News Release: April 8, 2010

NEWS RELEASE Media contact:

Colleen Schafroth, Executive Director

(509) 773-3733, colleen@maryhillmuseum.org

Maryhill Museum of Art Adds 25 Libraries to Access Art Program
Free Museum Passes Can Be Checked Out at Local Libraries

(GOLDENDALE, Wash., April 8, 2010) – Visiting Maryhill Museum of Art just got easier, thanks to the museum’s Access Art program, which places free passes in community libraries throughout the Columbia River Gorge area and Eastern Oregon. The pass allows all members of a family living in the same household, plus up to four guests, to visit Maryhill free of charge. Twenty-five libraries in the Libraries of Eastern Oregon (LEO) system were just added to the program, bringing the number of participating libraries to 51.

“We are committed to providing access to Maryhill, regardless of income. Our hope is to expand the program as widely as possible and to encourage patrons to take advantage of it,” says Carrie Clark, Maryhill’s curator of education.

Demand for Access Art passes has grown tremendously since the program was first introduced in 2004. That year 32 families and individuals checked out passes; during 2009, 340 families and individuals used the program. The passes, which come with an introductory DVD “Magic of Maryhill,” may be checked out for a three-week period, allowing for repeat visits.

“It’s a great way to bring a group to the museum – your extended family, or your children and a few of their friends for a birthday celebration,” adds Clark.

Free passes to Maryhill Museum of Art are now available in 51 communities throughout the Columbia River Gorge and in Eastern Oregon. Washington state libraries include: Goldendale, White Salmon, and Stevenson. Oregon libraries include: Adams, Arlington, Athena, Baker City, Boardman, Carnegie Union Public Library (Union), Cascade Locks, Christmas Valley Library, Condon, Cook Memorial Library (La Grande), Crook County Library (Prineville), Dufur, The Dalles, Echo, Enterprise Public Library, Fossil Public Library, Grant County Library (John Day), Haines Library, Halfway Library, Harney County Library (Burns), Helix, Heppner Branch Library, Hermiston, Hood River, Huntington Library, Ione Public Library, Irrigon Branch Library, Jefferson County Library (Madras), Joseph Public Library, Lakeview Library, Malheur County Library (Ontario), Moro, Milton-Freewater, Parkdale, Paisley Library, Pendleton (including Blue Mountain Community College), Pilot Rock, Richland Library, Southern Wasco County Library (Maupin), Spray Public Library, Stanfield, Sumpter Library, Umatilla, Ukiah, Wallowa County Library (Enterprise), Warm Springs, and Weston.

Support for Access Art is provided by the Institute of Museum and Library Services, and by Maryhill patrons Art Dodd and Diane Plumridge.

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ABOUT MARYHILL MUSEUM OF ART:
Opened to the public May 13, 1940, Maryhill Museum of Art celebrates its 70^th anniversary in 2010. Housed in a glorious Beaux Arts mansion on 5,300 acres high above the Columbia River, Maryhill Museum of Art is one of the Pacific Northwest’s most enchanting cultural destinations. The museum was founded by Northwest entrepreneur and visionary Sam Hill, who purchased the property and began building the house with dreams of establishing a Quaker farming community. When that goal proved untenable, Hill was encouraged by friends Loie Fuller, Queen Marie of Romania, and Alma de Bretteville Spreckles to establish a museum.

Today Maryhill Museum of Art boasts a world-class permanent collection, rotating exhibitions of the highest caliber, and dynamic educational programs that provide opportunities for further exploration by visitors of all ages. On view are more than 80 works by Auguste Rodin, European and American paintings, objects d'art from the palaces of the Queen of Romania, Orthodox icons, unique chess sets, and the renowned Théâtre de la Mode, featuring small-scale mannequins attired in designer fashions of post-World War II France. Baskets of the indigenous people of North America were a collecting interest of Hill; today the museum’s Native American collection represents nearly every tradition and style in North America, with works of art from prehistoric through contemporary.

Maryhill’s Outdoor Sculpture Garden features work by Tom Herrera, Mel Katz, Heath Krieger, Alisa Looney, Jill Torberson, Julian Voss-Andreae, Jeff Weitzel and Leon White. The Maryhill Overlook is a site-specific sculpture by noted Portland architect Brad Cloepfil; nearby are Lewis and Clark interpretive panels. Four miles east of Maryhill is a life-sized replica of Stonehenge, Stonehenge Memorial, which Sam Hill built to memorialize local men who perished in World War I. Nearby, the Klickitat County War Memorial honors those who have died in the service of their country since World War I.

The museum was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974. In 2001 the museum was listed as an official site of the National Historic Lewis and Clark Trail and in 2002 was accredited by the American Association of Museums.

VISITOR INFORMATION:

Maryhill Museum of Art is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., March 15 to November 15. Admission is $7 for adults, $6 for seniors and $2 for children age 6-16. Admission to the Stonehenge Memorial is free; it is open from 7:00 a.m. to dusk daily.

Sandwiches, salads, espresso drinks, cold beverages, and freshly baked desserts and pastries are available at Café Maryhill; the Museum Store features art and history books, jewelry, Native American crafts and other mementos.

Maryhill is located off Highway 97, 12 miles south of Goldendale, Washington. Drive times to the museum are 2 hours from Portland/Vancouver, 3.5 hours from Bend, 4 hours from Seattle, and 1.5 hours from Yakima. For further information, visit www.maryhillmuseum.org.