Lauren Wolfer, Associate Curator of Special Collections & Archives
Have you ever wondered what art hangs in the homes of people who work in an art museum? Wonder no more, because we have the answer! In this spin on “Treasures from the Vault”, “Treasures from Home” highlights pieces from our own, personal collections of art! Snoop on our Associate Curator of Special Collections & Archives Lauren Wolfer’s collection of animal prints and sculpture in our first installment of “Treasures from Home”.
First, I have to admit that very few of the following works were actually purchased. My favorite way to collect prints is to join in printmaking exchanges. Here’s how it works: You make approximately 15-20 prints of any kind (usually the organizers keep two for their archives), send in the prints with the submission fee (around $15-$30), and they mail back to you a variety of prints from artists located everywhere! My two favorite exchanges are Leftovers and the SGCI conference exchange. Not a printmaker, per se? That’s okay! I’ve received prints of various levels of technical skill, including one from a child, it’s all about having fun! Don’t have the materials? Check out Kitchen Lithography!
The Little Friends of Printmaking. Cat Behind Plants. Screenprint, 2017. Photo courtesy of Lauren Wolfer. 
Martha Rich. I said no. Giclee print, 2018. Photo courtesy of Lauren Wolfer.
Natalie Bendiksen. Stuffed. Linocut, 2016. Photo courtesy of Lauren Wolfer. 
Chris Dacre. Untitled. Linocut, 2012. Photo courtesy of Lauren Wolfer.
Vicki LoSasso. Shadow. Woodcut, date unknown. Photo courtesy of Lauren Wolfer. 
Sue Tacke. Three Tweet, in the Wind. Linocut, date unknown. Photo courtesy of Lauren Wolfer.
I bought the steampunk bird (below) at an estate sale off of lake Wawasee; there’s a lot of hidden treasures at auctions and estate sales if you spend time looking. There were three birds total and I was hoping to sweep all of them up but there were others interested in them as well… but I got the biggest one!
Back in 2014 when I was still the Technical Assistant at FWMoA, Dennis McNett had a solo exhibit at the museum with an entire corner dedicated to an installation. We worked weekend hours to get it completed and he gifted me his print (below) at the end of the week!
The cat in a jar by Amanda Dornbush (below), Cat Behind Plants (above), and Martha Rich’s (above) work were all purchased because, duh, CATS! My cat, Moody (yes, that’s a Harry Potter reference) is a tuxedo cat and it reminded me a lot of him. Art buying doesn’t always have to be so serious, and it’s all about collecting what you like. These bring a smile to my face and make my walls more colorful.
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