Contact: Tricia Suit Marketing and Communications Manager (513) 684-4526, tsuit@taftmuseum.org
TAFT MUSEUM OF ART – CALENDAR OF EVENTS – DECEMBER 2012   SPECIAL EXHIBITIONS Through January 27, 2012 Star Power: Edward Steichen’s Glamour Photography Edward Steichen was already a famous photographer on both sides of the Atlantic in 1923 when he was offered the position of chief photographer for Condé Nast’s influential and highly regarded magazines Vogue and Vanity Fair. For the next 15 years, Steichen took full advantage of the resources of the Condé Nast empire to produce brilliant work.   Through the lens of his camera, Steichen dramatized and glamorized contemporary culture and its heroes—in politics, literature, journalism, dance, theatre, opera, and above all the world of high fashion. Among those who sat for Steichen: Amelia Earhart, Winston Churchill, Walt Disney, Katherine Hepburn, Sinclair Lewis, and Paul Robeson. Sponsors: Chellgren Family Endowment Fund FOTOFOCUS Marge & Charles J. Schott Foundation Digi and Mike Schueler Docents of the Taft Museum of Art Warrington Exhibition Endowment Exhibition Support Generously Provided By: Ellen and George Rieveschl Endowment ArtsWave Partner: P&G Operating Support: ArtsWave; Ohio Arts Council 80th-Anniversary Season Sponsors: 5/3 Private Bank and 5/3 Foundation This Exhibition has been organized by the Foundation for the Exhibition of Photography, Minneapolis, in collaboration with the Taft Museum of Art. Through 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. 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; Ohio Arts Council 80th-Anniversary Season Sponsors: 5/3 Private Bank and 5/3 Foundation Through January 16, 2013 Antique Christmas Usher in the Christmas season by experiencing displays of antique ornaments, toys, and cards. Antique Christmas seeks to revive Christmases of generations past and share with today’s visitors the holiday’s beautiful decorations and festive traditions. In addition to items created during the roughly one hundred years that the historic house was inhabited (1820-1931), this year’s exhibition features an Art Deco Christmas display, an antique feather tree adorned with patriotic ornaments and toys to commemorate this election year, a nostalgic Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer display of post-World War II Christmas memorabilia, a feather tree with 1930s wooden ornaments, and a fully-furnished dollhouse. From games and garlands to Victorian Christmas paper and blown-glass ornaments, the collection of holiday delights will help to enliven your Christmas spirit. Sponsors: Frontgate Exhibition support generously provided by: Ellen and George Rieveschl Endowment ArtsWave Partner: Macy’s Special Thanks: Building Management Partners, A Hemmer-Messer Company   TALKS & TOURS Sundays, 1:30 p.m. Highlights of the Taft 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. Saturdays, December 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, 1:30 p.m. Special Exhibition Tours: Star Power: Edward Steichen’s Glamour Photography Join a Taft docent for a half-hour tour of the exhibition. FREE with Museum admission. No reservations are taken. For information call (513) 684-4515. Wednesdays, 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. No reservations are taken. For information call (513) 684-4515. December 5 Guandi, God of War China December 12 David Sinton Hiram Powers December 19 Jean d’Albon de Saint-André follower of Corneille de Lyon December 26 Oval Plaque Mounted into an Ostensorium with the Virgin and Child Crowned by Angels Pierre II Veyrier Friday, December 7, 1–3 p.m. Celebrating Christ during the Great Depression Speaker: 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). Reservations required. For information call (513) 684-4515 or visit www.taftmuseum.org.   MUSIC Sunday, December 9, 2:30 p.m. May Festival Youth Chorus 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. Because of the popularity of this concert, admission tickets will be distributed at the museum on the day of the concert beginning at 11:30 a.m., limit four per person. FREE. Tickets required. No reservations taken. For information call (513) 684-4515 or visit www.taftmuseum.org.
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.