South Asian art assessment

We were fortunate to host Daniel Ehnbom, a specialist in South Asian art history, here last week as part of our ongoing efforts to assess our collection in preparation for the new museum building. Ehnbom is professor emeritus in the Department of Art at University of Virginia. He is the author of Indian Miniatures: The Ehrenfeld Collection (1985), articles on painting and Indian architecture, and contributions to numerous exhibition catalogues. He has been adjunct curator of South Asian art at the University of Virginia Art Museum and director of the UVA Center for South Asian Studies.

While at WCMA, Ehnbom looked closely at more than 150 South Asian paintings in our collection, bringing his invaluable expertise to improving the cataloguing for titles, geographical origins, dates, and subject matter. He spent one day in the museum’s Rose Study Gallery with art professor Murad Mumtaz—whom he mentored at UVA—as well as Liz Gallerani, Curator of Mellon Academic Programs; Beth Fischer, Assistant Curator of Digital Learning & Research; graduate intern Matt Shorten; and other museum staff. He also spent a day at the Williamstown Art Conservation Center with Professor Mumtaz, WCMA staff, and paper conservator Brook Prestowitz looking at a selection of our South Asian paintings currently at WACC for condition assessment and future treatment.

WCMA Building Project

Warm Up @ WCMA on December 2

We are happy to participate in the annual Williamstown Holiday Walk celebration on Saturday, Dec. 2. During our Warm Up @ WCMA event, our galleries are open and all items in our shop are 25 percent off from 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Stop by to peruse our exhibitions and purchase some art-themed goods to gift or keep for yourself!

From 3–5 p.m., warm up your senses with a variety of activities that will have you looking at art in new ways, snacking on cookies with tea, coffee, and hot chocolate, creating your own button to take home, and moving to music mixed by Williams College WCFM DJs.

Find the complete schedule of Holiday Walk events here.

Warm Up @ WCMA