Letter From the Director
Summer 2002

Greetings!

As your new director of the Castellani Art Museum, I am proud to carry on the traditions and activities of this fine institution. We are in an important transition period, as we must carry on without our founder and major benefactor, Armand Castellani, who recently passed away.

I want to acknowledge the work that Kate Koperski did as the interim director last year. She and a very competent staff continued the momentum all museums must have today to stay relevant in our lives.

Our next special exhibition, opening September 29 (through January 5, 2003) is all about Irish Step Dancing. Large-scale reproductions of the dancers will grace the walls; cases will display a beautiful selection of step dance outfits; and some costumes will hang loosely from the ceiling, allowing visitors to walk around them at eye level. We're hoping to borrow a copy of the Book of Kells, since many of the motifs of the richly ornamented outfits come from that incredible Medieval manuscript. Don't miss the opening reception: Sunday, September 29, from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m., when the museum will be alive with traditional Irish foods, music, and dance. Come and learn a few steps or two!

You will see from our fall/winter newsletter (due out in early September) that the momentum of past years continues as we develop a new long range plan for the future. A group of community leaders will meet as a focus group in late August to help determine our direction, but we would love to hear from all of our members as well. What exhibitions, educational programs, and/or events have you enjoyed at the Castellani? Where do you think the museum should direct its attention in the coming years? How can we reach out even more into the community at large? Please, let us hear from you by e-mail cam@niagara.edu; by fax (716) 286-8289; or snail mail.

Meanwhile, here are a few new initiatives for your calendar:. a new outdoor café (gourmet coffees and munchies) on the patio of the museum will open, hopefully, in time to welcome the incoming class of students (in the winter, we will take the cafe indoors); September 11 Memorial Mural. Please stop by that day (11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.) and scribe a note, a poem, and/or drawing directly on the exterior glass wall of the museum (markers provided); First Friday evenings of music, dancing, refreshments, art games, prizes, and give–aways the first Friday of every month, 5:30 to 8:00 p.m. (October 4, November 1); Saturday art workshops for families each and every Saturday, 2:00 to 4:00 p.m., starting October 5; and new hours for the museum that will now include Tuesdays, 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. We hope to see you soon–and often–at the CAM!

Laurene Buckley
Director