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Racine, WI March 30, 2010
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Museum Director Celebrates 35th Anniversary
Bruce W. Pepich, RAM Executive Director and Curator of Collections  | The
Racine Art Museum (RAM)in Racine, Wisconsin recently marked the 35th
anniversary of Bruce W. Pepich as its Executive Director and Curator of
Collections. Pepich oversees all aspects of RAM's nationally recognized
collections, exhibitions and education programs in of contemporary crafts and
works on paper.
Pepich
graduated from Northern Illinois University in DeKalb in 1974 with a BA in Art
History. He was hired as Project Manager that year at RAM's Charles A. Wustum Museum of Fine Arts, and became its Director in 1981. Under his leadership, the
American Association of Museums has professionally accredited the museum since
1986. During the 1990s, Pepich assembled one of the most significant contemporary craft collections in the nation through gifts received from
collectors in 30 different states.
Under
Pepich's directorship, the institution raised $10.1 million to build and open
RAM in 2003, and raised an additional $5 million in 2005-07 to increase RAM's
operating endowment. Today, RAM is home to a collection of more than 5,000
works from internationally recognized artists in ceramics, fibers, glass,
metals and wood, as well as painting, sculpture and works on paper. He has also
further cultivated RAM's reputation in the field of contemporary art and made
the museum an important area attraction, bringing visitors to Southeastern
Wisconsin from all over the nation and around the world.
Pepich is
a published writer and has served on over 50 jury panels for national and
international art competitions. He currently volunteers as a peer reviewer for
the American Association of Museums and is a Board member of the Cultural Alliance of Greater Milwaukee.
Pepich
recently stated, "I am grateful to this institution and its community for their
long-term support of my efforts on behalf of this field. RAM has been able to
accomplish many goals in the past 25 years through the benefit of consistent
leadership and collaborative supporters. As a community, we can be proud of our
unparalleled achievements." He added, "I look forward to the new projects and
programs we have planned for our audiences."
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Together, the two campuses of the Racine Art Museum, RAM in downtown Racine at 441 Main Street and the Charles A. Wustum Museum of Fine Arts at 2519 Northwestern Avenue, seek to elevate the stature of contemporary crafts to that of fine art by exhibiting significant works in craft media with painting, sculpture and photography, while providing outstanding educational art programming.
Docent led contemporary craft and architectural tours of the museums are available. Both campuses of the Racine Art Museum, are open to the public Tuesday - Saturday 10:00 am - 5:00 pm, and are closed Mondays, Federal holidays and Easter. RAM is open Sunday Noon - 5:00 pm, while Wustum is closed Sundays. An admission fee of $5 for adults, with reduced fees for students and seniors, applies at RAM. Admission to Wustum is free. Members are always admitted without charge to either campus.
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For more information or to request images, please contact:
Laura Gillespie
RAM Marketing Assistant
262.638.8300 x 114
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