SPOTLIGHT ON THE arts
CAMP Rehoboth Puts Art at the Heart of the Community
DDOA XXII Award Winners
Works in multiple media by Delaware artists recognized for their outstanding quality of work by the Delaware Division of the Arts (DDOA) are being exhibited at CAMP Rehoboth! Paintings, polymer, photography, charcoal, sculptures, and media arts represent the visual arts, while samples of literary winners’ works can be perused in a reading nook, and performance pieces are available for your listening pleasure.
The DDOA received 132 submissions and awarded fellowships to 25 of those artists. You’re invited to meet the winners, socialize in the courtyard, tour the gallery, and enjoy performances and readings by the artists at the Award Winners Reception—Friday, August 5 (6:00-8:00 p.m.). The exhibit is on display through September 5.
Upcoming CAMP Rehoboth Gallery Exhibit
In what’s become an annual tradition celebrating Rehoboth Beach Bears Weekend (September 15-18), the gallery will feature art by Bears and their allies.
On View Now in Dover
Don’t miss Tom Wilson: Super-Realist/Surrealist exhibit at the Biggs Museum of American Art in Dover on display through October 15. Members of CAMP Rehoboth can receive a complimentary pass to the exhibit.
Just stop by the office!
CAMP REHOBOTH GALLERY exhibits may be viewed Monday-Friday (10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.) and Saturday (10:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.).
Audition Notice ⊲ CAMP Rehoboth Theatre Company announces that auditions for Five Lesbians Eating a Quiche will be held August 9, 10, and 11, at 7:00 p.m., at CAMP Rehoboth. Auditions will consist of reading from the script. Show dates are September 29 through October 1, at 7:00 p.m., at CAMP Rehoboth’s Elkins-Archibald Atrium, 37 Baltimore Avenue, Rehoboth Beach.
artist SPOTLIGHT
Michael Dudich & the Biggs Museum of American Art
CAMP Rehoboth and the Biggs Museum in Dover have a long history of collaborating on exhibitions, so when it was announced they had hired Michael Dudich as their new director, I decided our community needed to get to know him.
Doug Yetter: Fill us in on life before Delaware.
Michael Dudich: I was born and raised in Akron, Ohio, and attended Akron public schools and the University of Akron where I earned by BS degree. I pursued a career in human resource management and worked in the corporate world prior to transitioning to the arts sector. My leadership “DNA” was strongly influenced and shaped by my years with General Electric. Over the past 30 years I’ve relocated for work many times—cities and towns large and small, US and abroad.
DY: Any favorites?
MD: All were memorable, but Savannah and Budapest will always be special to me. Then again, my husband and I are just getting to know Dover.
DY: What led you to the arts?
MD: My journey to the arts started when I wanted to introduce my children to something that wasn’t a part of my upbringing. That path of joint discovery allowed us to experience museums around the world. While it’s hard not to be wowed by the Louvre, Prado, or the Hermitage, I’ve been impressed by some small, yet remarkable museums such as the Florence Griswold in Old Lyme, Connecticut, and The Clark in Williamstown, Massachusetts.
DY: What attracted you to museum work—specifically, the Biggs?
MD: Having personally experienced the power of the arts in my life, working to provide and create similar opportunities for others is immensely rewarding. In the for-profit sector, we focused on creating value for shareowners. Now I spend my time working to deliver meaningful experiences for people. I often hear the Biggs described as a “hidden gem.” While I couldn’t agree more, I’ll be working hard to make it far less hidden.
DY: What do you find important about preservation?
MD: We preserve things from our past to help inform and influence our future, all the while recognizing that the relationship to our past shifts and changes with time.
DY: What constitutes a “good” exhibit?
MD: A focused perspective almost always delivers a better experience for me personally. I’ve also developed an appreciation for when physical elements harmonize in support of the art—the color of the walls, lighting, placement of the works, the size of label text, the space in which you have to move around or step back to take it all in.
DY: Is there a specific time period which interests you most?
MD: The art of today is on my radar right now as I feel it serves as a bridge to diversifying, engaging, and growing audiences. As a museum with “American Art” in our name, we spend a lot of time talking about what that means and how we broaden the timeline and content of our collection.
DY: What is the primary challenge facing museums today?
MD: The biggest challenge for museums post-pandemic is to avoid the temptation of simply reverting to “normal.” The pace of change is such we need to regularly reassess our role as steward of arts.
DY: How would you like your tenure at the Biggs to be remembered?
MD: I hope to be remembered for making a lasting difference as a voice for the arts in Delaware.
We wish Michael success in his new position! The Biggs Museum of American Art is nationally recognized for its exceptional collections of American decorative arts and its collections of American art from 1700 to today. To learn more, go to biggsmuseum.org. ▼
Doug is the Artistic Director of CAMP Rehoboth Chorus and Minister of Music at Epworth UMC. You can contact him at dougyetter@gmail.com.