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Free exhibition alert!

The Culture: Hip Hop and Contemporary Art in the 21st Century FREE July 25–28! Learn more about the exhibition.

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Behind the Scenes in Conservation: Brightening up a George Bellows Print

by Cecile Mear, Conservator of Works on Paper

7/25/2024

George Bellows, lithograph, paper conservation, CAMConservation, slant washing, John L. Sullivan

One of Bellow’s larger lithographs, Introducing John L. Sullivan, is torn in places along its right side; these tears could worsen with handling if not mended.

Behind the Scenes in Conservation: “Toile” Tales

by C. Obie Linn, Conservator of Textiles

7/18/2024

CAMConservation, Rei Kawakubo, textile conservation

Wanting to do a little more analysis of this piece, I took the jacket back to the museum’s Conservation lab and created a toile, which is like a test version of a pattern used to study and perfect how an original flat pattern works.

Behind the Scenes in Conservation: Removing Tarnish from Two Art Deco Lamps

by Kelly Rectenwald, Conservator of Objects

7/11/2024

Art Deco, CAMConservation, Joseph Urban, 1920s desk lamps, brass, tarnish, objects conservation

This pair of art deco lamps, designed by Joseph Urban, was last on view in 2022 as part of the exhibition Unlocking an Art Deco Bedroom by Joseph Urban.

Behind the Scenes in Conservation: Analyzing Vouet’s Venus

by Serena Urry, Chief Conservator

7/4/2024

CAMConservation, Vouet, pigments, pigment analysis, pigment identification

A few weeks ago, two scientists from the Center for Archaeometry & Art Research Palatinate (CAAP) in Germany spent the morning in one of our European galleries to analyze Toilette of Venus, a painting by French artist Simon Vouet (1590–1649).

Escape the Summer Heat!

by Franck Mercurio, Publications Editor

6/27/2024

frank benson, early evening, American Impressionism, summer, summer vacation, beach towns, north haven, maine, escape the heat

Cincinnati’s summertime temps and high humidity make me long for the beach resorts of the Northeast—towns like Fire Island and Provincetown where generations of urban (and suburban) folk have flocked to escape the heat of summer.

Meet Jason Rawls—Guest Curator of The Culture: Hip Hop and Contemporary Art in the 21st Century

by Jason Rawls, Guest Curator

6/27/2024

The Culture: Hip Hop and Contemporary Art in the 21st Century

Get to know Jason Rawls, EdD Guest Curator and Assistant Professor, The Ohio State University.

Behind the Scenes in Conversation: New seats, never been sat!

by C. Obie Linn, Conservator of Textiles

6/20/2024

textile conservation, CAMConservation, historic upholstery, colonial dames, colonial furniture

It was time for the ladderback chairs in Gallery 218 to get a refresh! The chairs’ silk upholstery wasn’t original and over the years, while on display, the fabric had grown dingy and stained. Curator of Decorative Arts & Design Amy Dehan selected some appropriate, modern fabric in consultation with me, and I recovered the seats!

Take a Tour and Discuss Art!

by Sai Ashish Bommasani, Visitor Services

6/20/2024

public tours, docents

In addition to exhibitions, CAM also offers free public tours of the collection open to everyone from all walks of life.

Piercing Details: Telling a Story of Chance

by Rose Milnes, Curatorial Assistant for South Asian Art, Islamic Art, and Antiquities

6/17/2024

South Asian Art, Islamic Art, antiquities, Gulistan, Sa'di

There’s always that time at the Cincinnati Art Museum when magic happens—when departments like curatorial, conservation, and design and installation come together twice a year to rotate light-sensitive works in our galleries, including works on paper and textiles, to preserve the artwork for future generations.

Behind the Scenes in Conservation: Protecting Plensa’s Isabella

by Kelly Rectenwald, Conservator of Objects

6/13/2024

Jaume Plensa, Isabella, museum grounds

Last week, outdoor sculpture conservators from McKay Lodge Conservation Laboratory (based in Oberlin, Ohio) paid a visit to the museum.

Happy Dr. Hou-mei Sung Day!

by e.m.i., Digital Content Manager

6/6/2024

East Asian Art, Cincinnati

In 2023 the City of Cincinnati proclaimed June 8 to be Dr. Hou-mei Sung Day, in honor of the museum’s curator of East Asian Art.

CAM Dancers? Not Just Degas Ballerinas

by Cole Rodgers, Marketing Project Manager

6/6/2024

Dance, Egyptian Art, Japanese Art, African Art, American Art

See some unexpected ways that dance is woven into the CAM collection.

A Closer look at Jaume Plensa’s Isabella

by Kiara Galloway, Web Content Management Intern

5/31/2024

Jaume Plensa, Isabella, outdoor art, outdoor sculpture, museum grounds

Located outside the museum’s Longworth wing, Isabella by artist Jaume Plensa (Spanish, b. 1955) stands peacefully in an open bed of grass unto herself. Her eyes are closed, and her expression is peaceful as though she is in a deep restful slumber.

