"The Art of Figure Skating through the Ages: The Dick Button Collection" in Cooperstown, NY museum

[Sylvia]

Dick Button exhibit traces history of ice skating [exhibition runs April 1 - December 31, 2017]: https://dailygazette.com/article/2017/04/13/dick-button-exhibit-traces-history-of-ice-skating

Baseball isn't the only reason to go to Cooperstown. For the next nine months, it's a destination for fans of figure skating.
The Fenimore Art Museum opened for the 2017 season on April 1, and one of the new exhibits is "The Art of Figure Skating through the Ages: The Dick Button Collection."
Button, a former champion figure skater and sports broadcaster, is sharing his diverse collection of paintings, prints, posters, sculptures, costumes and folk art depicting and honoring ice skating, from 17th-century Dutch paintings to 20th-century sculpture, along with skating costumes, photographs, advertising art and antique skates.
The 87-year-old Button, who lives in Westchester County, will also make two appearances at the Fenimore.

Info on the 2 ticketed events at the museum featuring Button: http://www.fenimoreartmuseum.org/button

Dick Button on "The Eye of the Beholder"
Saturday, May 13 • 2:00 p.m.

Fenimore on Ice
Saturday, July 15 • 2:00-4:00 p.m.

Another related article on Button the art collector: https://www.antiquesandthearts.com/dick-button-the-olympic-champion-on-the-art-of-skating/

Button and Peggy Fleming visited the exhibition last week: http://www.thedailystar.com/news/lo...cle_f3e13139-ffcc-56c2-8584-b24cf879e48a.html

Button, who won gold medals at the Winter Olympics in 1948 and 1952, and Peggy Fleming who won her gold medal in 1968, spent a couple of hours at the exhibit Wednesday and said they liked what they saw. Both also had careers as figure skating commentators.
Button, who is listed as guest curator of the exhibit, said the collection has never been shown before. It represents a fraction of what he has acquired over the years. Items, such as the dress Fleming contributed, which she wore when competing for the gold medal, were from others.
The collection began in 1947 from items acquired from a Swedish Olympic champion and his wife, Button said.
“I was fascinated with the items and the different people who have handled them,” he said, adding that he was very pleased with the way it was presented at the Fenimore.

 

[Coco]

Thanks so much for sharing this. I have relatives in that area...time for a visit!

 

[Sylvia]

Anyone here going to the May 13th event? https://www.eventbrite.com/e/dick-button-on-the-eye-of-the-beholder-tickets-32967854741

 

[aftershocks]

The tickets are very reasonably priced, at least for the May event. It sounds like a fun event with Dick giving a lecture on gardening and figure skating.

The July guided tour of the collection and panel discussion on the history of figure skating and past Olympics events (with Dick Button, Dorothy Hamill & JoJo Starbuck) sounds great, but the tickets are more steeply priced. Still sounds worth it. Wish I could attend both events.

 

[jenniferlyon]

I wish I lived close enough to see this!

 

[Bellanca]

Props!! Dick Button! You can't go wrong with this. Dick still as passionate and (no doubt) feisty as ever.

 

[Ursula]

Dick Button is a national treasure. I'll definitely be going to this.

 

[aftershocks]

Whoever attended this event on May 13, can you give us a report? Much appreciated if you would, and thanks!

 

[Frau Muller]

Whoever attended this event on May 13, can you give us a report? Much appreciated if you would, and thanks!

TSL should have been there.

 

[Sylvia]

Bumping this up in case anyone near Cooperstown is interested in attending the July 15 symposium with Button, Hamill & Starbuck: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/fenimore-on-ice-tickets-32967128569

 

[Sylvia]

Local article published before today's symposium: http://www.thedailystar.com/news/en...cle_5feedd44-40dd-59e3-a9cd-3148e99fefbf.html

Photos of Ice Dance International skaters performing on artificial ice: https://www.facebook.com/fenimoreartmuseum/posts/10154517589641540

An old friend from here is attending the symposium : https://twitter.com/MWskatecast/status/886285620254998528

 

[smurfy]

I went to the symposium - it was great.
JoJo, Dorothy & Dick were engaging and shared great stories. Some I had heard before. Doug Webster moderated.
I really felt the 3 of them know each other well and really care about each other and the sport.

They showed videos of the 3 of them skating - and it was cool to see the old footage and to watch them watch themselves.
Also some others were in the audience - Doug Wilson.
Also was Edward Villela (a dancer) and his wife Linda Carbonetto (canadian olympic skater). Dorothy shared how Edward and Linda met while working with Dorothy on one of her tv specials.

