Contact: Tricia Suit Marketing and Communications Manager (513) 684-4526, tsuit@taftmuseum.org
Taft Museum of Art Calendar of Events – August 2012 Special Exhibitions Through September 16 Old Masters to Impressionists: Three Centuries of French Painting from the Wadsworth Atheneum The work of Claude Monet and other Impressionists surprised and captivated viewers in the late 19th century, but they were not the first generation of French artists to present radical new ways of seeing and making art. For three centuries, artists in France operated at the vanguard of European art. Old Masters to Impressionists: Three Centuries of French Painting from the Wadsworth Atheneum offers 45 masterpieces from the oldest public art museum in America. Among the paintings are icons of French art created from about 1600 to just after 1900. This exhibition includes paintings by Chardin, Boucher, Géricault, Delacroix, Courbet, Manet, Degas, Pissarro, Renoir, and Van Gogh. Old Masters to Impressionists also includes French artists featured in the Taft permanent collection—Ingres, Corot, and Rousseau. This exhibition was organized by the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art, Hartford, Connecticut. Sponsors Alpaugh Family The H.B., E.W., and F.R. Luther Charitable Foundation, Fifth Third Bank and Narley L. Haley, Co-Trustees An anonymous gift in celebration of the memory of Katharine T. and Fletcher E. Nyce A Friend of the Taft Museum of Art Docents of the Taft Museum of Art Exhibition Support Generously Provided By Ellen and George Rieveschl Endowment ArtsWave Partner: P&G Operating Support: ArtsWave; OAC logo 80th-Anniversary Season Sponsors: 5/3 Private Bank and 5/3 Foundation August 10, 2012—January 6, 2013 Pages of History: 80 Years of the Taft The Taft Museum of Art opened to the public on November 29, 1932, as a gift to Cincinnatians from founders Charles and Anna Taft. Celebrate the Taft’s 80th anniversary with this display of archival documents, letters, news clippings, and historical photographs focusing on important events in the history of the Taft and the historic home’s other former residents.e country. Sponsors Exhibition Support Generously Provided By Ellen and George Rieveschl Endowment ArtsWave Partner: GE Aviation Operating Support: ArtsWave; OAC logo 80th-Anniversary Season Sponsors: 5/3 Private Bank and 5/3 Foundation 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. Special Exhibition Tours: Old Masters to Impressionists: Three Centuries of French Painting from the Wadsworth Atheneum Saturdays, 1:30 p.m. A Taft docent will lead a tour through the Impressions and Improvisations exhibition. FREE with Museum admission. No reservations are taken. For information call (513) 684-4515. Taft in 10 Wednesdays, 1:15 p.m. 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. August 1 Oriental Children by Narcisse-Virgile Diaz de la Peña August 8 Commodes, Pierre Roussel August 15 Maternity: A Young Mother Cradling Her Baby by Jean-François Millet August 22 French Coastal Scene by Constant Troyon August 29 The Three Friends by Jean-Louis-Ernest Meissonier Thursday, August 2, 5–8 p.m. Dinner in Provence Enjoy an evening of dinner, wine, and art at the Taft Museum of Art inspired by the beauty and flavors of Provence! Stroll through the exhibition Old Masters to Impressionists: Three Centuries of French Painting from the Wadsworth Atheneum. Then visit the garden to savor dishes from the South of France prepared by Executive Chef Luke Radkey, enjoy music from Sylvain Archer and the Sylhouettes, and great conversation with friends new and old. Seating is limited. $40 Members. $55 Public. Cash bar Advance paid reservations required by July 26. Call (513) 352-5134 or at www.taftmuseum.org Sunday, August 12, 2:30 p.m. Taft Sessions: The Newbees with concert:nova What happens when you add lush strings to gorgeous indie pop melodies? Find out as concert:nova teams with The Newbees for a one-of-a-kind musical experience. As a band, The Newbees share a love of harmony, upbeat melodies, and  retro influences. In addition to their original songs, the band also has performed in a number of Beatles-themed productions. An exploratory chamber ensemble, concert:nova performs traditional and contemporary classical music. FREE. No reservations taken Information: (513) 684-4526 or www.taftmuseum.org Friday, August 17, 1:30 p.m. Gallery Talk:Old Masters to Impressionists: Three Centuries of French Painting from the Wadsworth Atheneum Curator of Education Nancy Huth shares her insights about the exhibition. Free with Museum admission. Reservations required. ArtsWave Partner: Duke Energy Corp. Sunday, August 19, 1–4 p.m. Third Sunday Funday: French [Small] Fries Bring the whole family to the Taft Museum of Art to experience a free afternoon of great art, kid-sized art info, hands-on fun, and family-friendly performances. Most activities are ongoing throughout the afternoon, so stop by when you have time and stay as long as you can. Refreshments will be served. Wild animals in the Museum?! Take a self-guided tour to find animals in art, experience the textures of different animals at the Art Cart, make a funny animal puppet, and get your face painted like an animal. At 2 p.m. experience “Wildlife Comes to You” with some real live animals from the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden. Sponsors: The Carol Ann and Ralph V. Haile, Jr./U.S. Bank Foundation, Charles H. Dater Foundation, NLT Foundation ArtsWave Partner: Enquirer Media FREE | No reservations taken | Information: (513) 684-4515 Thursday, August 23, 7 p.m. Charles and Anna Taft: A Legacy of Leadership Anna and Charles Taft led by example and through action, influencing the character of Cincinnati. Their impact is evident not only when we visit the Taft Museum of Art but also when we stroll through Lytle Park, enjoy the Cincinnati Opera, or participate in political life. Daniel Hurley, director of Leadership Cincinnati, will take a look at the large and small ways that the Tafts helped to shape the community they loved. Well-known for his publications and lectures on Cincinnati history, Hurley is executive producer and host of Local 12 Newsmakers. The exhibition Pages of History: 80 Years of the Taft will be open 5-7 p.m. Free Members and Students. Register here $10 Public (includes exhibition admission). Register here Information: (513) 684-4515 Sponsor: Marge & Charles J. Schott Foundation Sunday, August 26, 2-4 p.m. Hot Music-Cold Treats Continuing the tradition of an old-fashioned neighborhood band concert and ice-cream social, the Taft Museum of Art invites you to enjoy a free, late-summer treat under the shade of the tent in the garden. Firelytes Steel Drum Band is a fun, fiery, and entertaining ensemble of pan players and percussionists who engage the audience in an energetic groove explosion of cross-cultural music. Are you ready to limbo? FREE . No reservations taken. Information: (513) 684-4515.
The Taft Museum of Art is at 316 Pike St., in downtown Cincinnati. The Museum is open Wednesday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $10 for adults, $8 for seniors, students, and teachers, $4 for youth 12-18, and free for children under 11. 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.