CITY COUNCIL: Resolution to Lend Mary DeNeale Morgan Paintings to Hearst Art Gallery, Saint Mary's College of California

Meeting Date: April 6, 2010
Prepared by: Janet Cubbage, Library Director

City Council
Agenda Item Summary

Name: Consideration of a Resolution to lend two Mary DeNeale Morgan paintings to Hearst Art Gallery, Saint Mary’s College of California, from July 15 through September 30, 2010.

Description: The Hearst Art Gallery of Saint Mary’s College of California has requested permission to borrow two paintings by early California artist Mary DeNeale Morgan for an exhibition that will run from July 25 through September 19, 2010.

The paintings will be hung, using archival standards, in a climate-controlled, secure facility. They will be fully insured by the Hearst Art Gallery for the entire loan period and packaged and transported by trained, experienced Hearst Art Gallery staff.

Overall Cost:
City Funds: N/A
Grant Funds: N/A

Staff Recommendation: Adopt the Resolution

Important Considerations: Loans such as this foster collaboration and strengthen professional relationships between institutions and generate positive publicity for the lender.

Decision Record: In 2000 “Old Whaler’s Cabin – Point Lobos” by Charles Rollo Peters was loaned for four months to the Monterey Museum of Art for the exhibition, “Painting of the Monterey Adobes: A Walking Tour”.

Reviewed by:

______________________________ _________________
Rich Guillen, City Administrator Date

CITY OF CARMEL-BY-THE-SEA
STAFF REPORT
TO: MAYOR McCLOUD AND COUNCIL MEMBERS
THROUGH: RICH GUILLEN, CITY ADMINISTRATOR
FROM: JANET CUBBAGE, LIBRARY DIRECTOR
DATE: MARCH 9, 2010
SUBJECT: CONSIDERATION OF A RESOLUTION TO LEND TWO MARY DENEALE MORGAN PAINTINGS TO HEARST ART GALLERY, SAINT MARY’S COLLEGE OF CALIFORNIA, FROM JULY 15 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30, 2010.

RECOMMENDED MOTION
Adopt a Resolution to lend two Mary DeNeale Morgan paintings to Hearst Art Gallery, Saint Mary’s College of California, from July 15 – September 30, 2010.

BACKGROUND
In January 2010, Julie Armistead, Collections Manager / Registrar for the Hearst Art
Gallery of Saint Mary’s College in Moraga, California, submitted a formal request to
borrow two Mary DeNeale Morgan paintings, one titled “Cypress, Monterey Coast”,
which hangs in the Main Library lobby, and the other, “Cypress Trees by the Seashore”,
which hangs in the Sunset Center lobby, for an exhibition titled “Delicate Strength: Early
California Paintings by Annie Harmon, Mary DeNeale Morgan, and Marion Kavanagh
Wachtel”. The three artists featured in the exhibition all studied under William Keith, an
important early California landscape artist whose works form the heart of the Hearst Art
Gallery collection.
Important points to consider regarding the request from Hearst Art Gallery:
• Hearst Gallery environmental conditions with regard to temperature and
relative humidity are maintained according to archival standards.
• The paintings will be secured with standard museum quality hanging tools.
• The mounting and display process will not affect the condition of the
paintings.
• The gallery space is fully alarmed and equipped with closed circuit TV
cameras, magnetic contacts and microwave motion detectors, with additional
security provided by Hearst Art gallery staff.
45
• The paintings will be fully insured for the full loan period under the fine arts
policy carried by Saint Mary’s College.
• Packing and transportation of the paintings will be done under the supervision
of Ms. Armistead by Hearst Art Gallery staff experienced in handling and
moving artwork.
The dates of the requested loan period for the paintings are July12 through October 1,
2010.
The Harrison Memorial Library Board of Trustees approved the loan of “Cypress
Monterey Coast”, the painting that hangs in the Main Library, during its January 21, 2010
regular meeting.
FISCAL IMPACT
None. The Hearst Art Gallery will be responsible for all costs, including transportation
and insurance.
SUMMARY
Requests to borrow City works of art have been rare; however, occasional loans have
been made. In 2000, “Old Whaler’s Cabin – Point Lobos” by Charles Rollo Peters, was
loaned for four months to the Monterey Museum of Art for an exhibition, “Painting of the
Monterey Adobes: A Walking Tour”.
Loans such as this foster collaboration. They strengthen professional relationships
between institutions and enable them to offer services beyond what they could provide
using their own resources. They also generate positive publicity for the lender while
giving people in other areas a chance to view and appreciate works of art they might
otherwise not see.
46
CITY OF CARMEL-BY-THE-SEA
CITY COUNCIL
RESOLUTION 2010-
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CARMEL-BYTHE-
SEA TO LEND TWO MARY DENEALE MORGAN PAINTINGS TO
HEARST ART GALLERY, SAINT MARY’S COLLEGE OF CALIFORNIA,
FROM JULY 15 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30, 2010
WHEREAS, Hearst Art Gallery, Saint Mary’s College of California, has requested the
temporary loan of two Mary DeNeale Morgan paintings, “Cypress, Monterey Coast” and
“Cypress Trees by the Seashore”, to be included in an exhibition, “Delicate Strength: Early
California Paintings by Annie Harmon, Mary DeNeale Morgan, and Marion Kavanagh
Wachtel”, and
WHEREAS, Hearst Art Gallery has agreed to house and hang the paintings in accordance
with accepted archival standards and environmental conditions, and
WHEREAS, the gallery space is fully alarmed and equipped with closed circuit TV
cameras, magnetic contacts and microwave motion detectors, with additional security provided
by Hearst Art Gallery staff, and
WHEREAS, the paintings will be fully insured for the full loan period under the fine arts
policy carried by Saint Mary’s College.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF CARMEL-BY-THE-SEA DOES:
1. Agree to lend two City paintings, “Cypress, Monterey Coast” and “Cypress Trees by
the Seashore”, by Mary DeNeale Morgan to the Hearst Art Gallery, Saint Mary’s
College of California, for the period of July 15 – September 30, 2010.
2. Authorize Julie Armistead, Collections Manager / Registrar and Hearst Art Gallery
staff to pack and transport the two paintings to the Hearst Art Gallery, Saint Mary’s
College of California on July 15, 2010.
3. Require that the two paintings be packed and transported by Ms. Armistead and Hearst
Art Gallery staff and returned to the City in the same condition as they were loaned
by October 1, 2010.
47
PASSED AND ADOPTED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
CARMEL-BY-THE-SEA this 6th day of April, 2010, by the following roll call vote:
AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS:
NOES: COUNCIL MEMBERS:
ABSENT: COUNCIL MEMBERS:

SIGNED:

_______________
SUE McCLOUD, MAYOR

ATTEST:

________________________
Heidi Burch, City Clerk