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Taft Museum of Art Calendar of Events – December 2010 The Taft Museum of Art is open Tuesdays during December. Holiday hours are Tuesday—Sunday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Special Exhibitions Francisco Goya: Los Caprichos December 4, 2010 – January 30, 2011 The full set of Francisco Goya’s 80 haunting images from  Los Caprichos (“The Whims” or “The Fantasies,” published in 1799) confront human hypocrisy, pretense, fear, and irrationality, picturing them in every conceivable form. Goya’s singularly original visions of monsters, specters, corpses, and other bitter or callous beings enact challenges to authority of all kinds, including that of the church and state. Los Caprichos are likely the great Spanish artist’s most influential works and continue to inspire artists to this day. As both prints and images, they are decades ahead of their time. In them, Goya pioneered astonishingly innovative etching techniques, visual forms, and artistic themes, anticipating the later movements known as Realism, Post-Impressionism, Symbolism, and Surrealism.  The etchings on view are from an early first edition, one of four sets acquired directly from Goya, and belong now to an American private collector. The exhibition is organized by Landau Traveling Exhibitions. Goya (1746–1826) is one of the world’s greatest artists, as famous for portraits that seemingly penetrate his sitters’ souls as he is for portrayals of the brutality of the Napoleonic Wars in Spain (1808–14). The Taft Museum of Art owns an important oil portrait by Goya, Queen Maria Luisa of Spain, of about 1800.  Sponsor: Docents of the Taft Museum of Art ArtsWave Partner: P&G Antique Christmas at the Taft Through January 9, 2011 This year, the Taft offers some new twists on old Christmas favorites. Upon entering the galleries, visitors will find an intricately folded paper dollhouse home to miniature paper dolls. Nearby, a collection of antique Noah’s Ark toys feature a host of animals, lined up two by two. Once in the historic house, children of all ages will enjoy seeing a German miniature toy shop from the 1890s full of boxed play-sets of sheep, shepherds, and dogs. Among the other vintage treasures new to the display are a tree decked with angel ornaments, another featuring butterfly and flower ornaments, a case full of figural light bulbs for Christmas décor, a display of whimsical Italian glass ornaments from the 1940s and 50s, and eight looped rows of glass bead garlands on the large feather tree in the Music Room. In theKeystone Gallery, discover The Colors of Christmas: Victorian Paper Decorations. See a dazzling display of the favorite craft material of the Victorian era—chromolithographic scraps. These brilliantly colored, shiny, printed Christmas cutouts were the stickers of their day, inspiring 19th- and early 20th-century homemade ornaments and decorations. Visitors will see a number of examples of these lovely and luminous “scraps.” Media partner: WMKV FM Programs & Events Highlights of the Taft Sundays, 1:30 p.m. After lunch or before a concert on Sunday afternoons, join a Taft docent for a tour of the highlights of the Museum’s world-renowned collection. Free with Museum admission. No reservations are taken. For information call (513) 684-4515. Drop-in Tour: Francisco Goya: Los Caprichos Saturdays, December 4, 11, and 18, 1:30 p.m. A Taft docent will lead a tour through the this special exhibition Wednesdays, 12:45 and 1:15 p.m. Taft in 10 Come for lunch—stay for a quick (sound) bite in the galleries. Enjoy an informal ten-minute conversation every Wednesday as we serve up some of the Museum’s many masterpieces as well as some lesser-known nibbles. Free with Museum admission or lunch in the café. Please visit http://www.taftmuseum.org/pages/taftinten.php for topics! December 1 – Edward Satchwell Fraser Jr, and Jane Fraser Tytler by Henry Raeburn December 8 – Chinese Rouleau Vase with Chang’e, the Moon Goddess December 15 – Portrait of Nicholas Longworth by Robert S. Duncanson December 22 – Virgin and Child by Workshop of Benedetto Buglioni December 29 – Wooded Landscape by Thomas Gainsborough FREE with Museum admission or café/shop purchase, no reservations taken. For information call (513) 684-4515. Sponsor: Mike and Digi Schueler Friday, December 3 and Thursday, Dec. 16, 1:30 p.m. Gallery Talk: Antique Christmas with Kathy & Greg Gregory Join Stewart and Kathy Gregory for a look at the vintage ornaments and decorations of Antique Christmas. The speakers are avid collectors of antique Christmas decorations, members of the Golden Glow of Christmas Past, and lenders to this exhibition. Free with Museum admission. Reservations required, call (513) 684-4515 or www.taftmuseum.org. Sunday, December 5, 2:30 p.m. May Festival Youth Chorus Enjoy seasonal music, choral selections, and solo repertoire presented by the May Festival