carney (right) pause for a photo with Mr. and Mrs. George Inness, Jr. (Steve Corrado and Robin Saenger).

“By George, I’m the spitting image,” thinks Inness Jr. impersonator Steve Corrado.

Wise guy and men’s costume contest winner Don Gordon with Annette Gordon.

Best couple costume winners Louise Barrett and Greg Pallone are dressed to the nines.

New LRMA Resource Center to openThere’s a new service available for museum members, art researchers and students: the LRMA Resource Center!

Over the years, LRMA has expanded on its original library and archives of the Rattner/Leepa/Gentle Collection with books, audio-visual documentation and printed materials. Through the concerted effort of curatorial staff, volunteers and the St. Petersburg College Library, these holdings have been catalogued and are now available for use.

Join us at 10 a.m. on Thursday, October 16, for a grand opening with introductory tours of the archives and our special collections. Or browse our extraordinary holdings of 20th and 21st century art books.

The LRMA Resource Center will be open Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. or by appointment.

Shop Isabelle’s on national Small Business Saturday, Nov. 29”

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Thank you to our membersThe Leepa-Rattner Museum of Art gratefully welcomes its newest, renewing and upgrading members ( indicates upgraded level; bold italics indicate new members).

Testing the Waters (and Loving It)

PATRON LEVELS: Sustainers ($1,000)

Edward and Barbara Hoffman, Jr.

Advocates ($500)Edward and

Margaret DeBarbaJames and Ann Larsen

Contributors ($250)Paul and Lucyanne Robinson

Friends ($125)David and Ruth BantherNatalie BarresiAlison and Allen CrumbleyLee and Mary Ann EvansJohn Fowler and

Barbara Okelsen Mr. Deveron GibbonsDr. Anthony and

Mrs. Patti LeisnerRalph and Patricia MelickAlison Hennig MooreLeona PeifferEd & Barbara NelsonAlexander Nyerges &

Katherine GrayWalter and Lee Schneider Bill and Jane Schumacher Kathleen Simon John and Cyndi TarapaniSandy Taylor

In Memoriam Lynette Henderson

SUPPORTER LEVELS:Family ($65)

Dr. Dennis Allen and Dr. Kristine

Elsie BarnardAnna and George BillirisMichael and Janet BlackLinda Bock and David CollomRobert Lutz ChristensonKim and Robert FossMerle and Nyla Hubbard Bassmi and Sue IbrahimGirard and Nancy LaBossiereRobert and Jane McIntoshJeff and Lynn PiersonJanice and Richard RysdonJohn and Trudy Schmalz Alan and Janet SichelmanDavid and Diane StrileyDr. Francisco Torres and

Dr. Elvira BarrosoPhillip & Susanne Van KersenHebert and Arline Wall Vonda WoodsHarry and Beverly

ZimmermanDual ($60)Richard Baker Shirley BennettSteve Corrado and

Robin SaengerBross and Christina DavyAlice Donovan and

Robert DaisyRobert and Sarah GrazianiLarry and Mary HasiakBruce and Ellen HoughtonAnneke & Kees HulsteinJames and Margaret Knighton

Frank and Barbara LaMarteSusan Makara and

Sidney CrawfordMilton and Marlys MecklerWilliam Morrison

and Sydney Ann Shollenberger

Susan and Terry ParchetaJulius Perlman and

Ruth SamuelDr. James Payne and

Mrs. Arianne PayneKathi and Martin PetersRobert Potts and

Kathleen Devlin Lionel Giliotti and Diane WheatleyKarl and Julie SchebleinMiguel and Jorgelina SolariAlan and Kathryn StevensDr. James Thompson and

Carol ChaneyJohn and Pat WakehamNik Walker and

Sherry DilleyTom WilkeHarold Wolfe and

Marlie Faris

Individual ($40)Erin ArmstrongDorothea BlizzardDuncan CampbellCharlene CarnesWendy DavisDiane DubendorffSue EllisBarbara FredericksonGay Gagnon

Ruth Ann Gardner Zee Gaisi Ardith GourlayTheresa Haralson Ruth HeilmanDorothy HornusDotson HuntBetty JackelSusan JacobsonMarti KardinalNancy KeytonBarbara KostrevaNancy KraussBetty LangMarie LawrenceJane LawsonMarion MajorAline McCannJan McCarthyEmily MillerWilliam MoravecColette MooreIrene MuenchJanet PollakMyrtle SachsSharon SawyerPatricia SidebottomMargaret SiembiedaMark SkopczynskiBrigitte Lukas SzabadyJoyce TrompeoNili TwerskyPat WalkerSharon Wallenberg

StudentBruce P. HadburgJairo Garcia

The Tampa Bay area isn’t exactly known as a high-fashion mecca. So, when fashion design major Erin Armstrong and her husband moved to New Port Richey six years ago, she began searching for other artistic outlets. A program in museum studies at the University of South Florida caught her eye, but she wasn’t sure if it was the right move.

