ART! Westerly Museum of American Impressionism

Opened in early October, The Westerly Museum of American Impressionism (WMAI), is believed to be the only museum in the U.S. dedicated exclusively to American Impressionism. The museum displays more than 150 paintings from a total collection of roughly 300 American Impressionist paintings accumulated over the past 40 years by Cynthia D. Sculco and Dr. Thomas P. Sculco, well-known local collectors and philanthropists, at its opening.

Located on Watch Hill Road, the museum spans 20,000 square feet, situated on a peninsula overlooking the Pawcatuck River. It is designed for the exhibition, study and preservation of American Impressionist art from the 1880s to the 1920s. Eleven curated galleries feature works from lesser-known artists such as Walter Griffin, Louise Upton Brumback and Charles H. Woodbury, as well as renowned artists such as Childe Hassam, John Singer Sargent, Lilla Cabot Perry, Jane Peterson and Edmund C. Tarbell.

The museum’s founders have a deep connection to Westerly. The Sculcos graduated from the same class at Westerly High School, are long-time Westerly residents, and support numerous cultural institutions in the area.

The couple also resides in New York City where Dr. Sculco, a well-known hip and knee replacement surgeon, is surgeon-in-chief emeritus at the Hospital for Special Surgery, professor of orthopedic surgery at Weill Cornell Medical College and founder of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Complex Joint Reconstruction Center. Cynthia is an adjunct associate professor of nursing at New York University’s Rory Meyers College of Nursing. She is a graduate of the University of Rhode Island’s College of Nursing and has a Doctor of Education (EdD) degree from Teachers College, Columbia University.

They began collecting art due to a shared passion for the style and vibrant colors that characterize the American Impressionist movement.

“Our intent with this museum has been to create a cultural resource for residents and visitors to enjoy, now and for coming generations,” said Dr. Sculco. “We also wanted to help visitors better understand the important role that New England and East Coast artists played in the American Impressionism movement, both those who are well known and artists we feel are worthy of greater recognition. We believe this is the only museum in the country whose collection is dedicated entirely to American Impressionism.”

Catherine Shotick serves as the inaugural director of the museum and has been integral in its planning, curation and gallery installations. She was previously a museum curator in Chicago and Oklahoma City. She has extensive experience in connecting audiences with art through dynamic exhibitions and community collaborations.

Catherine explains that the museum’s galleries highlight works sourced from iconic artist colonies along the coast stretching from Old Lyme, CT to Ogunquit, ME. Other galleries will feature thematic presentations and detailed exhibitions on specific artists.

The Sculcos acquired the parcel of land for the museum in 2021. They commissioned Essex, CT-based Centerbrook Architects & Planners to design and build a museum. The museum was built on the foundation of a former vacant physical rehabilitation structure on the property, using the same footprint. The museum’s design features nautical blue siding and gray metal roofs that blend into a natural landscape of meadow grasses and wildflowers. Skylights invite natural light into the galleries. Framed views of the land and water outside the structure were incorporated in the design, to complement the Impressionist works on the walls.

The interior galleries accommodate the museum’s permanent and visiting collections. Three wings extend from a lobby and museum shop. An event space at the end of one gallery opens to a deck facing the river, while a learning center occupies the end of a second wing. The third wing is devoted to offices and patron services.

“We wanted to thank the entire team of architects, designers, builders and so many others who have worked tirelessly over the past several years to bring our dream for this museum to reality,” Cynthia Sculco noted.

Besides ongoing and visiting exhibits, the museum plans to hold lecture series, establish partnerships with schools, create an internship program for college students, and collaborate with regional cultural institutions.

“We are thrilled to bring these extraordinary works of art to museum visitors and share the passion for American Impressionism that has inspired us over the years,” Dr. Sculco said.

The museum is open to visitors Thursday through Sunday, from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. For more information on the Westerly Museum of American Impressionism, including timed-entry tickets and memberships, please visit: https://wmairi.org