UMD News: September 28, 2000

Communication Associate: Public Relations | Lori Melton | lmelton@d.umn.edu | (218) 726-8830

September 28, 2000
Susan Beasy Latto, Director of Public Relations 218 726-8830
Wm. Robert Bucker, Dean, School of Fine Arts 218 726-7033
Martin DeWitt, Director, Tweed Museum of Art 218 726-7823

UMD ANNOUNCES ACQUISITION OF PICASSO ETCHINGS

GIFT OF $250,000 BY ALICE TWEED TUOHY FOUNDATION UNVEILS TWEED DONOR RECOGNITION WALL

Chancellor Kathryn A. Martin announced today the acquisition of 13 etchings by artist Pablo Picasso by the UMD Tweed Museum of Art. The etchings, numbered and signed by the artist, were purchased for the Tweed through a gift given by Alice B. O'Connor and John T. Brickson.

Mrs. O'Connor and Mr. Brickson are the grandchildren of the late Alice Tweed Tuohy, who, along with her late husband, George P. Tweed, were avid collectors of American and European art. The Tweeds donated their family home to UMD in 1950, and it became the first home of the "Tweed Art Gallery". Subsequently, Alice Tweed Tuohy donated a collection of over 500 art works to UMD. In addition, she and her daughter, Bernice T. Brickson, provided substantial funding to help build the new Tweedhhh Museum of Art on the UMD campus in 1958. The Alice Tweed Tuohy Foundation was established at the time of Mrs. Tuohy's death in 1973.

Chancellor Martin further announced the gift of $250,000 to the Tweed by the Alice Tweed Tuohy Foundation, located in Santa Barbara, California. She introduced Foundation president, Harris W. Seed and its four officers and directors, who had traveled to UMD to present the gift, and to celebrate Tweed's 50th Anniversary Year. The Alice Tweed Tuohy Foundation has been a generous contributor to fine arts at UMD through the years. Gifts by the Foundation to UMD total over $2 million.

Chancellor Martin said, "We are indeed happy and proud to mark this day of multi-celebration. The addition of the Picasso etchings further highlights and expands Tweed's outstanding permanent collection which is one of the very finest in the Midwest. We sincerely thank Alice O'Connor and John Brickson, and the Alice Tweed Tuohy Foundation for their continuing generosity and support of the Tweed. And we congratulate the Tweed Museum of Art on its 50th year of providing cultural enrichment, education and enjoyment for the students and citizens of Northeastern Minnesota."

At the conclusion of the ceremony, School of Fine Arts Dean Wm. Robert Bucker unveiled the new Tweed Donor Recognition Wall which recognizes 30 individuals and foundations which have contributed $10,000 or more.

NOTE OF INFORMATION:
The 13 signed and numbered etchings by Pablo Picasso are set # 83 of 99 sets done in 1927. The subject of the etchings is a short story by Honre Balzac titled "The Unknown Masterpiece" written in 1837.

UMD Tweed Museum of Art is celebrating its 50th Anniversary Year.

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