- Newel exhibition brings thousands through Brauer
The Art of the Newel, Jay W. Christopher’s private collection of visually stunning newel posts, delighted visitors of the Brauer Museum of Art from the exhibition’s debut in late August through its final day of display on Nov. 18.
More than 250 guests, a Brauer record, came to the Aug. 26 opening reception, and thousands more visited in the following months. In all, 4,188 visitors came through the Brauer's doors during the exhibition's run.
Newels were the focal point of entrance halls and helped to hold up staircases in homes and public buildings. The newel posts in this collection dated from the 1880s to the 1920s. The primary mission of the collection is to showcase eras of architecture and design through the artistry displayed in these fine newel posts. The exhibition included more than 80 newels and focused primarily on the very popular American Eastlake and Queen Anne styles.
“The collection is still growing,” Christopher said. “I find myself actively searching the Internet, calling previous sources, and stopping at antique stores during the course of my travels. There is a richness and quality found in these antique pieces that are hard to find at stores today.
“I would like to thank Valparaiso University for welcoming this exhibition to campus. It has been a wonderful experience working with the staff of the Brauer Museum of Art.”
In most cases, the newels were originally part of historic 20th century homes and beautifully restored. Co-curated by Erika Lusthoff, Christopher Collection curator, and Rolf Achilles, adjunct associate professor of art history at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and curator of the Smith Museum of Stained Glass Windows in Chicago, the exhibition and its accompanying brochure were firsts in terms of their in-depth presentation and study of these fixtures from historic homes.
“The Brauer Museum of Art is grateful to Jay W. Christopher, curators Erika Lusthoff and Rolf Achilles, and the Partners for the Brauer Museum of Art for making this exhibition possible,” said Gregg Hertzlieb, museum director/curator.
The exhibition ran in conjunction with the exhibition Damned: Sculpture by Ronald Gonzalez, and the show titled Henry Diltz Rock ’n’ Roll Photography: Woodstock and Friends.
The Brauer Museum of Art will be introducing four new exhibitions starting Friday, Dec. 2, and lasting through March 18, 2012. The exhibitions will include a wide range of media, varying from paintings and prints to video and digital projection. An opening reception for all exhibitions is scheduled for 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 3, at the Brauer Museum of Art.
In the Wehling and McGill Galleries is the exhibition Mindless Mayhem: The Art of Ron Villani, curated by Hertzlieb. In the West Gallery, The Healing Pool: An Installation by Brian Knep, curated by Robert Sirko, Valparaiso University associate professor of art, will be on exhibit. The Ferguson Galleries will display The Art of Jeanette Pasin Sloan, curated by Hertzlieb and Gloria Ruff, assistant curator at the Brauer Museum of Art. The exhibition other state: Claudette Roper Video Installation, curated by Elizabeth Wuerffel, Valparaiso University adjunct assistant professor of art, will be in the Education Room.
