The lecture by Janne Sirén at the Vero Beach Museum of Art’s annual Director’s Society and Chairman’s Club Dinner was a timely one, as the VBMA is on the cusp of its own expansion and renovation project, with an anticipated completion in 2026. Sirén, the Peggy Pierce Elfvin director of the Buffalo AKG Art Museum, spoke about “Building a Museum of and for the People: The Story of the Buffalo AKG Art Museum.”
Brady Roberts, VBMA executive director/CEO, welcomed the invited guests and encouraged everyone to make sure to see the current exhibits before are taken down: “Changing Nature: A New Vision, Photographs by James Balog,” and “Picasso, Matisse & Friends: Drawings from a Private Collection,” on display through Dec. 31 and Jan. 8, respectively.
Remarking on the upcoming “Rolling Sculpture: Streamlined Art Deco Automobiles and Motorcycles” exhibit, Roberts said, “It’s going to fill every gallery space in the museum. And these are not what you would normally think of as vehicles. Think of a handmade unique Bugatti, and Rolls Royce for example.”
Roberts credited Ron and Nancy Rosner for bringing the exhibition to fruition and said in-depth programs around the Art Deco period have been planned.
“So we’ve got a great season ahead for you with rich programs and brilliant exhibitions, and we couldn’t do it without the Chairman’s Club members,” said Roberts, thanking everyone and adding that with the newly renovated Buck Atrium, they would all be able to dine together.
Introducing Sirén, Roberts described the AKG as “the MOMA you didn’t know about. It’s just simply one of the best modern art collections in the world. And they are nearing the home stretch on a transformative capital campaign.
“When I met Janne, he had this beginning idea of what was possible at the museum and it has just been amazing to hear now what’s happened as this project comes to fruition,” said Roberts.
“What an energy you have here in Vero Beach. And that bodes very well for your future,” said Sirén, calling Brady an extraordinary leader who can envision the future of the VBMA.
Sirén spoke about the AKG’s remarkable expansion project, which began in November 2019, and has a completion date of May 2023.
“As a historian, I firmly believe that in order for us to envision the future, we have to know the path traversed. That’s something I think that’s fundamental to any human endeavor, but especially one that will call upon many people to give of their time, their vision and of their wealth,” said Sirén.
When formulating the title of his talk, he said the two most important words were the prepositions ‘of’ and ‘for,’ adding, “The museum has to be of the people, and it has to be built for them.”
Historically, he said that in 1900, Buffalo was one of the richest cities in the world, per capita, calling it the nexus of the Midwest and the East Coast.
In 1862, four decades earlier, the Buffalo Fine Arts Academy (still its official name) was established. It is now the oldest contemporary art museum in the United States and the sixth oldest art museum in the country. Name changes have included the Albright-Knox Art Gallery and today’s Buffalo AKG Art Museum.
“That means that for 160 years, we’ve being collecting contemporary art, the art of our time, the art of the moment. Buying and acquiring works when the paint is still so wet you can smell it. That’s a little bit of a hyperbole perhaps, but not so much,” said Sirén.
“From the very outset we were led by visionary artists within an artist centric institution. And that’s really something that defines us to this day and has guided our path through the decades and the centuries.”
Sirén shared historical photos as well as renderings and photos of the current project, for which they raised $230 million for construction and an operating endowment.
Photos by Joshua Kodis
