06/08/2015
From Wade Wilson: Friday night, I had the great privilege of establishing the Barbara Van Cleve Endowment for Women's Photographic Studies at the University of New Mexico.
The Endowment will, in part, perpetuate the support of her recent bequest of her entire archives (upon her eventual passing) to the university's collection which, to date, includes more than 23,000 images thus increasing UNM's already formidable collection by more than 1/3 and represents a gift to the museum valued at this time in excess of $2,300,000.
The UNM Art Museum houses (prior to Van Cleve's generous bequest) the 4th largest and most important collection of fine art photography in the world after the Eastman House, MOMA, and the Amon Carter Museum. The Getty Museum boasts the largest collection of photography in general but it includes primarily documentary and commercial images.
Of course, these numbers will change as Van Cleve continues to work and that work continues to grow both in its breadth and in value as well.
What is equally exciting is the support of women photographers and the accompanying scholarship which will originate with the University of New Mexico Art Museum.
On a personal note, I am thrilled for my very dear friend, Barbara Van Cleve, and for UNM, which is my undergraduate alma mater.
If you wish to make a tax deductible contribution to the Barbara Van Cleve Endowment for Women's Photographic Studies at the University of New Mexico, please contact UNM Museum of Art's director of development, Kristine Purrington at [email protected]
— at Wade Wilson Art Santa Fe.