Northshore Magazine

April 2014

Northshore magazine showcases the best that the North Shore of Boston, MA has to offer.

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people to feel at ease…and able to use our facilities." Students as well as the general public are welcome to sit in on classes. "As far as we are concerned," says Faxon, "edu- cation is not something separate." As is the case for so many arts organi- zations, the Addison's primary challenge is effectively reaching the community. Its location gives the impression that it is a private facility. "We work hard to break down any perceived or [actual] barriers that would keep people from coming," says Faxon. Toward that end, much time is spent on spreading the message: The museum is free and open to the public. "This school is extraordinarily di- verse. The Andover community is less diverse. Our challenge is that we are located in a suburban community." For Faxon, the worst thing is to do all the work only to find no one comes. In an ef- fort to head off that scenario, and mind- ful of its adjacency to Lawrence, the staff have developed cooperative programs that bring students and community members into the museum. "We really feel the commitment," says Faxon. "We really feel our responsibility." Seemingly a small private museum, the Addison is brimming with public art and high ambition. "I hope visitors will feel ownership. I want them to love the objects and be excited when they come back because there are always new things to see." andover.edu is curated with the others in mind. The permanent collection features promi- nently, changes constantly, and is always presented in relationship to visiting works. A recent example of this curatorial achievement saw the interfacing of Whis- tler and the Thames—a traveling exhibit— with Industrial Strength, Natural Selections, and Artful Poses—all of which comprised works owned by the museum. "I have a responsibility to the art," says Faxon. "My job is to install a show that is coherent, interesting, and engaging—that leads somebody through a process." It is her hope that people see the juxtaposition of works and understand the story being told. "Every exhibition is a challenge—to make it beautiful, make it clear, make it readable." On the horizon for spring are two new shows, one of which is a collection bor- rowed from an alumnus who has assem- bled pieces created in the 1980s in an area of New York City called Loisaida; it will showcase the works of countercultural artists who were working at the time graffiti was hitting the scene. The second installation will feature current works by Chris (Daze) Ellis—one of the artists who was active during that time. He will serve as the school's artist in residence for a month, working with students from Lawrence and Phillips Academy creating murals—a new program designed to actively engage students with visiting artists. Also relatively new to the campus is the Sidney R. Knafel Museum Learning Center (MLC), an addition built and designed by Centerbrook Architects. The large multipurpose room allows educa- tors to bring permanent work out from storage and into view. "When you build it, they will come," says Faxon in refer- ence to the well-used space. Designed to accommodate back-to-back classes, there are multiple storage areas used to orga- nize materials and artworks for instruc- tion, in advance of students' arrival. An attractive reading room, a floor-to- ceiling glass wall, a garden view, plentiful seating, and a fluid configuration make for an inviting space. "We didn't want to lose the intimate quality [that characterizes the original building]," says Faxon. "We want April 2014nshoremag.com 43 Phillips Academy Head of School John Palfrey recently announced the successful conclusion of the Addison Gallery of American Art's fundraising campaign—a $30 million effort that included $22 million for the expansion and renovation of the museum building, and $8 million to strengthen the Addison's endowment. Former director Brian Allen, who oversaw all creative and operational aspects of the Addison for nearly 10 years, recently became Director of the Museum and Vice President of the New- York Historical Society. "Brian Allen's leadership as director throughout the campaign was critical to the success of this enterprise," says Palfrey. The largest and most comprehensive fundraising campaign in the museum's history—it has secured the Addison's position as a nationally renowned museum of American art and the only museum of its caliber on a secondary school campus. Side Note Individuals are welcome to make an appointment to see an organized body of work, which can be put together by the staff before a visitor's arrival; a staff member can also be made available to discuss the work. Natural Selections A recent exhibit explored artists' relationships to nature. KJ Apr14 Addison.indd 43 2/20/14 5:42 PM

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