Chrysler Museum of Art to Receive $40,000 Grant from the National Endowment for the Arts

The grant will support Thomas Jefferson, Architect: Palladian Models, Democratic Principles and the Conflict of Ideals, a Chrysler-curated exhibition opening Oct. 19. It will be the first major exploration of Jefferson’s design practice since the 1970s and the first to confront the conflict between his desire to convey contemporary ideals of liberty and justice and the reality that his monuments were founded on the economic and social institution of slavery. It will also tell the story of how Jefferson was influenced by the architectural ideals and values of Andrea Palladio and explore the broad range of ideas and influences that informed his practice. These include his upbringing in Virginia and deep involvement with architectural treatises and their authors, beginning with Palladio, as well as his engagement with contemporary French theories of architecture and urbanism. The Chrysler Museum is partnering with Museo Palladio of Vicenza, Italy to present the exhibition.

“Jefferson’s architectural influence is evident across our region. The Chrysler Museum of Art is delighted to receive this competitive grant that will allow us to present an exhibition that incorporates a wealth of new scholarship about his design practice. We are fortunate to have the support of the NEA in this endeavor,” said Museum Director Erik Neil.

Thomas Jefferson, Architect will feature new architectural models of Jefferson and Palladio’s buildings as well as prints, paintings, books, drawings, design objects, photography and digital elements that reflect Jefferson’s design preferences, Palladio’s influence and the workmanship of enslaved craftsmen. A catalog that includes new scholarship will accompany the exhibition.

The National Endowment for the Arts has approved more than $27 million in grants as part of the Arts Endowment’s first major funding announcement for fiscal year 2019. “The arts enhance our communities and our lives, and we look forward to seeing these projects take place throughout the country, giving Americans opportunities to learn, to create, to heal and to celebrate,” said Mary Anne Carter, acting chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts.

The Art Works category supports projects that focus on the creation of art that meets the highest standards of excellence. The category also funds projects that promote public engagement with diverse and excellent art, encourage lifelong learning in the arts and strengthen the community through the arts. For more information, visit arts.gov/news.

ABOUT THE CHRYSLER MUSEUM OF ART

 The Chrysler Museum of Art is one of America’s most distinguished mid-sized art museums, with a nationally recognized collection of more than 30,000 objects, including one of the great glass collections in America. The core of the Chrysler’s collection comes from Walter P. Chrysler, Jr., an avid art collector who donated thousands of objects from his private collection to the Museum. The Museum has growing collections in many areas and mounts an ambitious schedule of visiting exhibitions and educational programs each season. The Chrysler has also been recognized nationally for its unique commitment to hospitality with its innovative gallery host program.

The Perry Glass Studio is a state-of-art facility on the Museum’s campus. The studio offers programming for aspiring and master artists alike in a variety of processes including glassblowing, fusing, flameworking, coldworking and neon. The studio has also cultivated a reputation for its cutting-edge performance evenings, and was the host venue of the 2017 Glass Arts Society Conference.

In addition, the Chrysler Museum of Art administers two historic houses in downtown Norfolk: the Moses Myers House and the Willoughby-Baylor House, as well as the Jean Outland Chrysler Library on the campus of Old Dominion University. General admission is free at all venues. For more information on the Chrysler Museum of Art, visit chrysler.org.

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