Kelly Conway, the Chrysler Museum of Art’s curator of glass since 2007, has just had her position endowed as part of the museum’s ambitious capital campaign. photo: echard wheeler
The Chrysler Museum of Art announced today that Kelly Conway has been named as the first Carolyn and Richard Barry Curator of Glass, a newly endowed position that is part of the museum’s ongoing capital campaign to raise $45 million. The campaign was also responsible for the successful opening of the museum’s glass studio in 2011, and will include a planned expansion and renovation of the main museum building which was officially announced in March. An overall goal of the campaign is to strengthen the institution’s endowments to create a stronger financial footing going forward, such as endowing key curatorial positions like Conway’s, who has served as curator of glass since 2007.
Conway holds a B.A. in American history from DePauw University and a M.A. in the history of decorative arts from the Parsons School of Design at the Smithsonian Associates. Her curatorial accomplishments at the Chrysler include the exhibitions “Art of Glass 2” and “Cheers to Queen Victoria! British Glass from the Chrysler Collection.” Conway has also been responsible of coordinating the glass studio’s high-level visiting artist series for 2012.
“I’m honored to be the Carolyn and Richard Barry Curator of Glass,” Conway said in a prepared statement. “The Barrys are passionate advocates for the Chrysler’s glass collection, and the endowment comes at an exciting time for glass at the Museum. In addition to opening the new Glass Studio, we will be expanding the galleries that house our extraordinary holdings in historical and contemporary glass. The project includes a complete reinstallation of our collection, with engaging new research, new glass exhibition spaces, and beautifully lit new displays. In 2014, we will also publish a new catalogue highlighting many of the best works in our glass collection.
“The Museum’s Capital Campaign, which has raised $41.5 million to date, has enabled us to strengthen our long-term financial foundation by putting in place dedicated endowments to support programs and operations,” said William Hennessey, the Museum director. “An anonymous gift has fully endowed the Chrysler’s free-to-all admission policy. New endowments have also enabled us to double the size of our curatorial department. And, the salaries of three of our four curators— including the curator of glass—are now fully covered by endowments. Other endowments will support educational programs and special exhibitions.”
The Chrysler Museum of Art collection includes more than 30,000 objects, including one of the most important collections of decorative glass in the U.S. For more information: www.chrysler.org.