The trustees of the Cyrus E. Dallin Art Museum have begun a year of events to celebrate the Arlington sculptor's work, marking the 150th anniversary of his birth.

Following a 2011 open house at the museum, 611 Mass., Arlington Center, the trustees have scheduled events that bring public attention to his work throughout 2012.

The museum has announced the exhibition of student art entries from the middle school art contest. An opening reception and awards ceremony was held at the Cutter Gallery at 611 Mass. Ave. in Arlington Center on Saturday, May 12, at 2 p.m. The event is free and open to the public.

Cash and other prizes will be awarded at the reception.

Seventeen student pieces will be exhibited from May 5 through May 26 in the Gallery. Check the Museum’s website, www.dallin.org, or call 781-641-0747 for hours that the Gallery will be open for viewing the exhibit.

The museum organized the contest in celebration of the 150th anniversary of Dallin’s birth and with the intent that students would discover Dallin’s works and be inspired to create art for their own personal expression. The students artworks were judged by a jury of art professionals and community leaders, using the criteria of technique, personal expression, and relationship to contest themes. 

Students used a variety of different media for the contest. Submissions include clay sculptures, pencil drawings, photo transfer, and multimedia pieces. The works extol Dallin’s themes of the native American, American history, family and nature. Students in grades 6, 7, and 8 who attend school in Arlington (public, private, or home school) were eligible to participate.

Local businesses helped raise funds for the contest by donating prizes to the museum’s Town Day raffles in 2010 and 2011. Those businesses include Acitron Restaurant, Art Beat, Art Wear, Capitol Theatre, Giles Wine, Lady Siam Restaurant, Menotomy Beer & Wine, New England Photo, Not Your Average Joe’s Restaurant, Play Time Crafts, Punjab Restaurant, Ristorante Olivio and Tango Restaurant.

Dallin encouraged young artists to pursue their studies at home and abroad. Given that he was a dedicated teacher of art, the museum considers the middle school Art Contest to be a fitting project for the 150th anniversary year. The museum, at 611 Mass. Ave., is open Wednesdays through Sundays from noon to 4 p.m.

Dallin's Revere monument celebrated April 29

Boston’s North End/Waterfront community was the host to a fair on Sunday, April 29, from noon to 4 p.m., at the Paul Revere Mall on Hanover Street in commemoration of the great American sculptor Cyrus Dallin, his Paul Revere Monument, and the Paul Revere Mall, designed by the famed landscape architect Arthur Shurcliff and architect Henry Shepley.

The public will have the opportunity to learn about the perseverance and vision of Dallin, Shurcliff and other individuals who were responsible for planning and preserving this public treasure, which is among the most visited and photographed sites in America. Other historical presentations will focus on the patriot Paul Revere, and on the history of Boston’s North End neighborhood.

Presentations will be made throughout the afternoon by event cosponsors: the Cyrus Dallin Art Museum of Arlington, the Paul Revere Memorial Association, Old North Church, Friends of The Prado, the North End Historical Society, the North End Music and Performing Arts Center and the North End/Waterfront Residents’ Association.

Welcoming remarks by event sponsors and elected officials will occur at 2 p.m. Members of the Cyrus Dallin and Paul Revere families will also attend.

In addition, on Thursday, May 17, at 7 p.m., the Old North Church will host a related lecture providing a more in-depth historical review of the topics and an opportunity for public discussion. The featured speaker will be Rebecca Reynolds, formerly of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, an American decorative arts curator, author, and consultant who specializes in American sculpture.

Reynolds's talk will focus on the artistic legacy of Cyrus Dallin as well as his 58 year long struggle to erect his Paul Revere sculpture in Boston. Representatives from the North End’s historic and cultural organizations including the North End/Waterfront Residents' Association, Friends of The Prado, and the North End Historical Society will also present information about the vision, history and landscape design of the Paul Revere Mall, called “The Prado” by the local community.

The two events are intended to raise a new consciousness about the importance of the Paul Revere Mall for its historical, public and community value. The event sponsors are actively promoting investment in the Mall in order to restore the physical integrity of the space to Shurcliff’s original design and to see a revitalization of the park as both a historical monument and a beautiful open space for neighborhood and visitor gathering and reflection.

With the April 29 and May 17 events, the North End/Waterfront community joins the Cyrus Dallin Art Museum and others in a yearlong celebration of the 150th anniversary of Dallin’s birth.

Cyrus Edwin Dallin (1861-1944), known for some of Boston’s and the nation’s most iconic sculptures, struggled for over half a century against all manner of adversity to erect his sculpture of Paul Revere. This sculpture is an internationally known landmark of Boston, as is his Appeal to the Great Spirit in front of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.

