Ten Years In

2018 marks the tenth anniversary of the ‘new’ Burchfield Penney Art Center. In addition to presenting thousands of programs and more than one hundred exhibitions since we opened our beautifully designed museum building, we have acquired 2,730 objects for our permanent collection, including 38 works by our namesake, Charles E. Burchfield. While several of these have been highlighted in exhibitions during the past decade, this exhibition focuses primarily on artworks that have not yet been seen. Ten Years In will unveil more than 120 contemporary and historical works by Western New York artists.

Selections from major collections representing the careers of photographers Marion Faller, David Moog, and Milton Rogovin are just the tip of the iceberg of resources that make our museum a destination for learning about these and other artists. Nineteenth-century highlights include the comical, allegorical painting The Bear Discussion (1881) by William Holbrook Beard (1824-1900). Naming Ceremony: Ghana (1994) marked a life-altering experience for William Y. Cooper (1934-2016) when he reached back to his roots in Ghana and received his African name in a special ceremony. Catherine Parker (1926-2012) merged sight and sound in her emotive landscape, Messiaen V (2010). Katherine Sehr (b. 1978) amazes viewers with her meticulous, large-scale drawing technique in Silver/Green (2007). In all, there is a tremendous range of talent represented, with details about artists and artworks linked to this exhibition website.

The installation was co-curated by Nancy Weekly, Burchfield scholar, head of collections, and Charles Cary Rumsey Curator, and Scott Propeack, associate director and chief curator, with the assistance of Registrar Robert Cutrona. The exhibition is supported by Nancy Brock and Scott Goldman, D.M.D. It will open during the M&T Second Friday celebration held July 13 at 5:30-8:30 P.M. and will remain on view through Sunday, October 28, 2018.