Norma Minkowitz
Hide Me, 1995
Cotton, shellac, resin, and tree branch
32 x 19 1/2 x 22 inches
Racine Art Museum, Gift of Lloyd Cotsen
Photography: Michael Tropea, Chicago
Basketworks: The Cotsen Contemporary American Basket Collection
September 28, 2008 – January 4, 2009
at Racine Art Museum
This exhibition debuts nearly 70 works from a 151-piece gift donated by internationally known fiber collector Lloyd Cotsen. The scope of this exhibition encompasses baskets that vary widely in size and appearance and that incorporates a variety of techniques and media. Many baskets represents traditional techniques like coiling and interweaving combined with traditional techniques like coiling and interweaving combined with traditional materials such as reed, tree bark, and pine needles. Several other baskets in exhibition reflect more inventive approaches. These baskets illustrate a host of non-traditional materials, such as woven copper, found wine bottle corks, hog gut, pistachio shells, and plastics that are assembled in innovative ways.
Mr. Cotsen’s collection is of particular note because the vast majority of the artists it represents are American women. This is a direct reflect of Mr. Cotsen’s belief that American women artists are leaders in advancing fiber as an art medium. He believes these artists are engaged in groundbreaking work that expands how the public perceives the basketry medium as a forum for serious work. Baskets—historically viewed only as functional objects used for storage—can now be explored as three-dimensional sculptural forms.
More About the Exhibition
Artists in the Exhibition
Dona Anderson, Dorothy Gill Barnes, Dail Behennah, Joanne Segal Brandford, Chunghi Choo, Jill Nordfors Clark, Rob Dobson, Lillian Elliott, John Garrett, Maggie Henton, Marion Hildebrandt, Flo Hoppe, Mary Giles, Christine Joy, Gyongy Laky, Naomi Kobayahi, Shereen LaPlantz, Kari Lonning, Mika McCann, John McQueen, Mary Merkel-Hess, Doris Messick, Norma Minkowitz, Judy Mulford, Debora Muhl, Dennis Nahabetian, Leon Niehues, Linda Kelly Osborne, Fran Reed, Jill Romanoke, Ed Rossbach, JoAnne Russo, Betz Salmont, Hisako Sekijima, Karyl Sisson, Billie Ruth Sudduth, Polly Adams Sutton, Ema Tanigaki, Deborah Valoma, Don Weeke, and Jiro Yonezawa
Basketworks: The Cotsen Contemporary American Basket Collection
September 28, 2008 – January 4, 2009
at Racine Art Museum
Norma Minkowitz
Hide Me, 1995
Cotton, shellac, resin, and tree branch
32 x 19 1/2 x 22 inches
Racine Art Museum, Gift of Lloyd Cotsen
Photography: Michael Tropea, Chicago
This exhibition debuts nearly 70 works from a 151-piece gift donated by internationally known fiber collector Lloyd Cotsen. The scope of this exhibition encompasses baskets that vary widely in size and appearance and that incorporates a variety of techniques and media. Many baskets represents traditional techniques like coiling and interweaving combined with traditional techniques like coiling and interweaving combined with traditional materials such as reed, tree bark, and pine needles. Several other baskets in exhibition reflect more inventive approaches. These baskets illustrate a host of non-traditional materials, such as woven copper, found wine bottle corks, hog gut, pistachio shells, and plastics that are assembled in innovative ways.
Mr. Cotsen’s collection is of particular note because the vast majority of the artists it represents are American women. This is a direct reflect of Mr. Cotsen’s belief that American women artists are leaders in advancing fiber as an art medium. He believes these artists are engaged in groundbreaking work that expands how the public perceives the basketry medium as a forum for serious work. Baskets—historically viewed only as functional objects used for storage—can now be explored as three-dimensional sculptural forms.
More About the Exhibition
Artists in the Exhibition
Dona Anderson, Dorothy Gill Barnes, Dail Behennah, Joanne Segal Brandford, Chunghi Choo, Jill Nordfors Clark, Rob Dobson, Lillian Elliott, John Garrett, Maggie Henton, Marion Hildebrandt, Flo Hoppe, Mary Giles, Christine Joy, Gyongy Laky, Naomi Kobayahi, Shereen LaPlantz, Kari Lonning, Mika McCann, John McQueen, Mary Merkel-Hess, Doris Messick, Norma Minkowitz, Judy Mulford, Debora Muhl, Dennis Nahabetian, Leon Niehues, Linda Kelly Osborne, Fran Reed, Jill Romanoke, Ed Rossbach, JoAnne Russo, Betz Salmont, Hisako Sekijima, Karyl Sisson, Billie Ruth Sudduth, Polly Adams Sutton, Ema Tanigaki, Deborah Valoma, Don Weeke, and Jiro Yonezawa
Sample of Work in the Exhibition
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Exhibitions at RAM are made possible by:
Platinum Sponsors
The Estate of Karen Johnson Boyd
David Charak
Judith and David Flegel Fund
Institute of Museum and Library Services
Ron and Judith Isaacs
Nicholas and Nancy Kurten
Windgate Foundation
Diamond Sponsors
City of Racine’s Grow Racine Grant
Osborne and Scekic Family Foundation
Ruffo Family Foundation
Ruth Arts Foundation
Gold Sponsors
Anonymous
Tom and Irene Creecy
Richard and Patricia Ehlert
Herzfeld Foundation
Reliance Controls
Ruth Foundation for the Arts
Trio Foundation of St. Louis
W.T. Walker Group, Inc.
Wisconsin Arts Board
Silver Sponsors
Anonymous
Art Bridges
Baird
A.C. Buhler Family
Lucy G. Feller
Ben and Dawn Flegel
Jim Harris
Sharon and Tom Harty
Lise Iwon
J. Jeffers & Co.
Johnson Financial Group
Dorothy MacVicar
Jan Serr and John Shannon
Bronze Sponsors
Ellen and Joseph Albrecht
Andis Foundation
Susan Boland
Virginia Buhler
Butcher & Barrel/Amos Los Tacos
Educators Credit Union
Express Employment Professionals
Tony and Andrea Hauser
Bill and Debbie Keland
Susan Manalli
Jean and Alex Mandli, Jr.
The Prairie School
Cathy Stanghellin
Georgiana Treivush
Twin Disc, Inc.