In 1882, at the age of 21, a youthful and unknown Dallin won a City competition for Boston’s Paul Revere Monument. His work was selected in a blind completion over far more established sculptors, including Daniel Chester French. Nevertheless, his quest to complete the commission was a 58-year test of perseverance and resolve. Dallin created seven different versions of the Revere sculpture before it was finally cast in bronze and installed in The Prado in 1940. Photos of all seven versions of Dallin’s Paul Revere will be on display at the April 29 event and are exhibited in the Cyrus Dallin Art Museum in Arlington. The fifth version, on display in the Museum, was reproduced in plaster and widely marketed by the Caproni Brothers Studio in the early 20th century.

The Cyrus Dallin Art Museum is the leading center for the study and enjoyment of Dallin’s work. Located at 611 Massachusetts Avenue in Arlington Center, the Museum is open Wednesdays through Sundays from noon to 4 p.m.. Visit www.dallin.org for more information and a complete list of 150th anniversary events.

The North End/Waterfront Residents’ Association (NEWRA) is a non-profit organization whose purpose is to protect and enhance the living experience and residential character of the unique neighborhood. Membership is open to anyone with principal residence in the North End/Waterfront area of Boston.

Old North Church (officially, Christ Church in the City of Boston), at 193 Salem Street, is the location from which the famous “One if by land, and two if by sea” signal is said to have been sent. This phrase is related to Paul Revere’s midnight ride, of April 18, 1775, which preceded the Battles of Lexington, Concord and Arlington (Menotomy) during the American Revolution. The church is a parish of the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts. It is the oldest active church building in Boston and is a National Historic Landmark.

Friends of the Prado was formed several years ago and helped implement several maintenance programs that brought improvements to the park and its trees. One goal of the April 29 and May 17 events is to grow and strengthen the organization to partner with the City of Boston Parks and Recreation Department – which has care and control of the Mall – and other supporting organizations with the mission of bringing improvement and protection to the Mall. With this mission, Friends of The Prado becomes a principal steward of the historical open space.

The Paul Revere Memorial Association actively preserves and interprets two of Boston’s oldest homes, the Paul Revere House and the adjacent Hichborn House. It provides increasingly diverse audiences with a full range of educational programs and experiences based on historical issues and social history themes relevant to the sites, the neighborhood, and Boston from the 17th through the early 20th century. The Association maintains an important collection of Revere-made objects, household artifacts, items commemorating the midnight ride, and items related to Revere’s life and work. Recently, the Association has been involved in major capital restoration and expansion effort.

The mission of the North End Historical Society is to collect and preserve the historical record and material culture of Boston’s North End, to preserve, catalog, and present these resources in service of the wider community through publications, lectures, educational programs, and exhibits.

The mission includes ongoing efforts to bring together scholars and individuals knowledgeable and interested in all aspects of the North End’s history.
The North End Music and Performing Arts Center (NEMPAC) is a private, nonprofit with headquarters at the Paul Revere Mall.

Its mission is to provide affordable arts-related programming to residents of the North End/Waterfront and the surrounding neighborhoods. By encouraging participation in the arts, NEMPAC’s seeks to strengthen relationships with the community and enhance community life.

In the the next event Richard E. Turley Jr. assistant church historian and recorder of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, will deliver an illustrated talk about sculptor Cyrus Dallin’s commissions in Utah for the church and describe how Dallin came to be the artist of some of the church’s most important historical and religious figures. 

Held earlier

The talk, "Iconic Mormon Sculpture: Cyrus Dallin and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints," was held at 3 p.m. Saturday, March 24, Town Hall auditorium, 730 Mass. Ave.

Dan Johnson, a member of the Cyrus Dallin Art Museum trustees, will provide introductory remarks about his experience as a former resident of Salt Lake City and the many connections he has discovered between Cyrus Dallin, Utah and Massachusetts.

The talk is open to the public. A suggested donation of $5 will support the museum’s educational programming during the "Dallin150" commemorative year.

Cyrus Edwin Dallin (1861-1944) was born in Springville, Utah. The picturesque Western frontier remained an important touchstone for Dallin both personally and artistically throughout his life, but it was in Massachusetts where he settled, raised his family, and experienced the most prolific period of his career.

Dallin’s entrée to the East Coast came from sponsors, who helped pay his way to Boston in 1880 in order that he could study with Boston sculptor Truman Bartlett. Dallin remained close with his family in Utah, making frequent trips back there for personal and professional reasons.

He was asked by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to design a sculpture of the Angel Moroni. Having doubts that he was the right person for the job because he was not himself a member of the church, Dallin was encouraged by his mother, Jane Hamer Dallin, to take the commission.

The Angel Moroni sculpture adorns the top of Mormon temples around the world, including the Boston Temple in Belmont, Mass. Dallin was the first, and one of only a small number of artists to have received this commission.

Dallin also sculpted portraits of several church leaders, including Wilford Woodruff, Joseph and Hyrum Smith and Brigham Young. Dallin’s Pioneer Monument occupies a prominent position in downtown Salt Lake City, Utah near Temple Square.

Turley has noted the unique relationship between Dallin and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, saying, "Although Dallin was not a member of the church, and he called Boston home for most of his life, his sculptures remain some of the most inspiring and iconic works of art in the Church and throughout Utah."

