Director's Notes from the Danforth Museum- February, 2011

I was very happy to see this image in the Danforth Museum's February newsletter from Katherine French. This piece was installed shortly after I completed it in the Early 70's. It is titled "The Question is the Answer." I had the privilege of working with many very fine people on the development and opening of the Danforth Museum back then, serving on the Exhibition Committee with Alicia Faxon, who has always been a driving force in the Arts in New England.

"The Question is the Answer"

Director's Notes from the Danforth Museum

Two important milestones were reached during this past month. On January 25th, the Board of Trustees approved new Mission and Vision statements that recognized the Museum and Museum School as equal partners. And then, on January 31st, the Museum submitted our response to the Town of Framingham’s Request for Proposals (RFP) for long-term lease of the Danforth Building.

Engage, inspire and transform—those are lofty ambitions, but art has that power. It not only sustains, but also defines our culture. It can renew and inspire—and provide the catalyst for great change.

In order to fulfill this mission and achieve its vision as a nationally recognized leader among community museums and art education centers, the Danforth seeks to work with the Town to become the long-term steward for the Danforth Building. It’s too early to comment on specific details. These will be worked out in negotiations, but it is safe to say that we look forward to a partnership that will make it possible to address the needs of a culturally significant, architecturally important building at the heart of Metrowest. _And, the kind of collaboration necessary to achieve this goal is central to what we do.

As a community museum and art center, we are comprised of many communities—of artists and art lovers, of students and educators, and from towns and cities from throughout New England. Collaboration builds and sustains these communities. In the immediate future, we look forward to collaborating with the Boston Printmakers on their 2011 Biennial exhibition juried by renowned artist Jim Dine. On March 1, we again work with the Framingham Library on their Framingham Reads Together initiative with the opening of original watercolor illustrations for Claire Nivola’s Civil War themed children’s book The Silent Witness in our Children’s Gallery. And our collaboration with Framingham Public School teachers on the Meta Warrick Fuller Programcontinues—thanks to support from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Sudbury Foundation and recent contributors to our Annual Fund.

Visit the Museum often and become part of our community. Become engaged in what we do, inspired by what you see, and transformed by what you experience. We look forward to seeing you soon.

Sincerely,

Katherine French, Director

Danforth Museum of Art