On the occasion of its centennial this year, the Bruce Museum has mounted a three-part exhibition featuring recent and promised gifts to the permanent collection. “Marking a Century, Part II: Recent and Promised Gifts to the Bruce Museum” is on view through November 4.
Executive Director Peter Sutton notes that the permanent art collection of the Bruce Museum includes more than 15,000 objects representing a wide variety of world cultures, with special strengths in American and European art. “Each piece serves to inspire the shows that we organize and they are all essential to the many object-based educational programs that we offer at the museum.”
“‘Marking a Century, Part II’ presents several extraordinary textiles and costumes,” Sutton said, “including a 9½-foot-long bridal veil made of delicate Belgian lace, an elaborately embroidered Art Deco evening coat and a Kashmir shawl.”
Demonstrating the wide variety of the museum’s holdings are a group of Native American objects, including a Navajo weaving complemented by an early Edward Curtis (1868‱952) sepia photogravure entitled “A Stormy Day-Flathead,” as well as a group of small West African sculpture.
A fine etching by Childe Hassam, who was active in the Cos Cob (Greenwich) art colony, is featured among the works on paper. There are two rare and important photographs by Carlotta Corpron (1901‱988), famous for her early experimentation with abstraction, plus several notable new prints and photographs by well-known contemporary artists, including William Kentridge, Yvonne Jaquette and E.V. Day within the exhibition.
Installed in the Arcade Gallery, the exhibit will be on view through November 4. The final exhibition in the series, which will feature prints, photographs and other works on paper, will open in the Lecture Gallery on September 29.
“The museum has benefited greatly from the generosity of discerning collectors,” says Sutton, “and we are pleased to be able to highlight the remarkable donations we have received.”
The Bruce Museum is at 1 Museum Drive. For general information, 203-869-0376 or www.brucemuseum.org .
