University Gallery -Abraham Walkowitz

In 1993, Ms. Virginia Zabriskie, noted New York art dealer, selected the University Gallery, University of Delaware to become the major repository of the work and archives of Abraham Walkowitz. Dr. William I. Homer, H. Rodney Sharp professor emeritus of Art History, worked tirelessly on the Gallery's behalf in enabling the transferal of this collection to occur. Consisting of over 1400 pen and ink, graphite, pastel, watercolor drawings, and oil paintings, the collection features several hundred Isadora Duncan studies. Ms. Zabriskie's singular gift has created the basis for this exhibition, which will serve to re-evaluate the importance of Abraham Walkowitz as an early proponent of modernism in the United States.

Putting Mr. Walkowitz and his work into perspective required assistance on many levels. Ms. Zabriskie shared many first-hand accounts of her business and exhibition associations with the artist. Mr. Abram Lerner, former Director of the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, Smithsonian Institution, provided similar recollections. Also, in 1993, The John Sloan Memorial Foundation with support from Helen Farr Sloan, who continues her strong advocacy of the University Gallery, gave a generous collections research grant.

Partial funding for educational outreach and programming was provided by grants from the National Endowment for the Arts, and the Delaware Division of the Arts, which enabled creative partnerships to occur with the dance community.

The Society for the Preservation of American Modernists was instrumental in the creation of the exhibition catalogue through a two-year publication grant. With this gift, Ms. Rebecca Foster, President, and the Board of the Society, allowed the luxury of time needed to pull the disparate parts of the publication together.

Consistent with the Gallery mission of promoting active student involvement and scholarship through its collections, the development of the exhibition occurred through the support and enthusiasm of the following graduates and undergraduates. Contributing essays to the catalogue were Ph.D. candidate, Ellen Menefee, and undergraduates Andrew Davidson and Jennifer Van Horn. Providing research and preparation assistance were former graduates Dee Minnite and Richard Standifer, and undergraduates Danielle Liss and Katrin Nuecklich.

Accomplishing exhaustive cataloguing of the collection were longtime community volunteers MCE Irr and Charlotte D. Reynolds. Over a seven-year period, John Krill, paper conservator, Winterthur Conservation Laboratories, and scores of Fellows in the Art Conservation Department, University of Delaware literally brought these exquisite drawings back to life.

Outreach programming has been provided through a unique inter-community partnership. Sara Taylor Warner, artistic director, and Kathleen Nadolny, president, of the Mid-Atlantic Ballet generously shared their time and considerable talents with this project. Their willingness in partnering with the University Gallery signals a new chapter in "town and gown" interdisciplinary arts collaboration. The expertise of Janaea Rose Lyn, artistic director of the Convergence Dance Centre, Elkton, MD, and third generation Duncan dancer, brings the project full circle.

The Walkowitz drawings are but a portion of the University Gallery collection, which through the support of donors sensitive to the Gallery's mission, is growing in importance as a valuable educational and artistic resource. This exhibition, catalogue, and programming are significant byproducts of this tandem approach to scholarship and aesthetics.

LINKS TO THE CONTRIBUTORS
Ms. Virginia Zabriskie

This program is made possible, in part, by grants from the National Endowment for the Arts, and the Delaware Division of the Arts, a state agency committed to promoting and supporting the arts in Delaware. For additional information on the arts activities in Delaware, visit the Delaware Division of the Arts.



	In 1993, Ms. Virginia Zabriskie, noted New York art dealer, selected the University Gallery, University of Delaware to become the major repository of the work and archives of Abraham Walkowitz. Dr. William I. Homer, H. Rodney Sharp professor emeritus of Art History, worked tirelessly on the Gallery's behalf in enabling the transferal of this collection to occur. Consisting of over 1400 pen and ink, graphite, pastel, watercolor drawings, and oil paintings, the collection features several hundred Isadora Duncan studies. Ms. Zabriskie's singular gift has created the basis for this exhibition, which will serve to re-evaluate the importance of Abraham Walkowitz as an early proponent of modernism in the United States. Putting Mr. Walkowitz and his work into perspective required assistance on many levels. Ms. Zabriskie shared many first-hand accounts of her business and exhibition associations with the artist. Mr. Abram Lerner, former Director of the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, Smithsonian Institution, provided similar recollections. Also, in 1993, The John Sloan Memorial Foundation with support from Helen Farr Sloan, who continues her strong advocacy of the University Gallery, gave a generous collections research grant. Partial funding for educational outreach and programming was provided by grants from the National Endowment for the Arts, and the Delaware Division of the Arts, which enabled creative partnerships to occur with the dance community. The Society for the Preservation of American Modernists was instrumental in the creation of the exhibition catalogue through a two-year publication grant. With this gift, Ms. Rebecca Foster, President, and the Board of the Society, allowed the luxury of time needed to pull the disparate parts of the publication together. Consistent with the Gallery mission of promoting active student involvement and scholarship through its collections, the development of the exhibition occurred through the support and enthusiasm of the following graduates and undergraduates. Contributing essays to the catalogue were Ph.D. candidate, Ellen Menefee, and undergraduates Andrew Davidson and Jennifer Van Horn. Providing research and preparation assistance were former graduates Dee Minnite and Richard Standifer, and undergraduates Danielle Liss and Katrin Nuecklich. Accomplishing exhaustive cataloguing of the collection were longtime community volunteers MCE Irr and Charlotte D. Reynolds. Over a seven-year period, John Krill, paper conservator, Winterthur Conservation Laboratories, and scores of Fellows in the Art Conservation Department, University of Delaware literally brought these exquisite drawings back to life. Outreach programming has been provided through a unique inter-community partnership. Sara Taylor Warner, artistic director, and Kathleen Nadolny, president, of the Mid-Atlantic Ballet generously shared their time and considerable talents with this project. Their willingness in partnering with the University Gallery signals a new chapter in "town and gown" interdisciplinary arts collaboration. The expertise of Janaea Rose Lyn, artistic director of the Convergence Dance Centre, Elkton, MD, and third generation Duncan dancer, brings the project full circle. The Walkowitz drawings are but a portion of the University Gallery collection, which through the support of donors sensitive to the Gallery's mission, is growing in importance as a valuable educational and artistic resource. This exhibition, catalogue, and programming are significant byproducts of this tandem approach to scholarship and aesthetics.
		LINKS TO THE CONTRIBUTORS Ms. Virginia Zabriskie This program is made possible, in part, by grants from the National Endowment for the Arts, and the Delaware Division of the Arts, a state agency committed to promoting and supporting the arts in Delaware. For additional information on the arts activities in Delaware, visit the Delaware Division of the Arts.