Contact: Marketing and Communications Manager (513) 684-4526, pr@taftmuseum.org
ANTIQUE CHRISTMAS AT THE TAFT MUSEUM OF ART Kindle the holiday spirit with a display of antique decor and fun festivities for all ages Guests to the Taft Museum of Art can welcome the holiday season with all new displays of antique ornaments, toys, and cards during Antique Christmas. On display November 2, 2012 through January 13, 2013, Antique Christmas revives the Christmas of generations past, offering a chance to shares the holiday’s beautiful decorations and festive traditions with loved ones. In addition to items created during the more than one hundred years that the Taft historic house was inhabited (1820–1931), this year’s exhibition features an antique feather tree adorned with patriotic ornaments and toys to commemorate this election year, an Art Deco Christmas display, a feather tree with 1930s wooden ornaments, a fully-furnished 1940s dollhouse, and a nostalgic Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer display of post–World War II Christmas memorabilia. From games and garlands to Victorian Christmas paper and blown-glass ornaments, this exhibition of holiday delights from regional private collections will enliven the Christmas spirit. Antique Christmas is generously sponsored by Frontgate with exhibition support provided by Ellen and George Rieveschl Endowment. Special thanks to Building Management Partners, a Hemmer-Messer Company, and ArtsWave Partner Macy’s.   Holiday Programs and Events As part of the Museum’s holiday festivities, the Taft Museum of Art will also offer additional hours of admission. The Museum will be open Tuesdays in both November and December, offering more opportunities to enjoy all there is to do at the Museum during the holidays. Together with Antique Christmas, the following programs and events will be held. Antique Christmas Celebration Friday, November 9, 6–8 p.m. Get into the holiday spirit with this party at the Taft! Enjoy cookies and treats while listening to your favorite carols and seasonal tunes from the Steve Schmidt Trio. Make an ornament to take home, and meet a special guest from the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden. FREE. No reservations taken. For information, call: (513) 684-4526 Holiday Season Kick-Off Friday, November 23, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, November 24, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Instead of fighting the crowds at the mall, kick off the Christmas season at the Taft Museum of Art with free admission during Thanksgiving weekend. The house will be decorated inside and out with lights, garlands, and displays of antique ornaments on old-fashioned feather trees. As a break from leftover turkey, enjoy lunch in the Lindner Family Café. Do your holiday shopping in the Museum Shop, where you will find gifts for all ages—including the one-size-fits-all Taft membership. The kids will enjoy an I-Spy exploration of Antique Christmas. Sunday, November 25, 11 a.m.–5 p.m. 11:30–1:30 p.m.—Bring your camera for photographs with Santa. 1–3 p.m.—Make an old-fashioned ornament. 3–4 p.m.—Enjoy Christmas melodies with carolers in the galleries. FREE. No reservations taken. For Café reservations, call: (513) 352-5140 Gallery Talk: Antique Christmas Wednesday, December 5, 1:30 p.m. Take a look at Antique Christmas with Kathy and Stewart “Greg” Gregory, lenders to the exhibition. FREE with Museum admission. Reservations required; call (513) 684-4515 or visit www.taftmuseum.org. ArtsWave Partner: Duke Energy Corporation Celebrating Christmas during the Great Depression Friday, December 7, 1–3 p.m. Presented by: George W. Johnson, author and collector Find out how people celebrated Christmas during the hard years of the 1930s through examples of ornaments, cards, and other decorations. George W. Johnson is author of Pictorial Guide to Christmas Ornaments and Collectibles. Following the talk, Johnson and lenders to the exhibition Antique Christmas at the Taft Museum of Art will help audience members identify, date, and appraise antique or vintage Christmas items from their own collections. Interested participants may stay after the program for a tour of Antique Christmas. FREE, Members and Students; $12, Public (includes Museum admission). For reservations, call (513) 684-4515 or visit www.taftmuseum.org. May Festival Youth Chorus Sunday, December 9, 2:30 p.m. Enjoy seasonal music, choral selections, and solo repertoire from the May Festival Youth Chorus under the direction of James Bagwell. Now in its 25th season, this ensemble gives talented high school students from throughout Greater Cincinnati an opportunity to perform challenging choral music. FREE. Tickets required. No reservations taken. Because of the popularity of this concert, admission tickets will be distributed on the day of the concert beginning at 11:30 a.m., limit four per person. For more information, call: (513) 684-4515 or visit www.taftmuseum.org. Sponsor: The Wohlgemuth Herschede Foundation Gallery Talk: Antique Christmas Friday, December 14, 1:30 p.m. Take a look at Antique Christmas with Kathy and Stewart “Greg” Gregory, lenders to the exhibition. FREE with Museum admission. Reservations required; call (513) 684-4515 or visit www.taftmuseum.org. ArtsWave Partner: Duke Energy Corporation
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.; Saturday and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $10 for adults, $8 for seniors, students, and teachers, $4 for youth 12-17 and free for children under 118. 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 ArtsWave. 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.