I was honored to serve as a host committee member of the 2024 Western Museums Association’s Annual Meeting, which convened in Tucson the last week of September. Museum professionals from across the country, Canada, and Hawaii as well as members of the Museum Trustee Association, participated in this year’s pre-conference tours and workshops, over forty meeting sessions, and off-site excursions such as the gathering at TMA on Saturday evening, September 28. Thank you to the TMA Board members, staff, and docents who helped make this conference a success.

     We begin the month of October with great excitement! One reason is the announcement of the Connie Hillman Family Foundation Challenge Match. New and increased charitable donations as compared to our last fiscal year are eligible for this generous 1:2 match ($1 will be given for every $2 raised). While this extraordinary opportunity will be available for three years, I encourage all TMA friends to participate before December 31^st 2024 and help make this Fall Appeal our best on record.

     On October 3, our exhibition “Paintings from Spanish America (1600 – 1800) from the Thoma Collection” opens and will be on view through January 19, 2025. This exceptional exhibition presents sixteen works, including oil paintings on canvas and delicately rendered small works in oil on copper, revealing the dynamic character of Viceregal or Spanish colonial art—a unique combination of styles influenced by European artists and imported prototypes translated and adapted by local hands.

     This exhibition is made possible through the support of the Carl and Marilynn Thoma Foundation with additional support from TMA’s Latin American Art Patrons.

     In typical fashion, we will concurrently open an exhibition of contemporary works with our “38^el Arizona Biennial”, on view beginning October 19. This survey features the creations of 41 Arizona artists working in multiple mediums. Museum visitors will have the opportunity to experience art objects that span thousands of years by simply walking one hundred feet to an adjacent gallery.

     I sincerely thank this year’s Biennial juror, Natasha Becker, the inaugural curator of African Art at The Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, for reviewing the submissions of over 560 individual artists (x 3 artworks each, by the way.) Also, I would like to recognize the efforts of TMA’s Senior Curator / Glasser Curator of Art of the American West, Christine Brindza and Collections Manager / Registrar, Rachel Adler, for ensuring that this extensive jurying process was a success.

     Our Arizona Biennial 2024 was generously supported by TMA’s Contemporary Art Society and Roger and Ann Looyenga.

     TMA’s 2024/2025 Exhibition Season is presented with the generous support of Louise Glasser.