Michael Lally Executive Director of the Whistler Museum in Lowell has been in this position since 2000 and prior to that was a member of Whistler Museum for 10 years. He is also an accomplished actor (member of the Standing Room Only players) and according to our own resident musical expert and delightful diva Marie Stultz, Michael possesses an excellent singing voice and is a renowned soloist. He also is very involved in a variety of community service projects and is the recipient of the Lowell Kiwanis Service Award. Now we all know this isn’t in the same league as our Citizens Who Care Award but it is still pretty impressive.
The Whistler Museum has been in existence since 1907 (the home of Whistler is 187 years old) when the Lowell Art Association prevented the house which was in disrepair from being torn down and funded the renovations and a century plus later it is a landmark of historical significance.
James Winslow Whistler did not live much of his life in Lowell (his father was a famous and much sought after designer of railroads) and often denied any connection to Lowell often saying he was born in Russia or England. Once when confronted by a somewhat pompous individual (probably a 19th century Kiwainian) who asked “How in the world could you ever have been born in Lowell?” Whistler’s clever and witty response…”I wanted to be close to my mother”.
Whistler followed in the father’s footsteps by attending West Point. However much to his father’s dismay, young James flunked out during his junior year. Chemistry was a particular challenge. In fact his inability with chemical mixture procedures caused him to ruin many a canvas in subsequent years.
Some other highlights of this engaging presentation included:
- Whistler’s Mother Portrait – only painted her because a model for another seating did not show and he could not sell it. This painting known throughout the world now was not wanted by anyone then.
- He sued an art critic for a slanderous critique of one of his paintings. Won the case but jury gave him a farthing or in today’s world a penny.
- He signed many of his paintings with his initials JWW in the form of a butterfly which some followers interpreted as a mocking gesture to the art critics.
Great engaging informative presentation encouraged us to visit both the Whistler Museum and the Parker Gallery immediately adjacent which houses extensive works of Arshel Gorky who is considered the father of abstract impressionism.
Pause…drum roll…slate of proposed officers for July 2010 – June 2011.
No big winner – pot grows.
checks please make out the checks to the Andover Rotary Trust Fund for charitable tax deduction purposes.
Almost everyone contributed in either appreciation of the great speaker or the 2010-2011 Board. Peter Johnston eloquently spoke of the impressive voter turnout and example of democracy at its best. Peter Cotch, at Alice Coogan’s request, expressed her deep gratitude to the Andover Rotary for their support after the sudden death of her husband.