The Synergy Fund is an endowment established by generous long-time Museum of Art and Bates supporter, Leander W. Smith (1932 – 2014). Inaugurated in 2015, the Synergy Fund Charter supports the museum to be a “…center for interdisciplinary projects and programs that expand and enrich the academic experience at Bates and in the community.” One of six programs and initiatives, the Diversify the Collection Program builds on Bates’ commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion by providing the resources to acquire artworks that strengthen holdings of art by artists from underrepresented cultures and populations.
This fund has had a significant impact on the museum and its holdings, supporting the acquisition of art by Nouf Alhimiary (Saudi, b. 1992), Ghada Al Rabea (Saudi, b. 1979), Sammy Baloji (Congolese, b. 1978), Beauford Delaney (American, 1901-79), Vanessa German (American, b. 1976), Brad Kahlhamer (American, b. 1956), Daniel Minter (American, b. 1961), Ebony G. Patterson (Jamaican, b. 1981), Martin Puryear (American. b. 1941), Yinka Shonibare (British Nigerian, b. 1962), Rirkrit Tiravanija (Thai, b. 1961), Randy Williams (American, b. 1947), and Xiaoze Xie (American, b. China 1966). Work by all but Vanessa German are included; her sculpture is on loan to the Montclair Art Museum. We invite you to learn more about the artists and their work throughout this engaging exhibition.
In addition to the Diversify the Collection Program, the Synergy Fund supports five other programs, which together have strengthened the museum’s role as an interdisciplinary center at Bates, and each primary area of the museum: exhibitions, collections, education, faculty and student pedagogy and scholarship, and collections access. The additional programs are: the Interdisciplinary Museum Exhibitions Program; Assistant Education Curator of Academic and Community Programs position, Faculty Scholar Course Release Grants, Paid Student Internship Program, and Collections Access Fund.
Martin Puryear, PHRYGIAN (CAP IN THE AIR), 2012, color softgound, spitbite, drypoint and aquatint etching on paper, 35 x 28 in., Museum purchase with the Synergy Fund Diversify the Collections Program, 2016.8.4Martin Puryear, PROFILE, 2002, softgound etching with drypoint and chine collé on paper, 35 x 28 in., Museum purchase with the Synergy Fund Diversify the Collections Program, 2016.8.1Ghada Al Rabea, Bint Al Rijal, 2016, candy wrappers on wood, 52 1/4 x 46 in., Museum purchase with the Synergy Fund Diversify the Collections Program, 2017.6.1Sammy Baloji, Untitled 13, 2006, archival digital photograph on satin matte paper, 24 x 94 1/2 in., Museum purchase with the Synergy Fund Diversify the Collections Program, 2019.9.1Nouf Alhimary, Untitled, from The Desire Not to Exist series, 2015. Dye-sublimation print, 39 1/2 x 29 1/2 in., Partial gift of the artist, partial Museum purchase, Synergy Fund Diversify the Collections Program, 2019.1.1Xiaoze Xie, Bates College Library, 2017, oil on linen, 24 x 40 in., Museum purchase with the Synergy Fund Diversify the Collections Program, 2020.5.1Daniel Minter, Daughters of the Passage, 2020, print, acrylic, bronze, fabric on wood panel, 27 x 51 x 2 1/2 in., Museum purchase with the Synergy Fund Diversify the Collections Program, 2020.20.1Brad Kahlhamer, Western Sioux Art, 2015, acrylic paint and ink on cardstock, 51 3/4 x 38 in., Museum purchase with the Synergy Fund Diversify the Collections Program, 2021.6.1Rirkrit Tiravanija, Untitled (Lunch Box), 1997, stainless steel and newspaper, 12 3/8 x 6 1/4 x 6 1/4 in., Gift of Zoë and Joel Dictrow, with support of the Synergy Fund Diversify the Collections Program, 2022.9.1.a-cYinka Shonibare, Mayflower All Flowers, 2020, relief print with woodblock and fabric collage on Somerset tub sized satin 410gsm paper, 43 7/8 x 40 1/2 in., Museum purchase with the Synergy Fund Diversify the Collections Program, 2022.7.1Yinka Shonibare, Aristocrat from The Unstructured Icons series, 2018, relief print with woodblock and fabric collage on Somerset tub sized satin 410gsm paper, 33 1/8 x 24 3/8 in., Museum purchase with the Synergy Fund Diversify the Collections Program, 2022.8.6Randy Williams, My Vanishing Country Also, 2020, wood, books, pattern paper, tarlatan, collaged paper, photographs, oil paint, acrylic paint, rulers, plum bob, and found metals, 36 x 48 x 12 in., Museum purchase with the Synergy Fund Diversify the Collections Program, 2023.1.1
