(716) 759-6078 FAX (716) 759-7925 E-mail:zavrel@meaus.com
Dear artist-friends,
the Museum of European Art is making preparationsfor our next significant international exhibition. We expect that theopening will take place in October or Nobember, 1999.
The following is a preliminary concept, which willgive you an idea of what it is all about.
History and purpose.
The Museum was founded in 1994 in Clarence, NewYork. It is located 15 miles east of Buffalo, the second largest cityin New York State, and some 40 miles south of the world-famousNiagara Falls.
The central theme of the Museum's philosophy andart collection is the human being -- a man and a woman. For thousandsof generations, it has been the goal of artists on all continents torecreate the image of man in art, in its most perfect and idealform.
To pay homage to this ideal of the outer and innerbeauty of the human being in the art of today is the main purpose ofthe Museum of European Art.
Collection and Museum.
Being a young cultural institution, we cannotcompare with the great galleries of the world. Still, since 1994 wehave acquired (entirely through donations) a fine art collection oflimited edition sculptures, bronze and marble reliefs, paintings,lithographs, woodcuts and etchings by a number of prominent Europeanartists, many of them still living and working.
The Museum has a presence on the Web: you can lookus up using any good search engine. At this time, our site getsnearly 10,000 hits per months, about 30% from over 40 differentcountries. Last year we were honored with the PAN EUROPEAN AWARD forthe design of our Web page. Do look us up!
We own the building in which the museum islocated, as well as a parcel of land behind the museum, which we planto develop into a Sculpture Garden. The first phase of thedevelopment will start this year, and continue according to thegenerosity of our future patrons and sponsors.
Works of art needed for ourcollection.
We wish to increase our art collection to $3,000,000 value within the next 3 years. This would make us asubstantial art institution in the United States and enable us tocontinue to act as a bridge between the young artist generations ofEurope and America.
We seek approximately 100 artists in Europe andNorth America to make an idealistic and generous contribution oftheir works of art to the Museum, to support its work into the nextcentury.
The qualities needed in these men and women arenot easy to find:
a) a high level of artistic achievement, inquality and quantity
b) financial strength to be able to make adonation of one's works of art
c) a dedication to the ideals that the Museumsupports: the depiction of the human being
d) an inclination for a selfless service toothers.
What shall we do with the donated works ofart?
From the donated works of art we will select thosewhich will be kept for our permanent collection. These works will beincluded in our exhibition EUROPE MEETS AMERICA. An exhibitioncatalog will picture the works included in the exhibition, togetherwith biographical information on the artists and theiraddresses.
We anticipate that after Buffalo, the exhibitionwill be later shown in New York City, Washington, Los Angeles,Pittsburgh, and Chicago.
In addition, an article on each of the artistswill be placed on our Web site, together with illustrations of someof their works.
Which artists are invited?
At this time, we have already received donationsfrom several European and American artists. Countries so farrepresented are Italy, Spain, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, and theUnited States.
We will make a conscious effort to give artists ofall countries a chance to be represented, both men andwomen.
For this reason, initially we will limit thenumber of artists to a maximum of 6 from each country.
How do you get started?
If you are interested to participate in thisproject, please send me the following information:
1) your CV and photo
2) list of exhibitions in which your works wereshown
3) list of your works of art (including dates whenproduced)
4) slides of 12 - 36 of your best works
5) slides or color photographs of the works of artwhich you wish to donate to our collection, including description ofmaterial, size, weight, and approximate value.
Selection process.
An international committee of our Board ofAdvisors will make the selection and final approval. You will benotified within three months after the receipt of yourmaterials.
Between July 15 - 31, 1998 I will be in Europe tomeet with artists interested in taking part in this project. If youwish to meet with me there personally, please contact me for myitinerary which will allow for meetings in Bonn, Prague, Vienna,Berlin, and Hamburg.
Thank you for your time and consideration of ourcultural initiative. We look forward to hear from yousoon.
Sincerely,
Consul B. John Zavrel
Director