His masterful presentation is an hour of sheer joy, wit and ebullient styl….

––The Corcoran Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.

By Dottie Evans

newtown, conn. –– With a background in theater, television and radio, Ivan MacDonald has established himself as one of America’s foremost audiovisual lecturers. According to rave reviews, his performance can be riveting, especially when accompanied by his private collection of 35mm slides and a blow-by-blow account of possibly the most notorious art world hoax of the century.

Add the promise of a surprise ending, and this program looks irresistible.

Newtown residents who appreciate fine art and love a good mystery have a “rare treat” in store, according to Cyrenius Booth Library Program Director Kim Weber. Weber has arranged to have MacDonald speak on Thursday, September 25, at 7:30 pm, in the library’s community room.

MacDonald will retell the true story of Han van Meegeren, an early Twentieth Century Dutch artist, who successfully forged such famous Seventeenth Century masters of the Flemish Baroque period as Jan Vermeer, Frans Hals and Pieter de Hoogh.

The forgeries were finally exposed by a fluke in 1945, when the allies discovered a treasure trove of Nazi artworks hidden in the salt mines of Austria. It is a story filled with drama and intrigue, and who better to tell it than master actor and public speaker, Ivan MacDonald.

“I’ve told this story to major museums throughout the United States, but they do not go out of their way to talk about what happened with the forgeries,” said MacDonald, speaking from his Branford, Conn., home on Friday.

“There is a certain embarrassment. They have [these forged artworks] in the basement. Many were given by wealthy donors and they don’t plan to mention it until after their deaths.”

 He said that acquiring the 35mm slides he uses in his presentation was not an easy task, partially because the museums did not want to cooperate.

“It took me five years to get them. Finally I found two people in Europe who could get me the color slides, and they agreed to sell them to me. Some of these images have not been seen in over 50 years,” MacDonald added.

“It’s an exciting story line with a beginning, a middle and a surprise ending. It truly plays like a mystery.”

The Cyrenius Booth Library is located at 25 Main Street; the program is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be available. For further information, call 203-426-4533.

9/26 SOUTHINGTON GLASS SHOW

9/26

SOUTHINGTON GLASS SHOW

EWM/JAR SET 9/15 #571563

SOUTHINGTON, CONN. — The Connecticut Cambridge Boosters will present its 22nd annual Glass Show and Sale on October 4–5 at the Southington High School.

Twenty-four dealers will display glass from Depression era through the present time, representing companies such as Cambridge, Heisey, Duncan & Miller, Fenton, Fostoria and Depression patterns from Adam to Windsor. This is the third year that American made pottery and china will also be displayed.

Show hours are 10 am to 5 pm, Saturday, October 4, and 11 am to 4 pm on Sunday, October 5. Admission is $4.50 or $4 with discount coupon from this paper (including October 3 editions). All proceeds from the show will be donated to The National Cambridge Collectors Museum, which will have a display and information booth.

For information, 860-673-4088.