A Note From our Director
Dear Friends,

February is Black History Month and the Biggs is once again participating in Dover’s Annual Citywide Black History Celebration, now in its seventh year. The work of Black artists is increasingly represented in our permanent collection – from those widely known such as father and son, Edward Loper, Sr. and Edward, Jr., local favorites such as Winifred Way, or 19th century woodworker Tom Burton, receiving long overdue credit. During Black History Month we are pleased to spotlight the work of Black artists on view at the Biggs and encourage you to visit and experience their talents firsthand, not only in February but every day of the year.

FEATURED ARTIST: MELISSA SUTHERLAND MOSS
We kicked off the month with a free public program, Exploring Identity facilitated by interdisciplinary artist, Melissa Sutherland Moss. Melissa’s work is dedicated to preserving and celebrating the histories of African and Caribbean experiences within contemporary media, as well as exploring themes of fragility and diversity within the black community.  In this workshop, Melissa guided young adults through her working process as they created artwork, exploring the themes of self-identity and reflection. Artworks created during this workshop are on display in the Museum through February.

Melissa’s piece entitled, In Between the Two was purchased for the collection in May 2022. It not only served as an inspiration for Exploring Identity but also is featured in this year’s Adopt-An-Artwork Program.

ADOPT-AN-ARTWORK

Adopt-An-Artwork has quickly become one of the Biggs most popular offerings in support of art education and appreciation serving more than 1400 students. Each year, we select works from our collection to put “up for adoption” by local schools. Teachers partner with Biggs educators, creating lesson plans related to these objects inspiring student creativity.

To increase students’ awareness and comfort within a museum setting, specially-designed in-person and virtual tours exploring the adopted artwork and lesson themes are provided along with art materials to ensure students have the tools they need. Teachers curate an exhibition at the close of the program where the collection inspired works are displayed providing a platform to celebrate student achievement. 

FREE TOURS

Just as Adopt-An-Artwork provides students with a guided art experience, we are offering several public tours this month.  The African American Artists of the Biggs tour occurs on Fridays at 12:30 PM through the end of the month with free admission on those days as well. Our popular Art Deco Glass Tour is offered this Friday the 17^th with a “Last Chance Tour” on Monday, February 20^th, when the exhibition must close. Both tours take place at 11:30 AM.

ARE YOU INTERESTED IN STAINED GLASS?

If you have not had a chance to participate in a glass related education program, there is still time. We’ll be holding a special lecture on Saturday, February 18^th from 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM, called “To Gratify the Eye with Color”, which discusses Newport Leaded Glass Windows, also known as stained glass windows. Guest speaker, Lea Stephenson is a PhD candidate in Art History at the University of Delaware. She received her MA in Art History from Williams College, a BA from Temple University and has worked at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, Preservation Society of Newport County, Dallas Museum of Art, and the Clark Art Institute. Register here.

A GLIMPSE INTO THE LIVES AND TASTES OF GEORGE AND MARTHA WASHINGTON

The Biggs Museum invites the public to celebrate the history of our country and learn more about the Nation’s first President, George Washington, this President’s Day. On Monday, February 20^th, the Museum will be offering free admission and all galleries will be open from 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM  

At 1:00 PM, join a special lecture by Jessie MacLeod, Associate Curator at Mount Vernon entitled Washington's Mount Vernon & Its Objects. Jessie will provide a glimpse into the lives and tastes of George and Martha Washington by exploring their Mount Vernon home and its furnishings.   MacLeod has served on Mount Vernon’s curatorial staff since 2012. She has curated numerous exhibitions, including?Mount Vernon: The Story of an American Icon?and the award-winning?Lives Bound Together: Slavery at George Washington’s Mount Vernon. Jessie holds a B.A. in history from Yale University and an M.A. in public history from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Register here.

THE WORK OF MARY PUTMAN

Lastly, I’d like to be the first to invite you to view featured artwork by beloved Delawarean Artist, Mary Putman. Her work will be on view beginning February 16th in an exhibition entitled, Art is About Us. Mary’s focus on the landscape over the course of her prolific career has allowed her to probe this simple yet powerful statement. Her paintings explore the vast and complicated interconnections between the land and its occupants. She meticulously depicts the world she lives in, representing recognizable buildings, farmland, cars, road signs, bridges, people, animals, trees, and bodies of water from unusual and sometimes surprising perspectives. As a result, her paintings often combine the familiar with the unfamiliar, drawing viewers in to visually examine the landscape of Delaware and its surrounding areas so we can see ourselves anew.
An exhibition catalogue, showcasing her expansive career co-authored by the University of Delaware and the Biggs Museum of American Art, will be available on March 2. Mark your calendars and plan to attend a special book launch event that evening at the Museum.

February may be a short month, but there’s no shortage of things to see or do at the Biggs. Looking forward to talking about what’s in store for March.

Thanks as always for your support.
Michael Dudich
Director