Museum of Art announces donated collection

The Bates College Museum of Art announces the gift of more than 30 prints, drawings, watercolors and photographs donated by Joanna D. and Henry L. McCorkle of Brunswick. The gift reflects the richness of Maine’s art community and includes works by some of the state’s most distinguished artists, such as Richard Estes, Yvonne Jacquette, Charles Hewitt, Dahlov Ipcar and Alex Katz.

The gift establishes the Joanna D. and Henry L. McCorkle Works on Paper Collection at the Bates College Museum of Art. “The great strength of the McCorkles’ collecting is the overwhelming number of excellent works by Maine’s finest artists,” said Genetta McLean, director of the college’s musuem. “This is a wonderful gift to the Lewiston-Auburn community, and we are pleased to have it here.”

The McCorkles have been collecting art in Maine for 15 years. Their enthusiasm for art and passionate collecting was documented in an exhibition Carried Away: the Joy of Collecting Art in Maine, which drew a record number of visitors to the college’s musuem in summer 1999.

“The Bates College Museum of Art is one of New England’s hidden treasures, the newest of Maine’s Art Trail museums and a bright place to show and see the creative spirit at work,” said Henry McCorkle. “Jody and I are honored to add to the Bates Musuem’s growing collection of works on paper and to include examples by outstanding artists new to Maine, like the marvelous drawing Little House Near the Bay by Anne Minich.”

Visitors are invited to see works from the McCorkle collection Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday, 1 to 5 p.m., at the Bates College Museum of Art, 75 Russell St. Guided tours for schools and other groups are welcome and the public is welcomed at no charge. Call 207-786-6158 for more information.