A New Chapter for Westerly Art Museum

A year after opening its doors, the Westerly Museum of American Impressionism is sharing its story in a different format. A new illustrated hardcover book invites readers to explore the museum, showcasing paintings from the collection while showing how a couple’s love of art grew into a museum.

Written by museum director Catherine E. Shotick, The Westerly Museum of American Impressionism marks the museum’s first anniversary. The volume brings together an in-depth look at the collection and an account of the people and decisions that made the museum possible.

At the heart of that story are founders Cynthia and Tom Sculco, whose shared interest in American Impressionism sparked the institution. The book follows the development of their vision, tracing the steps from a personal passion for paintings to a place where those works could be preserved and shared with the public.

“This book represents an important milestone in the museum’s history,” says Shotick. “It tells the remarkable story of how the shared passion that Cynthia and Tom Sculco had for American Impressionism became a vision for a museum, and how that vision came to life.”

The paintings themselves receive close attention, with illustrations accompanied by discussion of the artists and the traditions that shaped their work. Rather than presenting the collection as a series of images, the book places the works within the larger story of American Impressionism, giving readers some context for what they see.

That regional perspective is central to the museum’s mission. While American Impressionist paintings appear in collections around the country, the Westerly institution spotlights the movement’s New England roots. Notably, the Westerly museum is the first and only one devoted exclusively to American Impressionism, exploring the artists and paintings associated with the period.

For readers, the new volume offers two connected stories: an introduction to the art and a look at how a museum takes shape. Alongside the discussion of paintings is an account of the commitment required to turn the founders’ idea into a cultural destination in Westerly.

“Through its pages, readers can discover not only the extraordinary paintings in our collection but also the dedication, generosity and ambition that made this institution possible,” Shotick says. “It is both a celebration of what we have accomplished and a lasting record of the museum’s origins.”

Learn more at  https://wmairi.org.