Hungarian Studies Newsletter, 1998 (15. évfolyam, 51-54. szám)
1998 / 51-52. szám
was born in Pécs, Hungary in 1908 and lived in Paris, France from the 1940's until his death in 1997. The exhibition includes mainly works on loan from the former Vasarely Center, but also includes several prints from the museum collection of the Foundation and the Priscilla B. Molnár Collection. Vasarely's art, whether a twodimensional composition of forms/colors or a multi-dimensional structure, is one in which intuition, science, and technique all have a share. It is capable of stimulating the imagination and the eye. His vision extends beyond the canvas with an aim to beautify the environment. He believed that the functional is compatible with beautiful. Vasarely said the...’’true innovators constitute only a tiny minority.” He was truly a part of that minority and received international recognition with exhibitions in the foremost art institutions of the Western World. He also received numerous awards, including the Guggenheim Prize and Officer of the French Legion of Honor. For additional information contact Patricia Fazekas the Museum Curator of the exhibition. FOUNDATION NEWS (Continued) PODOLINI-VOLKMAN EXHIBITION Painted in 1924 by Arthur Podolini-Voikman, "Wanderers” is part of the exhibition of works by a teacher of Victor Vasarely, presented by the Foundation's Museum until September 27, 1998. A special exhibition of the Museum of the American Hungarian Foundation presents the works of Arthur Podolini-Voikman, artist and teacher. He was a teacher of Victor Vasarely, whose works are also being shown concurrently at the Museum. Vasarely studied with Podolini in 1927. The thirty six works of painting and drawings by Podolini are on loan to the Foundation's Museum from the Podolini family in the United States, Dr. and Mrs. Arthur Nadas. The exhibition will be on view until September 27, 1998. DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARDS PRESENTED BY THE FOUNDATION The American Hungarian Foundation recognizes the special and exceptional contributions of individuals in their professional fields as well as to American-Hungarian community life. On March 28, 1998, the Foundation presented its Distinguished Service Award to Peter Ujvagi. Peter Ujvagi became Council President of The City of Toledo, Ohio, January 18, 1998. His acceptance of this position follows a long career in public service, community activism and Hungarian- American social service. Peter Ujvagi’s political career in Toledo spans three decades. His party activism led to a long career in the Lucas County Democratic Party Organization, NGO representation in Washington, DC and a role in the Carter Administration’s Commission on Neighborhoods. Throughout the 1980's and 1990’s he was active in city government in Toledo, as a City Councilman, and a mayoral candidate. Parallel to his political career he has been an active supporter of community activities in the local Birmingham neighborhood of East Toledo, including the work of the churches, clubs, and cultural activities. At the 35th annual Carousel Ball of the American Hungarian Foundation on April 25, 1998, two Distinguished Service Award Laureates were honored: Mayor James M. Cahill of New Brunswick, NJ, and Dr. Frank A. Mate of Gaithersburg, MD. Dr. Mate was born in New Brunswick, NJ, and he was recognized for his eminent humanitarian, church and civic leadership and also for his pioneering work in pediatric medicine as founder of the Clinic for Exceptional Children at Georgetown University Hospital. Mayor Cahill is also of Hungarian heritage and was honored for his tireless and dedicated public service in elevating the quality of life and enriching the cultural fabric of all in New Brunswick. FOUNDATION ARCHIVES TO HOUSE THE BETHLEN COLLECTION In July of 1998, the Bethlen Archive and Museum (BMA) and the American Hungarian Foundation (AHF) formally agreed to house the Bethlen Collection at the facilities of the Archives of the Foundation in New Brunswick, NJ, thereby maintaining and preserving the Collection as an entity. This decision has been pending for a long time, including extensive studies on the mission of the BMA. The Bethlen Home for Children, a subsidiary of the Hungarian Reformed Federation of America (HRFA), opened its doors in 1921. The first superintendent of the Children's Home for the orphans, Rev. Sándor Kalassay, was not only a minister of the Reformed faith, but also an educator, historian, ardent writer and a collector of documents and artifacts of the ethnic Hungarian community in America. He laid the foundation for the present Bethlen Collection in Ligonier, PA. Others like Rev. Dr. Lajos Nanassy and Rev. Sándor Daroczy, also contributed significantly to the Collection. While the Bethlen Collection continued to grow over the years, it wasn't until 1971 that a professional archivist looked at the Collection. In his study of the Collection, the late Dr. Kálmán Ujszászi, director of the Library and Museum of the Theological Seminary of Sárospatak, Hungary, outlined the necessary steps that the guardians of the Bethlen Collection should take in order to safeguard its integrity and its future. His recommendations were later supplemented by a number of distinguished scholars, ranging from George Szabó, of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, who visited the collection and prepared a brief outline of suggestions in 1976, to Dr. Richard Horcsik, archivist, who expressed his opinion about the collection in “néhány javaslatok a Ligonier, Pennsylvania, Bethlen Archive és Muzeum ügyében" in 1986. Scholarly efforts continued as librarian László Kovács prepared a (Continued on page 6) NO. 51-52, SPRING-SUMMER, 1998, HUNGARIAN STUDIES NEWSLETTER 5
