Sometimes in Buffalo, amazing art is found where you might least expect it. This is especially true at the Buffalo and Erie County Public Library, where visitors can now visit a collection of 24 significant works of art that have been donated by the foundation of former Library Director Donald H. Cloudsley (1925 – 2012), aka the “Library Lion”.
Incredibly, the donated collection includes works by internationally acclaimed artists Joan Miro, Helen Frankenthaler, Robert Motherwell and Buffalo native Charles Clough.
While one might not necessarily think of the downtown library as a haven for renowned works of art, there are already a couple of high profile permanent works residing at the library, including the “Maxi Zigzag” sculpture by Beverly Pepper, located on the second floor, and the Ring of Knowledge glass sculpture by Howard Ben Tré, located on the first floor. The library has also been hosting the echo Art Fair for the last couple of years, bringing a wide range of artists and collectors to the building. With the addition of this fabulous collection, it might be time to rethink the cultural role that the library plays.
“It is such an honor for the library to share the great legacy of our former director Donald Cloudsley through this sizable and very inspiring collection,” said Library System Director Mary Jean Jakubowski. “Mr. Cloudsley’s dedication to the library and this community will live on through his beloved art collection.”
“The Library is the ideal home for this art collection,” said Donald H. Cloudsley Foundation President Patrick Martin. “With the development of the Library’s new second floor, the collection can be exhibited together, free and open to the public. It can be the anchor for the Library’s community and student art exhibitions, for the Library’s art education programs and its public art initiatives. It will welcome the community back to a revitalized and beautiful second floor. For the Foundation trustees, it is very touching to know that Don will live on through this collection in the Library that he served so well for 46 years.”
All together the new works that are on display at the library include limited edition prints and original artwork-watercolors; charcoal, pen and pencil; gold leaf on wood; color etchings; pastel on paper; nickel, copper and patina; etched glass, and lithographs. The donation of these works was made possible thanks to the tireless devotion of Cloudsey who had a 46-year career in the Library System.
In 1995 Cloudsey started the Donald H. Cloudsley Foundation, after years of supporting arts and library initiatives, including social and educational programs. Among countless other critical directives, Cloudsey was integral to the recovery of the first half of the manuscript of Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Incredibly, the manuscript had been lost for 107 years. After the amazing recovery, Cloudsey set out to create the Mark Twain Room at the Central Library, where the masterpiece can be viewed by the public. Now, national treasures of this magnitude will be joined by works from some of the world’s most celebrated artists.
I was curious about the works and where they would ultimately be permanently displayed within the Central Library, so I asked Central Library’s Assistant Deputy Director, Joy Testa Cinquino, a few questions regarding the future of the library and its position within the Buffalo art world.
BRO: What is happening on the second floor of the library?
JTC: [There are] exciting plans for the 2nd floor. Next spring we will unveil a rare book exhibit in the front gallery of the space (about 3,000 square feet) featuring Milestones of Science, first edition books written by Galileo, da Vinci, Newton, etc. (the greatest scientists ever). That exhibit of rare books is called “Books that Shook the World.” The exhibition (including science related memorabilia) will be free and open to the public, it will be up for a full year.
The 2nd floor also has new meeting room in the space for use by the library, our in-house partners (YAWNY, Literacy New York, Project Flight) and outside groups. Potential build-out of the rest of the space is still being discussed. It is likely groups with similar type missions will utilize the space and share resources.
BRO: How will the works eventually be displayed? We are still determining the best location for the 24 –piece Cloudsley collection to reside for public viewing. Right now, they work very nicely and securely in space that is outside of Mr. Cloudsley’s old office @ the Central Library.
JTC: Will there be more works featured?
The collection we are showing now is the full donation (24 pieces) from his collection.
BRO: Is the second floor becoming a gallery for artworks that are in the possession of the library?
JTC: (See answer to q. 1) Also, we currently have the Maxi Zigzag” sculpture by Beverly Pepper on display on the second floor as well.
The donation to the Library features the works of:
Karel Appel, Heads All Over, 1996, color lithograph, visible paper;
Mark Carroll, Red Queen, 2002, steel sculpture, tubular & diamond plate elements, red;
Mark Carroll, Standing Figures, 2004, walnut, butternut, cherry and steel;
Charles Clough, Untitled, 2001, watercolor on paper;
Sam Francis, Toward Disappearance, 1974, color serigraph;
Helen Frankenthaler, In the Wings, 1987, color etching;
Helen Frankenthaler, Crete, 1969-1972, color etching;
Dorothy Gillespie, Starburst, 1999, sculpture, enamel on aluminum;
Adolph Gottlieb, Black Ground, Red Disk, 1966, silk screen;
Warren Isensee, Untitled, 2005, paper;
Wolf Kahn, Late Fall – Orange to Red, 2005, pastel on paper;
John Luebtow, Linear Form Series, 1989, etched glass;
Robert Mangold, 5 Colored Frame, 1985, black & white woodcut on Japanese paper;
Gail McCarthy, Gilded Vessel #51, 1990, palladium interior: pigment, gold leaf exterior;
Joan Miro, untitled, lithograph;
Robert Motherwell, Summer Trident (State ll), 1990, lithograph on chine colle;
Claes Oldenburg, Apple Core, 1991, color lithograph;
John Okulick, Spinner, 1997, painted wood with gold leaf;
Walter Prochownik, Untitled from flight series, 1974, charcoal, pencil and chalk;
Beverly Pepper, Janus Altar, 1996, etching and aquatini;
Elisabeth Samuels, Becoming, 1992 acrylic, paper on wood
Alan Siegal, Fiddle Fern, 1993, copper, nickel and patina;
Steven Sorman, Those From Far Away ll, 1989, Lithograph;
Antoni Tápies, # 8 from Suite Montseny, 1993, etching and collage;
Thornton Willis, Match Play, 1982, oil pastel on paper
*Graciously on loan from Albright Knox Art Gallery is a framed piece by Richmond Burton, Untitled, 1999, pencil, gouache and ink on paper donated in 2003 by Cloudsley in memory of William (Billy) La Curt Woods.
Featured images:
Mark Carroll, Standing Figures, 2004, walnut, butternut, cherry and steel
Charles Clough, Untitled, 2001, watercolor on paper
Buffalo’s own Elisabeth Samuels’ 1992, Becoming, acrylic, paper on wood
Wolf Kahn, Late Fall – Orange to Red, 2005, pastel on paper
Mark Carroll, Red Queen, 2002, steel sculpture tubular & diamond plate elements