YOUNTVILLE, Calif., – Festival del Sole Napa Valley, Bank of America, and the Napa Valley Museum present The Art Books of Henri Matisse, an exhibition of original illustrations and text by one of the preeminent artists of the twentieth century, on view at the Napa Valley Museum from July 13 through August 10, 2008. Best known for his boldly colored paintings, Matisse began experimenting with printmaking in 1903 and eventually illustrated 12 books, each issued in a limited edition and signed by the artist. The exhibition includes text and original illustrations from four of Matisse’s most artistically significant books.
All of the works in the exhibition are from the Bank of America Art Collection, one of the largest and most significant corporate art collections in the world. The July 12 opening reception for The Art Books of Henri Matisse at the Napa Valley Museum kicks off the beginning of Festival Del Sole Napa Valley, a 10-day festival featuring world-class musical concerts followed by five-star meals and the finest wines at some of the most stunning venues throughout the Napa Valley. The Festival also features visual art exhibitions, free community concerts and family events. This exhibition and a festival reception are sponsored by Bank of America.
This exhibition is being made available to the Napa Valley Museum as part of the Bank of America Art Exhibition Program, which makes artwork from the Bank of America Collection widely available to museums across the country. The program offers museums the opportunity to mount shows curated from the company’s extensive collection of paintings, prints, photographs, sculptures and art objects.
“The Bank of America Art Exhibition program provides substantial cultural and economic benefits to museums and communities across the U.S. In the inaugural year of the program, we are pleased to bring it to the Bay Area by partnering with the Napa Valley Museum,” said Janet Lamkin, California president, Bank of America. “The exhibition will bring these lesser know but fascinating works by Matisse to a broader audience, while providing a great economic benefit to a key institution in Napa Valley.”
Bank of America and the Arts
The Bank of America Collection is one of the oldest and largest corporate art collections in the world, reflecting the diversity of artistic expression in America and internationally. These works of art are displayed in museums and Bank of America’s public galleries as well as in corporate offices. As the company has grown in recent decades, the size and scope of the Bank of America Collection has also grown. Today, the collection has been enriched with the art from legacy banks, each with a particular emphasis – regional, thematic, contemporary, or historical.
Bank of America is a leading supporter of arts and culture in the United States. Through a wide variety of programs, Bank of America works to strengthen artistic institutions and provide greater access to treasured works of art for both its customers and those who might not otherwise experience them. Each year the company provides millions of dollars in grants to a wide range of arts organizations, supporting education and access programs and enabling institutions to expand their scope, and underwrites national and local performances, arts programs, and exhibitions. Through the Bank of America Traveling Exhibition and Loan Programs, the bank lends its art collection to museums so they may expand their offerings for the benefit of their communities.
Napa Valley Museum 55 Presidents Circle, Yountville, CA 707-944-0500 www.napavalleymuseum.org Open daily, except Tuesday, 10am – 5pm Admission: Adults $4.50, Students/Seniors $3.50, Ages 7-17 $2.50
