Series II. Exhibition Files, 1998-2015, inclusive
Extent
Scope and Contents
This series includes records related to the planning and actualization of several exhibitions that the Museum of Biblical Art displayed. The majority of the files relate to exhibitions that were put on after MoBiA became its own organization in 2005. Therefore, there are relatively few records regarding exhibitions that were on display when it was the Gallery of the American Bible Society from 1997 to 2004. Nevertheless, the number of exhibitions following this period appears to be complete, as there are no gaps in the exhibitions until the museum closes in 2015.
The amount of information regarding each exhibition varies in quantity. However, generally, most files will include the loan agreements, condition reports, checklists, exhibition contracts, shipping information, and climate reports for each exhibition. In addition, there may be label designs, research documents, wall layout plans, and installation strategies as well. There is also much correspondence related to the acquisition of certain works of art and the requests to other institutions for such pieces. If an exhibition travelled beyond its time at MoBiA, then there will be files pertaining to the planning and the condition reports related to that.
Catalogues were prepared for some of the exhibitions that MoBiA organized and the files hold a copy of those. There are also records related to the development of the catalogue, including planning for works to be featured, the photos to be used, and the scholars that would participate in its publication. At times, there are also files regarding the organization of symposiums and lectures for an exhibition. If there are any unusual or significant additional items in the files, then these will be noted in the Scope and Content note at the folder level below.
There are some exhibition files that include photographs, however, these are not of the actual exhibitions. Instead, the photos are largely included with condition reports in order to detail certain aspects of a piece for such reports.
Arrangement
The series is arranged in chronological order, based on the opening dates of each exhibition. Exhibitions that travelled passed the original dates of their showing will be placed with the folders of the initial exhibition despite their being shown at a later time. If there are records of a travelling exhibition, then this will be noted in the Scope and Content note of the folders.
Files are labelled by the official exhibition titles and the actual dates of the showings. Note that some of the exhibitions were subject to changes in both titles and dates over the course of their development. In addition, some of the actual folders in the records are labelled with abbreviated versions of the exhibition titles. Therefore, it is important to note that such information in the files may not completely match their description in the finding aid. In the case of the frequent use of a differing title or date, this distinction will be acknowledged in the Scope and Content note.
Processing Information
The contents of this series were found in file folders with no noticeable arrangement within given exhibitions. Therefore, the files in such folders remain physically unaltered and were simply moved to archival folders, leaving the majority of the files in their original folders.
Rare Bible Collection, 1998
Images in Procession: Testimonies to the Spanish Faith, 2000
In Search of Mary Magdalene: Images and Traditions, 2002
Icons or Portraits? Images of Jesus and Mary across the Centuries from the Collection of Michael Hall (7 folders), 2002
Scope and Contents
Includes photos of the pieces featured in the exhibition.
Reflections on Glass: 20th Century Stained Glass in American Art and Architecture, 2002, inclusive
Finding Faith: Folk Art of Peru from the Collection of Antonio Lulli (2 folders), 2003
Coming Home! Self Taught Artists, the Bible, and the American South, 2005
For Glory and for Beauty: Highlights from the Collection, 2005
The Next Generation: Contemporary Expressions of Faith, 2005
Let There Be Light: Oil-Lamps from the Holy Land (4 folders), 2005
This Anguished World of Shadows: Georges Rouault's "Miserere et Guerre" (6 folders), 2006
This Anguished World of Shadows: Georges Rouault's "Miserere et Guerre" (7 folders), 2006
Scope and Contents
Includes documents regarding the exhibition travelling to different venues during the years after its original showing at the Museum of Biblical Art.
The Word on the Street: The Photographs of Larry Racioppo (4 folders), 2006
Gilded Legacies: The Saint John's Bible in Context (6 folders), 2006
Biblical Art in a Secular Century: Selections, 1896-1993 (5 folders), 2006
Scope and Contents
Formerly titled "Minding Traditions? Twentieth Century Artists and the Judeo-Christian Legacy."
Biblical Art in a Secular Century: Selections, 1896-1993 (7 folders), 2006
Ethiopian Art from the Walters Art Museum (5 folders), 2007
The Christian Story: Five Asian Artists Today (4 folders), 2007
Scope and Contents
Previously titled "Biblical Art and the Asian Imagination."
