43
‘Masterworks from the Butler Institute of American Art’
‘A source of pride’
By GUY D’ASTOLFO
YOUNGSTOWN
It’s practically a work of art in itself.
“Masterworks from the Butler Institute of American Art” is a beautifully produced new book that shines a spotlight on 100 of the museum’s finest paintings.
It’s being printed and bound this week, and will be available June 27. Three years in the making, it will be the first Butler “Masterworks” book since the original, which was printed in 1992.
“Masterworks” includes a preface written by Lou Zona, director of the Butler. It devotes two facing pages to each work of art, with the painting reproduced in color on the left-hand side, and an informative essay on the artist and his piece on the right-hand side. It is arranged alphabetically by author.
Included are dozens of major works that have been acquired since 1992, including Norman Rockwell’s “Lincoln the Railsplitter” and Jackson Pollock’s “Silver and Black.”
“Masterworks” was a labor of love for the team that put it together, said David Hayes, designer of the book. “It will become a source of pride for the city,” said an obviously pleased Hayes. The Oneonta, N.Y., resident has designed many such books for museums, but said rarely has he seen the process go so smoothly.
“Masterworks” is a rarity in another regard: It was produced and printed entirely in the region.
Martha Menk of New Springfield was the editor. She also was involved in producing the first volume.
“She’s the best editor I’ve ever worked with,” said Hayes.
Each painting in the book had to be photographed, which was no small task. Joe Rudinec of Rudinec & Associates, North Lima, handled the job, spending about an hour on each piece.
City Printing of Youngstown used its new state-of-the-art color press to print the book. Joe Valentini, president of the company, said his company keeps up with the latest technology. He said “Masterworks” is “the single biggest job we did all year.”
The fact that the book is being printed in the United States at all is highly unusual. Almost every major museum prints its books in Asia because of the lower cost, noted Hayes.
“Masterworks” is being bound this week at PlastiKoil, a company in Cranberry Township, Pa., just north of Pittsburgh.
Kathy Earnhart, spokeswoman for the Butler, thanked all of the involved parties for graciously working with the museum on production costs.
The initial press run of “Masterworks” calls for 2,500 copies. The book will be sold in the Butler’s gift shop for $39.95. “Most such books cost three times as much,” said Hayes. The price was kept low to make it accessible to the public, said Earnhart.
Copies will also be sent to other museums, and given away as gifts to deserving guests and individuals, said Earnhart.
Funding came from an auction the Butler had a couple of years ago, as well as from grants and gifts from private donors.
“It’s a huge project that will make the Butler look good to the entire region,” said Hayes. “It’s an exceptional collection and deserves to be in the homes of people all over the country.”
“Masterworks” is a scholarly work, with essays written by noted art experts. It is carefully footnoted and will certainly become a reference source for the art community, according to Earnhart.
Menk, the editor, spent hundreds of hours on the book. But she said it was not difficult deciding which pieces from the Butler’s massive collection to include.
“Did You Speak To Me?” a painting by William Merritt Chase (1849-1916) of one of his daughters, graces the cover. In the painting, the young girl is perched on a seat in an art studio and turns to quizzically face a person who has just entered the room. Lou Zona, director of the Butler, selected the painting because of its appeal.
Two of the Butler’s most iconic works, Winslow Homer’s “Snap the Whip” and Edward Hopper’s “Pennsylvania Coal Town,” are on the back cover.