Included in the videos - Dorothy's Clairol Shorty & Sassy Shampoo commercial and JoJos Cup of Noodles commercial.
Dorothy was so embarrassed.

Very nice segment about John Curry - video clips and discussion. JoJo and Dorothy really were wonderful sharing their experiences working with him.

One clip of Dorothy skating (from a pro comp) - listed music by Charlotte Church. After it was done - Dorothy said that program was to Sarah Brightman. Doug Webster mentioned how if they did not have the rights to a piece of music, another was recorded over the tape. Sounds like it happened occassionally.

Had some clips of some of Dick's comments" schnizzle in fizzle (sp?) and 3rd rate.

I am 56 yrs old, and I felt young there. The event was not inexpensive ($70 as a nonmember, $60 for members). Seemed like a sophisticated crowd in general. At the end there was time for a Q & A. Only about 5 or so questions were asked, but 2 of them were just ???
1. Older lady asked if they could bring everyone up to date on their personal lives and their marriages. JoJo and Dorothy looked stunned. Dorothy had to tell Dick what was asked, he looked shocked and said 'None of your business'. Go Dick!
2. Another older lady asked what Dick thought of the current announcers on tv. He was very polite and would not answer.
Also someone asked who was his favorite skater -and he said he had many.
IMHO - there was something in the tone of the questions by the questioner, that just seemed immature and gossipy.
And this was after a lovely discussion about skating and its history and beauty.

Interesting comments by Dick:
Mentioned current world champ Javier Fernandez, he is wonderful but will not win the Olympic gold medal.
Snide comment about a speed skater in charge of figure skating. LOL (Also with that comment, I could tell many in the audience did not know what he was talking about).
Whole panel was agreement about the current scoring system - you have a rule book in one hand and a calculator in the other. They did discuss the old school figures.
This really made me miss Dick as an announcer. He shaped my perception of skating.

The Fenimore Art Museum is a gem. Lovely building on the lake in Cooperstown. The exhibit of Dick's collection of memorbilia was very nice. Had both Dorothy's and Peggy's gold medal outfits, and Nancy K's white dress from her silver medal. There were some great old posters.

Afterwards I went to the Baseball Hall of Fame (open til 9 pm in the summer!). Totally different crowd, more guys, little kids, most wearing team shirts and or caps. Loved the contrast.

 

[skatesindreams]

Thanks for sharing your experience, smurfy!

 

[Sylvia]

Thanks very much for taking the time to share your experience, @smurfy!

A few more photos from the symposium and skating: https://twitter.com/fsonline/status/886409886996742145
I recognized Erika Smith & AJ Reiss as 2 of the skaters on that tiny artificial ice surface. ETA that the Fenimore Museum's FB page has more photos - here's Erika: https://www.facebook.com/fenimorear...39408986539/10154517581601540/?type=3&theater
Short video of the 4 skaters rehearsing: https://www.facebook.com/fenimoreartmuseum/videos/vb.39408986539/10154515166531540/?type=2&theater

3 more tweets from Allison M.:
https://twitter.com/MWskatecast/status/886298227103944705

Doug Webster of @IceDanceInt asking about Dick's commentary: "Dick, what's a finizzle in her schnizzel?"
Dick: "no idea."

https://twitter.com/MWskatecast/status/886313145551249408

Audience question: "would the panelists tell us what your doing now?" Dick: "mind your own business." LOL

Dick Button watching Dick Button: https://twitter.com/MWskatecast/status/886322531086598149

 

[Sylvia]

Here are 2 articles recapping the symposium this past Saturday with photos:

https://www.antiquesandthearts.com/...wn-in-celebration-of-dick-button-and-friends/

http://www.thedailystar.com/news/lo...cle_5579f958-e482-5208-a417-326881392921.html

The Fenimore Art Museum's FB page has a 7-minute video of Dick Button & Peggy Fleming in early April when they toured the collection: https://www.facebook.com/fenimoreartmuseum/videos/vb.39408986539/10154240454576540/?type=2&theater

2 short videos of Dick Button showing items his collection:
https://www.facebook.com/fenimoreartmuseum/videos/vb.39408986539/10154445038531540/?type=2&theater
https://www.facebook.com/fenimoreartmuseum/videos/vb.39408986539/10154450849541540/?type=2&theater

 

[DDNatalia]

Cooperstown. Interesting, Baseball HOF home. I would think something like this should make its way to some other cities if possible as well.

 

[smurfy]

Also announced at the forum - that Dick's collection, and another skating collection (didn't catch the name) are looking for permanent homes. I have been the Skating Hall of Fame in Colorado Springs - wonder if that is an option. Hope they both find a good home.
And would be wonderful if it did tour - give more folks a chance.