The
J. Paul Getty Museum announced today details of an historic long-term collaboration with the Sicilian Ministry of Culture and Sicilian Identity. The agreement will result in joint efforts regarding special exhibitions, object conservation, earthquake protection of collections, scholarly research, conferences, museum practices and educational programs.
Acting Director David Bomford said, "I am delighted that the Getty Museum has reached a mutually beneficial agreement with our colleagues in Sicily that allows us to expand our relationship with Italy to this very important region for the study of the ancient Mediterranean. This accord is an extension of our 2007 agreement with the Italian Ministry of Culture, which paved the way for a number of important projects."
Special Exhibitions
Tentatively titled
Between Greece and Rome: Sicily in the Classical and Hellenistic Period, the first international loan exhibition of antiquities scheduled to open at the Getty Villa in 2013 will focus on the art and civilization of the wealthy and powerful Greek colonies and their cities from the 5th through 3rd Centuries B.C.
The Getty Museum will also work with the Museo Archeologico Regionale "Antonino Salinas" in Palermo, the Superintendency of Trapani and Professor Clemente Marconi from the world-renowned Institute of Fine Arts at New York University to organize an exhibition on Selinunte (Selinos), an important Greek colonial settlement in southwestern Sicily. Selinunte is best known for its Greek archaic and classical temples.
Both presentations may travel to the Palazzo Aiutamicristo in Palermo, a center for the study of Sicilian art and culture.
Seismic Mitigation ConferenceThe Getty Museum's Department of Antiquities Conservation has organized annual international conferences devoted to seismic mitigation and minimizing earthquake damage to art museum collections in Los Angeles (2006), Istanbul (2007), Athens (2008) and Tokyo (2009). In partnership with the Centro Regionale per la Progettazione e il Restauro e per le Scienze Applicate ai Beni Culturali, the Getty is planning to hold this year's meeting in Sicily. A one-day workshop for museum technicians and conservators will be dedicated to seismic mount-making and related topics.
Object ConservationThe Getty Villa's state-of-the-art facilities will be used to treat Sicilian antiquities in need of conservation. The
Marble Youth from Agrigento (ca. 480 B.C.) will arrive in California in Fall 2010 so that a custom-designed earthquake-resistant base can be fabricated for the sculpture. Once completed, the statue will be displayed temporarily with the Getty's permanent collection of ancient art in Malibu.
In preparation for
Between Greece and Rome..., the marble
Youth from Motya (ca. 480-450 B.C.) discovered in 1979 will be studied to create a new seismic restraint and enhance its appearance.
The Museo Archeologico di Aidone will loan to the Getty Villa objects related to the worship of the Greek goddesses Demeter and Persephone that were unearthed at the archaeological site of Morgantina. After evaluation for possible conservation, the works will be incorporated into the museum's
Gods and Goddesses gallery for one year.