In 2026, the Declaration of Independence celebrates its two hundred and fiftieth anniversary. America 250 looks beyond founding documents to examine another powerful expression of American identity: art. Revisiting the museum’s inaugural 1919 collection, America 250 considers how the first exclusively American art museum defined what it meant to be “American.” 

To understand founder Joseph G. Butler, Jr. as a collector, the exhibition begins by reconstructing his life and networks. Archival materials—from an elegant childhood portrait to correspondence from the White House—trace Mr. Butler’s movement within elite political and cultural circles. For Mr. Butler, a confidant of presidents, art offered a means of asserting America’s position on the global stage. 

The exhibition then turns to the works Mr. Butler selected for his inaugural display. Many of the artists he championed were immigrants, and many of their subjects lie beyond American borders. Paintings range from Shakespearean figures to coastal seascapes abroad, underscoring how Mr. Butler envisioned American art as part of an international conversation. 

Each artwork Mr. Butler chose advanced a claim about what American art could be. Installed throughout the museum, the America 250 works form a visual trail through time, inviting visitors to retrace Mr. Butler’s landmark 1919 exhibition.

Begin the hunt here in Bacon Hall, then continue across Cushwa, Watson, Lloyd, Adler, Lipscher, and Ford Galleries to find all thirty-three works. Look out for blue tags and the America 250 seal.

Exhibit Details and Special Events: 

January 25, 2025 – December 19, 2026

Special Event: March 26, 2026

Exhibit Reception and Panel Discussion: America 250: The Art, Culture, and History of Joseph G. Butler, Jr. 

• 5:30pm refreshments in Beecher Court 
• 6pm to 7pm panel discussion in Zona Auditorium 
• Larry Jones, Interim Director, moderator for the event.

Panelists: Joe Lambert, Mr. Paul Rohrbaugh, Dante Bernard (Museum Educator – Mahoning Valley Historical Society), Traci Manning (Curator of Education – Mahoning Valley Historical Society).

Featured art pieces celebrating the America 250 initiative at The Butler Institute of American Art:

• Portrait of J.G. Butler, Jr. By Ivan Gregorovitch Olinsky, 1920 
• Did You Speak to Me?  William Merritt Chase, 1897 
• Silvery Waters, Franklin De Haven, 1916 
• By the Drovers Inn, George Glenn Newell, 1917 
• Ration Day at the Reservation, Joseph Henry Sharp, 1919

Ivan Gregorovitch Olinsky, Portrait of J.G. Butler, Jr., 1920, Oil on canvas mounted on board, Gift of Jonathan Warner 1920. Painting conserved by Mr. and Mrs. James Miller. 

Located in the Bacon Hall Gallery, first level.

William Merritt Chase, Did You Speak to Me?, 1897, Oil on canvas, Museum purchase 1921. 

Located in the Watson Gallery, first level.

Franklin De Haven, Silvery Waters, 1916, Oil on canvas, Museum purchase 1918. 

Located in the Cushwa Gallery, first level.

George Glenn Newell, By the Drovers Inn, 1917, Oil on canvas, Museum purchase 1917. Adopted in memory of William Gladys Jones by Roger and Gloria Jones, 2006.

Located in the Cushwa Gallery, first level.

Joseph Henry Sharp, Ration Day at the Reservation, 1919, Oil on canvas, Museum purchase 1921.

Located in the Adler Gallery, second level.

America 250 Yearlong Events and Programs at The Butler Institute of American Art 

This year at the Butler, our programming will proudly embrace many elements of the America 250 celebration, highlighting works from the museum’s earliest years and reflecting on our rich artistic legacy. Throughout the year, you’ll see special program notes tied to these offerings as we celebrate this historic milestone together. 

• Senior Art & Learn 
• Stroller Art 
• Family Days 
• Young Friends Adventure 

Known as “America’s Museum,” the Butler has been celebrating the nation’s visual arts heritage since its founding in 1919. As part of the America 250 celebration, this year’s programming highlights works from the museum’s earliest years, connecting today’s visitors with the art and stories that helped shape America’s creative legacy. Featuring one of the country’s most admired collections, the Butler invites you to experience these historic works up close.  
 
Visit this year and be part of the celebration.  

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A Butler Institute of American Art membership supports access to American art while strengthening the community. When you become a member, you’re not only unlocking exclusive benefits for yourself, but you’re also actively giving back to the Museum and helping ensure art remains accessible to all. 

Butler Art Museum Membership 

An art museum membership at the Butler connects you to exhibitions, education, and exclusive experiences all year long. From the moment you join, your membership opens the door to programming designed to deepen your appreciation for American art and bring you closer to the Museum community.  

Throughout the year, members also enjoy preferred pricing on art classes, discounts in the Museum Store and Looma Café, and regular email and mail updates that keep you connected to what’s happening at the Butler, so you never miss a moment. 

