Fresno Art Museum

A Message From The Director

Our organization places increased community dialogue and participation high on our list of goals for 2009 and we were very excited to learn that the Fresno Regional Foundation awarded us the top Arts and Cultural Advancement competitive grant in 2009 for our project “Interpreting the Arts: A Multi-Language Museum Audio Tour Program.” This funding will allow us to install and manage interpretive audio tours of our exhibitions that can be tailored to any group, and translated into any language. Visitors can access the tours through their own cell phones or through Museum-owned mp3 players available at no charge to visitors without cell phone access. We will offer numerous tours of each of our exhibitions in English, Spanish and Hmong, and plan to have our first tour - prepared for our pre-Columbian permanent exhibit – up and running by summer’s end. This project has the potential to improve exhibition accessibility by reducing or removing language and educational barriers to participation. I believe this project makes our Museum a much more inviting place for all in the community to enjoy.

 

Maynard Dixon was born in Fresno, and in May we open an exhibition of his work and offer complementary educational programming that deepens our understanding of this great artist. Please be sure to see the exhibition, Space Silence Spirit: Maynard Dixon’s West, The A.P. Hays Collection, or attend the conversation with Daniel Dixon, Maynard’s son or watch the documentary film, Maynard Dixon: Art and Spirit, screened in our Bonner Auditorium and directed by Jayne McKay, who will entertain questions after the screening. There is so much to learn about one of the West’s most important artists.

 

June is a busy month at FAM. Our popular Men Who Cook event will take place on the 5th and we’re looking forward to an enjoyable evening of special culinary delights, great music and art. And this year we’ve added something special. Our new support group, FAME (Fresno Art Museum Enthusiast), will be selling FAM t-shirts at the event.

 

On June 22nd, our Summer Artcamps begin with Animation Camp 2, which builds upon the animation classes offered in the spring. Fun with Printmaking begins July 6 and lastly, Face to Face: Experimental Portraiture begins July 20. These camps are sure to inspire the starting young artist and are a nice diversion during the long school break.

 

We close June on a more serious note with our annual meeting on June 25th. All members are invited to attend this meeting which will recap the past year and describe the year ahead at FAM.

 

Having come from the coast to Fresno last October, I am told I am about to have an entirely new summer experience here in the Valley. Could they be talking about delightfully warm summer evenings? I’m sure I’ll see many of our members at one of our openings, programs or events in the next few months but in case I don’t have the chance to say it in person, have a wonderful summer.

 

 

Michael J. Mazur

Executive Director

Director's Spotlight

Listen to  Executive Director Michael Mazur on 90.7 KFSR's San Joaquin Spotlight, talking to Sevag Tateosian about the Fresno Art Museum's upcoming events at the museum and more.
Release Date: 12/06/08. 

 

Download this program (MP3 file)...