Michener Art Museum extends Parting Gifts. Artists Honor Bruce Katsiff, Director/CEO, 1989 – 2012, an exhibition extended to January 31, 2013.
After more than two decades as Director/CEO of the James A. Michener Art Museum, Bruce Katsiff retires from the position this summer to resume his creative life as an artist/photographer. His service to the arts community of Bucks County, to Philadelphia’s cultural community, and to the museum profession totals over 40 years, beginning with his 17-year tenure as Chair of the Art and Music Department at Bucks County Community College. Parting Gifts will grace the Commonwealth Gallery as a combined farewell and thank-you to Mr. Katsiff, who was instrumental both to the creation and expansion of the Hicks Art Center and the phenomenal growth and widely-respected professionalism at the Michener. He led the museum through five building expansions, accreditation by the American Association of Museums, and an ambitious program of research, publication, and educational activities, as well as collections-building that included acquisition of the finest public collection of Pennsylvania Impressionist paintings, many of which were donated by the renowned philanthropists Gerry and Marguerite Lenfest. The works that are sampled in Parting Gifts represent some of the best contemporary artists in the region, and are drawn from 46 works donated by 36 artists in all. These works will remain in the Michener’s permanent collection in perpetuity, a lasting tribute to Mr. Katsiff’s passionate dedication to the arts. – www.michenermuseum.org
