Magnificent Gifts for the 75th

February 13, 2010— April 4, 2010

Decorative Arts Collection

For my whole life I have needed art of all kinds.
–Lennie and Jerry Berkowitz

Lennie and Jerry Berkowitz’s promised gift of 24 works of ceramic art has vaulted the Decorative Arts collection to a new level.

Among the works on view in this exhibition is Akio Takamori’s Kanzan from “The Laughing Monks” series. Further deepening the Museum’s strength in contemporary ceramics are Harrison Jedel’s gift of the Jim Leedy stoneware Charger, Dr. Larry and Gretchen Jacobson’s promised gift of Ken Ferguson’s Triple Udder Pouring Vessel and Carol and Dennis Hudson’s promised gift of Linda Lighton’s white glazed sculpture Echinacea.

Important contributions to the furniture collection include Henry Van de Velde’s Games Table, gift of Roberto Polo; Charles Limbert’s oak Chair, a promised gift from Jim Laramy; and Wendell Castle’s Black Widow chair, a gift of Barry Friedman Ltd. A sparkling addition to the glass collection is Herbert Adler’s promised gift of the Libbey Glass Company Flower Center.

Libbey Glass Company
America (Toledo, Ohio), 1888–present
Mauser Manufacturing Company
America (New York), 1890–1903
Flower Center, ca. 1900
Cut glass and silver
Promised gift of Herbert Adler in honor of the 75th anniversary of The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, 13.2009

Akio Takamori
Japanese (working in Seattle, Washington), born 1950
Kanzan from “The Laughing Monks” series, 2006
Stoneware with underglazes
Promised gift of the Lennie and Jerry Berkowitz Collection in honor of the 75th anniversary of The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, 124.2009.2

Wendell Castle, American (b. 1932)
Black Widow, 2007
Fiberglass with paint
31 x 52 x 37 inches
Gift of Barry Friedman Ltd. in honor of the 75th anniversary of The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, 2008.65.1.
Photo courtesy of Barry Friedman Ltd.
© Barry Friedman Ltd., New York.