Cultural Access That Extends Beyond Our Walls 

One of the most impactful benefits of Butler membership is its reach beyond Youngstown. Members receive reciprocal museum admission benefits to more than 1,000 museums across North America, including 16 participating institutions in Ohio alone. Whether you’re traveling or exploring close to home, your membership gives you access to a nationwide network of cultural destinations. 

Elevated Experiences Through Trustee Circle Membership 

For those looking to make an even greater impact, Trustee Circle membership offers enhanced opportunities for engagement. Trustee Circle members receive all general membership benefits, plus invitations to members-only, director-led tours and lectures that provide a deeper understanding of the collection and the Museum’s mission. In the spring, Trustee Circle members are also invited to a special complimentary dinner, an opportunity to connect with fellow supporters and Museum leadership in an intimate setting. 

Why Membership Matters—Beyond the Museum Walls 

When you become a member, your support reaches far beyond exhibitions and events. Active participation in arts and cultural institutions plays a vital role in strengthening communities, supporting lifelong learning, and enhancing quality of life across generations. Your membership helps ensure these benefits continue year-round for individuals, families, and the broader community. 

For Children and Teens: Stronger Academics & Life Skills

Research consistently shows that students engaged in the arts achieve higher test scores, have better attendance, graduate at higher rates, and develop essential life skills. Membership to a museum like the Butler helps provide local students with field trips, educational programs, and cultural experiences that improve classroom outcomes. 

Promotes Mental Health & Well-Being at Every Stage of Life 

Engagement with the arts reduces stress, supports emotional health, and improves overall well-being for children, adults, and seniors alike. 

Promotes Civic Engagement & Knowledge Through Museum Collections 

Museums contribute to lifelong learning by offering programs and exhibits that foster civic awareness, critical thinking, and helping communities become more informed and engaged. 

Join The Butler Institute of American Art 

Your Butler membership offers meaningful benefits while supporting arts and culture for the entire community. Join us and help ensure American art remains accessible year-round.  

Join Now: Membership Information

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The Butler Institute of American Art is buzzing with energy right now from special exhibitions to behind-the-scenes upgrades that will protect the collection for generations.

And the best part? There are so many ways you can be part of it.

Here’s what’s new at The Butler, why the arts matter more than ever for our community, and how you can support this one-of-a-kind museum.

Special Exhibition Honoring a Giant: Robert Rauschenberg at 100

Robert Rauschenberg, the relentlessly experimental American artist who helped reshape the visual art world, would have turned 100 on October 22, 2025. To mark his centenary, the New York–based Robert Rauschenberg Foundation is leading a global celebration of exhibitions, performances, and publications through 2026.

The Butler Institute is proud to join this worldwide tribute with a special installation of rarely seen Rauschenberg prints and archival material in the Segall Print Gallery, Butler North, on view October 22, 2025 – January 4, 2026.

“Robert Rauschenberg stands as one of America’s artistic giants who literally transformed the visual art world into the variety of forms which exists today,” notes Dr. Louis Zona, Executive Director of The Butler. “To call him an artistic genius is to underestimate the nature of his contributions to world art.”

This exhibition is a rare chance to experience Rauschenberg’s pioneering spirit up close—right here in our region.

In The Works: The New “Blue Vault”

Caring for America’s art heritage doesn’t just happen on the gallery walls—it happens in the spaces most visitors never see.

The Butler has completed construction on the Blue Vault, a brand-new, 13,000-square-foot collection storage space designed to house more than 22,000 works of art. Once a classroom space, the area has been transformed into a state-of-the-art collection hub.

Key features include:

• 40 mobile racks, each able to hold more than 300 square feet of hanging art
• Specialized museum lighting to protect works from light damage
• A water-leak detection system and other conservation-focused safeguards

Part of the preventative conservation plan, overseen by Chief Curator and Collection Manager Liz Hicks and the Butler’s board committees, this project ensures that the pieces you see on the walls (and the many more you don’t) will remain safe for future generations.

Why Supporting The Arts and The Butler Matters

When you support The Butler, you’re doing more than keeping a beautiful museum free and open to all. You’re investing in education, health, and quality of life across the community.

For Children and Teens: Stronger Academics & Life Skills

A growing body of research shows that arts participation boosts student success:

• Students involved in arts education are significantly more likely to be recognized for academic achievement and to have higher test scores and graduation rates.
• Long-term studies of tens of thousands of students have linked arts involvement with higher academic performance and lower dropout rates.
• Arts education is also connected to better attendance, stronger critical thinking, and improved social-emotional skills like empathy and collaboration.

In very real terms, supporting a museum like The Butler means helping local schools and families access field trips, programs, and experiences that can raise test scores, improve behavior, and open doors to college and careers.

For Seniors: Well-Being, Brain Health, and Connection

The benefits don’t stop with students. For older adults, engaging with the arts, whether by visiting museums, seeing performances, or making art themselves has been linked to:

• Improved cognitive function and memory, and even a reduced risk of cognitive decline and dementia among people who frequently visit cultural venues.
• Better overall physical and mental health, including reduced depression, anxiety, and loneliness.
• Higher quality of life and independence as people age.