Then, she heard about the docent training course at LRMA.

“My husband, David, was talking with LRMA docent Sharon Bressen, and she mentioned that a new docent training class was starting. I thought, ‘what a great way to see if I like the museum environment,’” she said.

Armstrong joined the class and loved it. For her, it was a way to be in the art field without being an artist. She particularly enjoys conversations with her fellow docents, many of whom are working artists.

Her favorite piece in the museum’s collection? Abraham Rattner’s 1943 work, The Jeweled Christ. “The muted palette with pops of color just speaks to me,” she said. “It’s so different from his other works.”

Armstrong also became a LRMA member. She wanted to give back to the museum and take advantage of member benefits like invitations to LRMA events, especially ones her 5-year-old son and 7-year-old daughter enjoy.

“I really like to contribute and help out local museums,” she said.

It appears that Armstrong has found her new niche.

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Thanks to a grant from the Kinder Morgan Foundation, exciting upgrades await families on their next visit to the Challenge of Modern Art Interactive Gallery and The Language of Art Kiosk. Here are just a few of the new creative activities:

• Make a work of art with paper and markers at the new children’s art table and display your creations in the gallery

• Explore the language of art with imaginative puzzles, books and games displayed in two new bookcases

• Gaze at an Alexander Calder-inspired mobile, learn how mobiles are made and then purchase a kit in Isabelle’s Museum Store

Bring the kids to LRMA and discover all of the new arrivals. Other activities include drawing easels, a magnetic word wall and art-themed interactive websites.

A fruitful partnership, growing and thrivingFor those of a certain age, the word “librarian” can conjure up images of horn-rimmed glasses, a wagging finger and a stern, unsmiling face.

But Gene Coppola is not your typical librarian. Ensconced in his inviting office surrounded by sports memorabilia, the Palm Harbor Library Director has a ready smile and genuine warmth for all who enter. On a recent morning, Coppola discussed his lifelong interest in art and the library’s partnership with LRMA. He describes it as “one of the most fruitful we’ve ever had.”

Coppola met LRMA Curator, Lynn Whitelaw at a Chamber of Commerce meeting several years ago, and the two art aficionados hit it off. They decided to see how their two organizations could help each other.

Thus was born the Art, Books and Community (ABC) Reading Club at LRMA, a bimonthly book club focusing on modern and contemporary art. The group recently read Saving Italy: The Race to Rescue a Nation’s Treasures from the Nazis, on which the movie Monuments Men was based. Palm Harbor library associates also participate in Leap into Art at Leepa-Rattner! by reading stories to enthusiastic crowds of children.

At the library, Coppola has instituted the John Brock Art Alcove, a rotating exhibition of local artists’ work; the Hazel L. Incantalupo MakerSpace, an art studio and activity area for children; and hopes to sponsor an artist-in-residence. The community room regularly holds opera, jazz and blues concerts, and Coppola is exploring a musical instrument rental program. It’s all an effort to weave art into the daily visitor experience.

“I really see the library as a cultural destination,” he says. “It’s a free, neutral venue that provides opportunities to immerse people in all the arts – visual and performing.”

Next on Coppola’s wish list is a combination art and book mobile that will travel throughout the county.

“I really should have been an art history student,” he laughs.

Challenge of Modern Art Interactive Gallery sports new additions

Guernica Audio and Light Show RestoredFor nearly 13 years, a replica of Pablo Picasso’s 1937 mural painting, Guernica, has been a powerful focal point in the Challenge of Modern Art Interactive Gallery. Now, thanks to a generous gift by Leonard and Marleen P.I. Gravitz, the original audio/light show commissioned by LRMA has been restored after a lengthy hiatus.

Guests can recline on one of several black leather sofas while listening to a nine-minute interpretive introduction to the painting. As a narrator explains the history and symbolism of Guernica, each corresponding area of the mural is illuminated. LRMA is privileged to have the only full-scale reproduction of the painting in the United States.

Picasso painted Guernica to attract worldwide attention to the bombing of the Basque town of Guernica by German bombers, who were supporting the Nationalist forces of Spain’s, General Franco, during the Spanish Civil War.

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For the Love of Art: A Life’s WorkTo many, the value of a piece is inextricably tied to the price it will fetch at a leading auction house. But not to Lothar Uhl. He and his late wife, Mildred Uhl, spent decades traveling the world and collecting art for one reason - the sheer joy of it.

“We liked everything. We were interested in everything, and we didn’t specialize. Eventually, collecting became a little bit like a disease,” he laughed.

