The year 2022 will be remembered as a year of growth at Woodmere, and I’m grateful for the many friendships and partnerships that have fueled the museum’s momentum. 

More than anything else during these holidays, I’m filled with appreciation for the great village of people who make Woodmere vibrant. To begin with, I would like to thank the board of trustees, committee members, and generous individuals across our community who not only make it possible for us to run Woodmere year-in and year-out, but who also made it possible for Woodmere to acquire and now to renovate Frances M. Maguire Hall. 

This starts with the Maguire family who made a lead gift in naming our new building in honor of their matriarch Frannie Maguire, who was a beloved Chestnut Hiller, artist, and trustee at Woodmere. Just reflecting on the landscape at Maguire Hall, we are indebted to many friends at the Morris Arboretum, the Friends of the Wissahickon, and the Chestnut Hill Conservancy. 

The guidance of our elected officials has also been critically important, and we are thankful for the constant support from State Senator Art Haywood, State Representatives Tarik Kahn and Christopher Rabb, and City Councilwoman Cindy Bass. 

We would be lost in our new building without the guidance of our architects Jeff Krieger, Matthew Baird, and Andropogon, as well as Aegis, our project manager, and Sullivan Construction, our contractor. 

Woodmere’s exhibitions similarly grow from relationships that are collaborative. “George Biddle the Art of the American Social Conscience” explores Biddle's impressive modernism and the social dimension of his voice. The richness of the exhibition comes from works of art that are lent or have been given to Woodmere by the Biddle family or have been lent by the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, and other museums and individuals. 

Through the work of preparing the exhibition, we have also forged a new relationship with the Andalusia Foundation, which stewards the Biddle family’s great historic residence on the Delaware River. 

On view in our galleries through Jan. 22 is also “Printing as Prologue: Recent work by Allan Edmunds.” This show explores recent works made in the years of the pandemic and recognizes Edmunds’ creativity and unique contribution to Philadelphia’s civic life. Having just retired this year, Edmunds ran the Brandywine Workshop and Archives for 50 years, extending access to the tools of printmaking to artists who might not otherwise be able to use them. 

Once again, we are grateful to the distinguished artist and curator, Ruth Fine, who collaborated on “Printing as Prologue;” the title is her interpretation of the contributing force of printing experience in Edmund’s current work. The active participation of artists is more broadly expressed in Woodmere’s DNA. 

We all grew from the experience of working with Michelle Angela Ortiz and José Ortiz-Pagán, the jurors of this year’s Annual. The artist Marta Sanchez organized the marathon cascarones event at which 125 dozen eggs were decorated to celebrate Easter and the renewal of springtime on one fine morning! Marta also teaches in our studio program, and thanks are expressed to the 12 artists who make our art classes so vibrant. 

The holidays at Woodmere would not be complete without the appearance in our galleries of Belsnickel and other amazing community artifacts, like Mabel Marple’s dollhouse and the great hand-carved Noah’s Ark, which we care for in partnership with the Germantown Historical Society. 

These items bring smiles to faces of thousands of visitors over the season and even attract a visit from Santa during the community’s Circle of Trees celebration, which is organized in partnership with the Chestnut Hill Community Association, the Chestnut Hill Business Association, and the Norwood-Fontbonne Academy. This event, which takes place annually on the Saturday before Thanksgiving, brings an especially palpable joy to our youngest visitors. 

Classroom groups also came back to Woodmere in 2022, and we couldn’t offer school visits without the teachers, school principals, and heads of school who understand the contribution that art makes to a child’s educational development and who are our constant collaborators. 

Woodmere’s dedicated team of docents, many of whom are artists and educators themselves, make the tremendous volume of our work with schools possible. Likewise, Woodmere’s public programs can only take place because of the dedicated army of volunteers who facilitate and sometimes run our events. 

This includes Tuesday Night at the Movies, which is organized in partnership with the Chestnut Hill Film Group, Friday Jazz, which is produced by the Arpeggio Jazz Ensemble, and Classical Saturdays. 

I always fall to my knees in awe of the many talented musicians who perform at Woodmere, whether it’s Warren Oree on the bass riffing on a tune by Motown or Avery Gagliano, a student at Curtis School of Music, who offers a contemporary account of Chopin. 

An annual event at this time of the year at Woodmere is Kids Care: more than one thousand works of art made by children in their classrooms or at Woodmere. After being on exhibition for about a month, the creations are wrapped up and given to people who are homebound during the holidays together with a holiday meal. This is a masterpiece of organization and workflow, and again it is only possible because of Woodmere’s longstanding collaboration with Manna. 

This is a time of the year in which we count our blessings and express gratitude.  My topmost admiration goes to Woodmere’s incredible staff, who make it all look easy and excel in everything they touch. Thank you everyone, with wishes of cheer and fulfillment in the new year. 

William R. Valerio, Ph.D., is the Patricia Van Burgh Allison Director and CEO of Woodmere Art Museum