Strong Beginnings

Collectors Curatorial

Rhona Hoffman remembers early collectors critical to the MCA.

I think part of the success comes from the fact that the collectors were so strong and that the people who joined the museum and who were on the board, who became the board of trustees, were passionate art collectors themselves. And that was the driving force behind making something that was really relevant to its time. The Bergmans, the Shapiros, the Manilows, the Horwichs, Muriel Newman, Rose and Mort Neumann, there were lots of other people, I could go on for a long time, but who really, really wanted this to work and who poured good money into making it work. But they also poured their hours of—their working hours. They showed up. They showed up and did what they did, which was to meet and to support the curators and the director. And I think they did a hell of a job.

Lindy Bergman, Joe Shapiro, and guests at an event in 1975. Photo © MCA Chicago.

Lindy Bergman, Joe Shapiro, and guests at an event in 1975. Photo © MCA Chicago.

Lindy and Ed Bergman in 1984. Photo © MCA Chicago.

Lindy and Ed Bergman in 1984. Photo © MCA Chicago.

Ruth Horwich in 1992. Photo © MCA Chicago.

Ruth Horwich in 1992. Photo © MCA Chicago.

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