The Christian Story: Five Asian Artists Today (6 folders), 2007
The Art of Forgiveness: Images of the Prodigal Son (5 folders), 2007
The Art of Forgiveness: Images of the Prodigal Son (9 folders), 2007
Before the Flame Goes Out: The Romaniote Jews in Ioannina and New York, 2008
Realms of Faith: Medieval Art from the Walters Art Museum (11 folders), 2008
Scope and Contents
Includes documents related to a symposium held about the exhibition.
Albrecht Dürer: Art in Transition, 2008
Florence Portfolio, 2008
Chagall's Bible: Mystical Storytelling (6 folders), 2008
Scope and Contents
Includes records of the exhibition travelling to different museums after its original showing in the Museum of Biblical Art.
Transfluence, 2008
Reel Religion: A Century of the Bible and Film (4 folders), 2009
Scripture for the Eyes: Bible Illustration in Netherlandish Prints of the Sixteenth Century (3 folders), 2009
Scripture for the Eyes: Bible Illustration in Netherlandish Prints of the Sixteenth Century (4 folders), 2009
Altered Religious Texts, 2009
Tobi Kahn: Sacred Spaces for the 21st Century (5 folders), 2009
Scripture, Image, Life: Orthodox Christianity (2 folders), 2009
Uneasy Communion: Jews, Christians, and the Altarpieces of Medieval Spain (12 folders), 2010
Scope and Contents
Includes film of the exhibition pieces. Some documents are in Spanish.
Uneasy Communion: Jews, Christians, and the Altarpieces of Medieval Spain (4 folders), 2010
Scope and Contents
Includes records from the planning of a similar exhibition for the Jewish Museum titled "Jews and Art in Medieval Aragon" which was eventually cancelled.
The Glory of Ukraine: Sacred Images from the 11th to the 19th Centuries (4 folders), 2010
The Wanderer: Foreign Landscapes of Enrique Martínez Celaya (4 folders), 2010
Scope and Contents
Formerly titled "The Stranger: A Biblical Reading of Enrique Martínez Celaya."
Passion in Venice: Crivelli to Tintoretto and Veronese (12 folders), 2011
On Eagles' Wings: The King James Bible Turns 400 (3 folders), 2011
The Land of Light and Promise: 50 Years Painting Jerusalem and Beyond, Ludwig Blum (6 folders), 2011
Walls Speak: The Narrative of Hildreth Meière (2 folders), 2012
The Adoration of the Magi by Bartolo di Fredi: A Masterpiece Reconstructed (3 folders), 2012
Louis C. Tiffany and the Art of Devotion (8 folders), 2012
Scope and Contents
Includes grant proposals.
Ashe to Amen: African-Americans and Biblical Imagery (5 folders), 2013
Scope and Contents
Includes grant proposals.
Ashe to Amen: African-Americans and Biblical Imagery (8 folders), 2013
As Subject and Object: Contemporary Book Artists Explore Sacred Hebrew Texts (6 folders), 2013
Scope and Contents
Includes statements and biographies of some of the artists whose work is featured in the exhibition.
Sacred Visions: Nineteenth-Century Biblical Art from the Danesh Museum Collection (4 folders), 2013
Scope and Contents
Includes records of exhibition travelling to different venues after original showing at the Museum of Biblical Art.
Object of Devotion: Medieval English Alabaster Sculpture from the Victoria and Albert Museum (2 folders), 2014
Scope and Contents
Includes audio tour script.
Back to Eden: Contemporary Artists Wander the Garden (2 folders), 2014
Dürer, Rembrandt, Tiepolo: The Jansma Master Prints Collection from the Grand Rapids Art Museum (2 folders), 2015
Sculpture in the Age of Donatello: Renaissance Masterpieces from Florence Cathedral (4 folders), 2015
Scope and Contents
Includes some documents in Italian.
Sculpture in the Age of Donatello: Renaissance Masterpieces from Florence Cathedral (3 folders), 2015
Scope and Contents
Includes CD of audio tour and grant proposals.
Power and Piety: Spanish Colonial Art from the Colección Patricia Phelps de Cisneros, 2015
Scope and Contents
"Power and Piety" was not realized in the Museum of Biblical Art due to the fact that it closed shortly before the exhbition was due to begin. Therefore, the exhibition was shown in Palm Beach, Florida later in 2016.