Youth Chorus under the direction of James Bagwell. Now in its 23rd season, this ensemble gives talented high school students from throughout Greater Cincinnati the opportunity to perform challenging choral music. Because of the popularity of this concert, tickets are required for admittance. Free tickets will be distributed on the day of the concert beginning at 11 a.m., limit two per person. For more information call (513) 684-4515 or visit www.taftmuseum.org. Thursday, December 9, 12 p.m. Vintage Christmas Show & Tell Enjoy a box lunch and a talk on collectible Christmas ornaments and decorations by Antique Christmas collectors Stewart “Greg” Gregory and Jim Thomas, who will bring examples, dating from the 1880s through the 1930s, from their collections to show and discuss. After lunch, participants may show objects from their own collections (limit three per person). The speakers will offer their thoughts on the items, and participants may share their knowledge or the stories associated with them as well. Interested participants may stay afterward to tour Antique Christmas with the presenters. Cost is $20 members, $25 public (includes Museum admission). Advance paid registration required by Dec. 7. Call (513) 684-4515 or visit www.taftmuseum.org Friday, December 10, 1:30 p.m. Gallery Talk: “Wives and Witches: Women in Los Caprichos” Curatorial Assistant/Exhibitions Coordinator Tamera Muente looks at two different aspects of Goya’s art. FREE with Museum admission, reservations required, call (513) 684-4515 or www.taftmuseum.org Artswave Partner: Duke Energy Corp. Sunday, Dec. 12, 1 p.m. ArtReach: The Fantastic Toy Shoppe Experience the hustle and bustle of the holiday season as the owners of a small toy shop struggle to make ends meet and pay their rent. When a mysterious but poor gentleman arrives in search of a special toy, the kindness of the toymaker sparks a series of magical events. Songs and fantasy celebrate the holiday spirit and the joy of giving. Performances are FREE for members, $4 for non-members, with admission charged to visit galleries. Reservations are required. Call (513) 684-4524 or order online at http://www.taftmuseum.org/pages/art_reach.php. Sunday, December 19, 1–4 p.m. Third Sunday Funday: Ghost of Christmas Past Explore vintage ornaments, hear stories of Christmas long ago, and create something for Christmas present! Bring the whole family to the Taft Museum of Art on the third Sunday of each month this summer to explore, create, and play! Activities including self-guided tours, art-making, storytelling, and games are ongoing, so stop in when you have time and stay as long as you like. For information call (513) 684-4516. Sponsor: Charles H. Dater Foundation
The Taft Museum of Art is at 316 Pike St., in downtown Cincinnati. The Museum is open Wednesday through Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $8 for adults, $6 for students and seniors and free for children under 18. The museum is free to all on Sundays. Call 513-241-0343 or visit the website at www.taftmuseum.org for additional information. ###### The Taft Museum of Art is supported in part by the generosity of individuals and businesses that give annually to the Fine Arts Fund. The Ohio Arts Council helps fund the Museum with state tax dollars to encourage economic growth, educational excellence, and cultural enrichment for all Ohioans. The Taft Museum of Art is accredited by the American Association of Museums and is affiliated with the Association of Midwest Museums and the Ohio Museums Association. Mission Statement The Taft Museum of Art welcomes people of every background to experience a world-renowned collection in a beautiful historic house. Through its intimate presentation of the Tafts' treasures and its engaging exhibitions, programs, and activities, the Museum creates enjoyment and learning opportunities for all. Diversity Statement The Taft Museum of Art respects the dignity of all people and values what each member of our team brings to the organization. Accordingly, the Museum is committed to building an inclusive environment that welcomes and values diversity. This includes our staff, board of directors, volunteers and visitors. As an organization we recognize the importance of attracting and retaining talented people of different backgrounds. We understand how a diverse work team of staff, board of directors and volunteers benefits our organization by enabling us to draw upon a richness of resources. We want all our team members to feel appreciated for their uniqueness, so we work to foster an environment that provides everyone equal access to information and opportunities. This ensures that each person learns, grows, excels and maximizes his or her personal contributions. The Museum will thus be able to tap into a greater wealth of knowledge, perspectives, and experiences to develop and deliver programs and services to an increasingly diverse audience.