Turley was appointed assistant church historian and recorder in 2008. Before this appointment, he served for eight years as managing director of the church’s family and church history department, four years as managing director of the family history department and 14 years as managing director of the church historical department.

In these roles, he oversaw the church archives and records center, the church history library, the Museum of Church History and Art, and the church’s worldwide family history operations, which include documentary microfilming and digital-imaging projects, the family history library, the Granite Mountain Records Vault and FamilySearch.org.

Along with Ronald W. Walker and Glen M. Leonard, Turley wrote Massacre at Mountain Meadows (Oxford University Press, 2008), a widely acclaimed history of the 1857 Utah murders of some 120 California-bound emigrants.

He is also chairman of the editorial board for the Joseph Smith Papers series. Turley serves on the board of Utah Westerners. He has been president of the Genealogical Society of Utah and vice president of the Small Museum Administrators Committee, American Association of Museums.

Visit the museum’s website at www.dallin.org for a complete list of programs and event updates and details. The museum, at 611 Mass. Ave., Arlington Center, is open Wednesdays through Sundays from noon to 4 p.m.

Admission is free, but donations are encouraged. Call 781-641-0747 or e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it for additional information or to arrange a group tour. Search "Cyrus Dallin Art Museum" when using GPS mapping programs for directions.

Arlington middle-school students are invited to participate in an art contest. A grand prize of $100 as well as other prizes will be awarded. Submissions were due Saturday, Feb. 25.

The contest aims to encourage student creativity and artistic expression as well as bring greater awareness to Arlington students about the art and contributions of Cyrus Dallin and to increase community involvement at the Museum.

The contest will culminate with an exhibit of student art work at the Cutter Gallery, in the lower level of 611 Mass. Ave., from May 5 through May 26, and an awards reception on May 12 at 2 p.m.

Interested students in grades 6 through 8 are invited to visit the museum anytime Wednesday through Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. to view examples of Dallin’s work and draw inspiration for their own projects. Museum docents will answer questions and to introduce students to the sculptures in the collection. Art submissions are due at the museum by 4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 25.

For more information and to download contest guidelines and the submission form, visit the events page on the museum's website,www.dallin.org.

"Cyrus the Great" Dean of New England Sculptors Illustrated Talk & Sculpture Demonstration by Jonathan and Dr. Daniel J. Fairbanks Wednesday, January 18, 7:00 pm   Arlington Town Hall Auditorium 730 Mass. Ave., Arlington, MA 02476 Suggested Donation - $5 per person Join Jonathan and Dr. Daniel Fairbanks for a multimedia event celebrating the life and work of Cyrus Dallin! Respected artist, curator, and scholar Jonathan Fairbanks will discuss Dallin's equestrian monuments and other groundbreaking works while Dr. Daniel J. Fairbanks, a scientist, artist, and professor (and nephew of Jonathan Fairbanks) sculpts a bust of Dallin in clay.  This event is sponsored by the Cyrus Dallin Art Museum in conjunction with the 150th anniversary of the birth of Cyrus Dallin. Visitwww.dallin.org for a full list of programs and events throughout the year. Jonathan Leo Fairbanks is an artist and expert in American fine and decorative arts. He developed the decorative arts and sculpture department at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston in 1971, and served as the department's curator until 1999. Fairbanks earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Utah, a Masters in Fine Arts from the University of Pennsylvania in conjunction with the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, and a second Masters in American Culture from the University of Delaware Winterthur Museum Fellowship Program. Fairbanks currently works as a museum consultant curating temporary and traveling exhibitions. He also researches and writes for Artfact.com, creates and exhibits his own artwork, and serves on the board of the Fairbanks Family in America, Inc., the organization that owns and operates the historic Fairbanks House in Dedham, Massachusetts. Daniel J. Fairbanks is a scientist, artist, author, and professor. He graduated with high honors from Brigham Young University and received graduate training in genetics at the University of Minnesota (M.S.) and the University of Arizona (Ph.D.) He is currently Associate Dean of Science and Health and Professor of Biology at Utah Valley University. Dr. Fairbanks is also a professional artist with commissioned work in sculpture, painting, and drawing on permanent exhibit in museum, public, and private collections. He is a certified forensic sculptor and is currently working on anthropological facial reconstructions of skulls from Moche excavations in Peru.   OUR ANNUAL APPEAL IS UNDER WAY. CONTRIBUTE HERE!   You can help the Cyrus Dallin Art Museum broaden its base of support during this special anniversary year by making a tax deductible contribution to the Annual Fund. Your gift, in any amount, is greatly appreciated.   Donate Online: Visit www.dallin.org to make a secure online donation through PayPal.   Donate by Mail: Send a check payable to the Cyrus Dallin Art Museum to:   Cyrus Dallin Art Museum 611 Mass. Avenue Arlington, MA 02474   Cyrus Dallin Art Museum 611 Massachusetts Avenue Arlington, MA 02474 (781) 641-0747 www.dallin.org This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

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