Winner of the Midwest Art History Society Award
for Outstanding Catalogue
The Collections of the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art:
American Paintings to 1945
Edited by Margaret Conrads
The Midwest Art History Society Board of Directors is pleased to announce the winner of the Midwest Art History Society Award for Outstanding Catalogue for 2007, The Collections of the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art: American Paintings to 1945, edited by Margaret Conrads. The decision of the Awards Committee this year was unanimous. The catalogue was judged on the basis of scholarly contributions to the field and the quality of writing and design. The Collections of the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art: American Paintings to 1945 is exemplary on all accounts.
The runner up for the award is The Kimbell Museum for Picturing the Bible, by Jeffery Spier, et al.
This award was initiated in 2004 and this year presented an unusual circumstance. Since Leesa Fanning is a member of the Awards Committee and Chair, and also on the staff of The Nelson-Atkins Museum, she excused herself from the jury process. Michele Fricke, Professor and Program Head of Art History of the Kansas City Art Institute, generously agreed to take her place, and Joseph Becherer, Director of the Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park, organized the deliberation process in her absence. Charlotte Eyerman, Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art of the Saint Louis Art Museum is also on the Awards Committee. Thanks to the committee for their participation.
This represents the fourth year of the award for Outstanding Catalogue. The Call for Nominations for catalogues produced in 2008 will be sent out this November, with a deadline for submissions in February. The winner of the 2008 award will be announced at the annual Midwest Art History Society Conference in Kansas City, spring of 2009.
Leesa Fanning
Member, Board of Directors of the Midwest Art History Society