What are you looking at? Conserving a Portrait of a Young Anne Bellows

by Cecile Mear, Conservator of Works on Paper

5/30/2024

paper conservation, lithograph, Anne Bellows, George Bellows

To help this artwork look her best for CAM’s fall exhibition, George Bellows: American Life in Print, she stopped by the Paper Lab for conservation treatment.

Behind the Scenes in Conservation: Blue Dress Boogaloo?

by Obie Linn, Textile Conservator

5/23/2024

CAMConservation, textile conservation, 1910s fashion

Remember the blue dress from a few weeks ago? This week she’s back—with a secret.

1924: Life 100 Years Ago as Told by CAM

by Cole Rodgers, Marketing Project Manager

5/23/2024

art history, museum history

Let’s explore some of the clues CAM has left for us that paint a picture of the museum 100 years ago.

Meet John Lanzador—REC Artist in Residence

by Alex Otte Callon, REC Manager

5/17/2024

Rosenthal Education Center, REC Artist in Residence, Hunt Slonem, Joan Miró

Get to know REC Artist in Residence John Lanzador!

Behind the Scenes in Conservation: Who’s counting?

by Serena Urry, Chief Conservator

5/9/2024

CAMConservation, paintings conservation, Sir Joshua Reynolds, British catalog project, John Steuart Curry

Boy with Grapes, by Sir Joshua Reynolds (1723–1792), is the 45th painting examined in the paintings conservation lab over the last eighteen months, for the British catalog project.

Making 3D Prints Part of the Museum Experience

by Samuel Foulkes, Director of Braille Production and Accessible Innovation, Clovernook Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired

5/8/2024

accessibility, Accessible Expressions Ohio, 3D printing, Clovernook Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired, tactiles

The Clovernook Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired created 3D-printed replicas of sculptures featured in the Cincinnati Art Museum’s Accessible Expressions Ohio exhibition.

Eco-Friendly Art Making

by Madelyn McArthur, School-Based Learning Intern

5/7/2024

sustainability, artmaking

There are many ways to be conscious of the environment while creating art!

Mental Health Awareness Month at CAM: Four Activities to Explore

by Cole Rodgers, Project Manager

5/1/2024

Mental Health Awareness, Art on the Rise, Meditate with Art, Mind/Body/Art, events

Throughout the year—including May—the Cincinnati Art Museum is committed to providing visitors access to programs that strive to reduce stress, support healthy habits, and improve overall mental well-being. Check out four such activities available here at the museum—all for free.

Accessibility Resources for Visitors

by Kiara Galloway, Web Content Management Intern

5/1/2024

accessibility, Rosenthal Education Center

Providing accessibility resources to help people of all abilities connect with the arts is part of our mission to contribute to a more vibrant Cincinnati.

Meet CAM+

by Emily Hartig, Junior Exhibition Designer

4/30/2024

accessibility, Accessible Expressions Ohio, CAM+

The CAM+ Accessibility Cart is a self-serve welcoming point with tools to enhance any and everyone’s experience.

Behind the Scenes in Conservation: The Light Touch

by Obie Linn, Conservator of Textiles

4/25/2024

textile conservation, CAMConservation, 1910s fashion

This week in the textile conservation lab, I am working on a day dress dating to the 1910s. It has a very delicate silk net stand-up collar edged with a metal ribbon and stiffened with wire stays.

Celebrating Earth Month at the Cincinnati Art Museum

by Cincinnati Art Museum in partnership with Queen City Pollinator Project

4/19/2024

Bees, Queen City Pollinator Project, Osmia Bee Co., sustainability

It’s spring, the weather is warming, flowers are blooming, and this April, we are buzzing with excitement because, just last week, we welcomed native mason bees to our grounds with the help of our partner, Queen City Pollinator Project!

Behind the Scenes in Conservation: Reconstructing a Japanese Teapot Spout

by Kelly Rectenwald, Conservator of Objects

4/18/2024

Miss Mariko Okinawa, objects conservation, CAMConservation, teapot, Japanese Art, tea set

In our last post about the Miss Mariko Okinawa doll’s tea set, we discussed re-joining all of the tiny ceramic fragments.

A Long Tradition: Dragons in the East Asian Collection

by Eric Hughett, Curatorial Assistant of East Asian Art

4/16/2024

Year of the Dragon, Zodiac, East Asian Art

2024 is the Year of the Dragon, according to the 12-year cycle of the Chinese zodiac, which presents a perfect opportunity to look at Chinese dragons as a theme in East Asian art.

Behind the Scenes in Conservation: Charming Portrait of the Honorable Augusta Herbert

by Serena Urry, Chief Conservator

4/11/2024

British catalog project, Hoppner, paintings conservation, bituminous paint

This charming portrait of the Honorable Augusta Herbert, by British artist John Hoppner (1758–1810), is long overdue for cleaning.

Accessible Expressions Ohio: Welcoming Everyone to the Museum

by Sara Birkofer, Assistant Director of Gallery and Accessibility Programs

4/4/2024

accessibility, Accessible Expressions Ohio, Art Possible Ohio, Accessibility Award

The Cincinnati Art Museum strives for inclusivity by increasing accessibility to its collection, programming, and resources. The museum seeks to eliminate barriers by accommodating the individual needs of all visitors.