After his retirement in 1993, the couple moved from Detroit to Florida and became active with the Museum of Fine Arts in St. Petersburg. When they met LRMA’s founding director Lynn Whitelaw and heard about the fledgling museum, they decided to donate some of their collection to LRMA.

“They’re a new museum…so maybe we can give them some things,” he said.

And so they did. Over the course of 12 years, the Uhls donated significant works by Leonard Baskin, Chaim Gross and Winslow Homer to name just a few. They liked that LRMA was affiliated with an education institution, and that was one of the reasons they gave.

“Students can say ‘wow, this is 150 years old,’” said Uhl. “We knew the art would be in good hands.”

Uhl grew up in Wüerzburg, Germany, where he was exposed to museums, plays and concerts as a young child. But it wasn’t until he met his future wife, Mildred, that he got to know the practical side of art by helping her make prints when she was in art school.

After the pair married, they discovered they were unable to have children, so they decided the art would be their children. They lived frugally on their salaries and spent money on what was most important to them - exhilarating experiences, travel and art.

The Uhls collected mostly works on paper from the 15th to 20th centuries because they were accessible and affordable. But they felt drawn to one particular artist again and again: Leonard Baskin. The Uhls amassed a sizeable collection, and their donation of Baskin’s works to LRMA is thought to be one of the largest in existence.

For other art collectors, Uhl has this simple advice: Collect what you like.

“Do it for your own enjoyment,” he says. “Don’t look at it as an investment. If you think it is art, it is.”

PRICELESS EXPERIENCES MADE POSSIBLE BY YOU

giving

If you or someone you know is interested in contributing artwork to LRMA, contact curator Lynn Whitelaw.

Magic happens every day at LRMA. Visitors learn from noted artists. Children discover and create. School classes tour the galleries. Students research art history.

All of these magical moments have one thing in common: your support. When you make a donation to the 2014-15 Annual Fund, you provide LRMA with the means to provide free docent tours, produce stimulating gallery talks, maintain our collection and so much more.

Show your support by making a gift today!

Online: https://foundation.spcollege.edu/giving

By phone: 727-302-6453

By mail: Send check made payable to St. Petersburg College Foundation, Inc. Art in Action Annual Fund PO Box 13489 St. Petersburg, FL 33733

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for making LRMA POSSIBLE.

Lothar Uhl with Development Officer Shelly Clark.

DOCENT TOURS

ART AC

TIVITIES

FIELD EXPERIEN

CES GALLERY TALKS

ST PETERSBURG COLLEGEPO BOX 13489ST PETERSBURG FL 33733-3489

fall 2014SEPTEMBER – OCTOBER – NOVEMBER

Leepa-Rattner Museum of Art

HoursTuesday, Wednesday, Saturday: 10 a.m.-5 p.m.Thursday: 10 a.m.-8 p.m.Friday: 10 a.m.-4 p.m.Sunday: 1-5 p.m.Closed Mondays and major holidays

Location Tarpon Springs Campus of St. Petersburg College600 Klosterman RoadTarpon Springs, FL 34689

Admission Adults – $6Seniors – $5Free for members, students with ID, children 17 and under, and active military.Sunday admission – suggested donation $5, but “pay what you can” and enjoy the museum!

Docent tours every Sunday at 2 p.m. (no charge).

727-712-5762 (LRMA)www.spcollege.edu/museum

www.facebook.com/leeparattner

LRMALeepa-Rattner Museum of Art

Leepa-Rattner Museum of Art extends its appreciation to the following corporate and community sponsors:

Kinder Morgan Foundation

On view through Jan. 4, 2015

LRMA is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums, Washington, D.C., a distinction held by only 6% of all U.S. museums.

Visitor Comments

“I loved the entire museum. The docent, Jan K., made it all better. I really enjoyed Inness, Jr., but Jan made the modern art (which previously I would have avoided) COME ALIVE by explaining so much about the world at the time and what the artist were thinking and trying to show.”

“I have enjoyed this interactive section. Well done!”

“The exhibit is beautiful! This helped my 5 year old and my 13 year old to love painting and drawing even more!”

Cover images:

Alain Salesse (Canadian, b. 1958)Avoir le temps (Kouros), 2010, Ceramic, glaze, odor (lavender), glass and metal, 20 x 16 in + base, On loan from the artist

Victoria Block (American/Canadian, b. 1953), July Afternoon, 2007, Oil on canvas, 5 x 24 ft., On loan from the artist

Janos Enyedi (American, 1947-2011)Elevated View, 2003, Acrylic, hand-rubbed graphite on archival illustration board, 30 x 62 x 9 in., From the Janos Enyedi Collection, on loan from Diana Enyedi, Photo: Jim Morris

#4690, #5218 and #5381