The Foundation for Art and Preservation in Embassies (FAPE) is wrapping up its month-long exhibition at Guild Hall this weekend. On Sunday, a panel discussion on "Andy Warhol: Global Phenomenon" will be moderated by FAPE board member Bob Colacello and held at 11 a.m. The exhibition is presented in conjunction with Christie's and features prints, photography and site-specific installation maquettes and drawings from some of art's heavy hitters.
FAPE's collection's lineup includes works by Robert Rauschenberg, James Rosenquist, Jasper Johns, Ellsworth Kelly, Brice Marden, Chuck Close, John Baldessari, Mary Lee Bendolph, Roy Lichtenstein, Susan Rothenberg, Ed Ruscha, Frank Stella and others.
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The show at Guild Hall was curated by Robert Storr, the Dean of the Yale School of Art and artist, critic and curator. Storr is also the Chairman of FAPE's Professional Fine Arts Committee. The exhibition includes around six photographs from FAPE's collection and 22 prints from its Lee Kimche McGrath Original Print Collection plus drawings, photographs and maquettes for some of its large-scale site-specific works.
The exhibition is the first comprehensive exhibition of its collection since the program began in 1989, according to FAPE.
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FAPE partners with American artists to donate permanent works of art to U.S. embassies around the world to fulfill its mission of cultural diplomacy. As of this year, FAPE has placed artworks by over 200 American artists in over 140 countries. All artists selected for inclusion in FAPE's collection program are approved by a pro-bono advisory committee headed by Storr.
FAPE's program has three prongs: an original print collection program; site-specific art collection and a photography collection. In all cases, the artist donates the work to FAPE for international placement. The site-specific collection is overseen by an advisory committee, who in part, selects the artist for participation. The artist donates the work with FAPE funding the fabrication and installation. FAPE also works with embassy architects, the US State Department and the artist to make sure the work is integrated within the site in a culturally sensitive manner.
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FAPE's site-specific collection includes works by Lynda Benglis, Louise Bourgeois, Maya Lin, Dorothea Rockburne, Ron Gorchov, Sol LeWitt, Elie Nadelman, Martin Puryear, Joel Shapiro and others. New U.S. embassies are planned for construction in the next few years and FAPE has been asked to commission site-specific works by American artists, according to FAPE. So far, future plans include a 2016 U.S. Embassy Annex Building in Moscow with art by Don Gummer and a 2017 U.S. Embassy in Beijing with work by Martin Puryear.
Photography is the newest of FAPE's initiatives. Its collection was founded in 2013 with editions by Tina Barney and William Wegman. This year, works were added by Carrie Mae Weems, Sidney Felsen and Richard Benson.
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The Lee Kimche McGrath Original Print Collection contains the lion's share of FAPE's three collection. The collection program began in 1989 when Frank Stella donated The Symphony, 1989 in an edition that allowed a print to be sent to every U.S. Embassy, according to FAPE. The Original Print Collection is the longest-running program.
Since 1995, artists contributing editions include John Baldessari, Louisiana Bendolph, Mary Lee Bendolph, Loretta Bennett, Vija Clemins, Chuck Close, Jasper Johns, Alex Katz, Ellsworth Kelly, Roy Lichtenstein, Robert Mangold, Brice Marden, Julie Mehretu, Elizabeth Murray, Loretta Pettway, Robert Rauschenberg, James Ronsenquist, Susan Rothenberg, Ed Ruscha, Joel Shapiro and Terry Winters.
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FAPE was founded in 1986 by Leonore Annenberg, Wendy W. Luers, Lee Kimche McGrath and Carol Price. FAPE isn't the only intiative providing curated art by American artists in U.S. embassies around the world.
Art in Embassies Program (AIEP), which is part of the U.S. State Department, has an aim of promoting the cultural identity of America’s art and artists, according to its website. AIEP borrows original artworks by U.S. citizens and creates exhibitions for display in around 170 U.S. embassy residences worldwide. The exhibitions are installed in the public rooms of ambassador's homes connected to U.S. embassies worldwide.
The works are loaned from collections held by museums, corporations, private collectors, galleries or artists. The exhibitions are developed collaboratively with a United States ambassador and one of AIEP’s curators, according to AIEP's website.
AIEP was established within the United States Department of State in 1964 by President John F. Kennedy and his wife Jackie. The AIEP currently places over 5,000 works of art, including original paintings, sculptures and prints, according to its website.
FAPE is a non-profit organization funded through private and corporate donors. The art exhibited in U.S. embassies has been permanently donated by FAPE from their collection.
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The FAPE exhibition opened at Guild Hall on June 21 and continues through July 27, 2014. An Opening Reception was held on June 28 as part of a museum-wide reception unveiling its first exhibitions of the summer.
On Sunday at 11 a.m., the exhibition holds its final program. The panel discussion, Andy Warhol: Global Phenomenon, will be moderated by FAPE board member and author Bob Colacello. Panelists expected are Peter Brant, Donna De Salvo, Larry Gagosian, Jane Holzer, Alberto Mugrabi and Aby Rosen.
BASIC INFO: “Foundation for Art and Preservation in Embassies Exhibition” remains on view through July 27. Guild Hall is located at 158 Main Street East Hampton, NY 11937. www.guildhall.org.
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