Every time you support The Butler, you help create programming and spaces where older adults can stay mentally active, socially connected, and creatively engaged.

For Communities: Healthier, More Vibrant Places to Live

On a broader level, research has shown that engaging with arts and culture improves overall health and well-being across age groups, reduces reliance on healthcare services, and contributes measurable economic value through increased productivity and quality of life.

In other words: a strong arts ecosystem, anchored by institutions like The Butler, is a public good.

How You Can Support The Butler Institute of American Art

More than a century ago, founder J. G. Butler Jr. asked that the museum bearing his name remain free and open to all. Thanks to community support, that promise still stands.

Here’s how you can help ensure it continues:

1. Make a Donation

Your gift directly supports:

• Free admission for every visitor
• Educational programs for students and teachers
• Public lectures, concerts, and community events
• Conservation and care of the permanent collection
• Special exhibitions, like the Robert Rauschenberg centennial display

No matter the amount, your donation is a tangible vote of confidence in the power of art to educate, inspire, and transform lives.

2. Visit Often and Bring a Friend

The simplest way to support The Butler is to show up:

• Plan regular visits to explore different galleries from 18th-century portraits to contemporary abstraction.
• Bring your children or grandchildren and make the museum part of their learning journey. Sweeten this opportunity by purchasing a family membership.
• Invite older friends and relatives for a meaningful outing that supports their cognitive and emotional well-being.

Pair your visit with a coffee or lunch at Looma Café and make it a tradition.

3. Spread the Word

Share your favorite works, exhibitions, and experiences:

• Post photos (where allowed) and reflections on social media.
• Encourage local schools, youth organizations, and senior centers to partner with The Butler for visits and programs.
• Tell friends and family that admission is free—and why that matters.

4. Get Involved

Look for opportunities to engage more deeply:

• Attend lectures, concerts, and special events in Beecher Court.
• Keep an eye out for volunteer opportunities or ways to serve as an ambassador for the museum.
• Support future projects that expand access, programming, and conservation, like the ongoing work in the Blue Vault.

A Legacy You Can Touch

From its world-class Impressionist holdings and 19th-century treasures to its Western art, contemporary galleries, African American collection, and sports art, The Butler Institute of American Art tells the story of who we are as a nation.

By supporting The Butler today, you’re helping:

• Raise students’ test scores and academic confidence
• Strengthen seniors’ health, independence, and sense of connection
• Preserve thousands of works of art in state-of-the-art conditions
• Keep one of America’s great free museums open to everyone

Art changes lives. At The Butler, you can see it happen every day and with your support, that impact will only grow.

DONATE NOW

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Wilfred Lam, Phènomène Phalène, 1944. Oil and gouache on paper. Private Collection of David M. and Cecile Draime.

Since the Draime collection exhibition has been extended into November, and September is Hispanic Heritage Month, I would like to focus attention on a favorite Hispanic artist in that popular private collection. The Draimes loved the work of the Cuban born painter, Willfredo Lam. Lam’s paintings are all about organic forms and often represent animal and plants in a stage of disintegration.

Like so many artists of the early 20^th century, the influence of Picasso’s cubism can be seen within the work of Lam. Note also that Picasso’s concepts of space are also seen in the paintings as is his later references to Surrealism. Andre Breton, the father of Surrealism, was taken with the work of Lam as was the well-known abstract Surrealist, Joan Miro.

Willfredo Lam, who was proud of his Cuban roots, is not as well-known as so many of his contemporaries, but he was greatly admired by many of the abstract artists of the day. He has been referred to as an artist’s artist.

Dr. Louis Zona
Executive Director/Chief Curator
The Butler Institute of American Art

August 2022

Clement Meadmore’s Melded Metal

Clement Meadmore (1929-2005), Upbeat, 1984. Sculpture in bronze. 72 x 60 x 48 inches.

In front of Butler North (the former first Christian church) is a small but beautiful grouping of bronze sculptures including a work by the Australian American abstract sculptor, Clement Meadmore. What is particularly fascinating about Meadmore’s work is how he is able to twist and turn metal as if it is pliable rubber. These large metallic knot-like abstractions became well-known nationally in the 1960s (when the Minimalist period began which emphasized clean and simple forms). The movement was a response to a world predicting the digital age. In the end, the sculpture of Clement Meadmore presents Post-World War II three-dimensional art at its very best. The Butler is grateful to the Draime family which made the Butler’s sculpture area possible.

Dr. Louis Zona
Executive Director/Chief Curator
The Butler Institute of American Art

June 2022

Thoughts on The Butler’s Midyear Exhibition

While the Butler Institute will always be known for its extraordinary collection of American art masterpieces, it is also known for its annual juried exhibition, the National Midyear Show, one of the oldest in the United States. We at the Butler are particularly proud that the Midyear has launched many art careers through the years. Artists from over 20 states are usual participants in this very fine exhibition of contemporary art. Visitors to the exhibit will note that a large percentage of entered works are exceptional examples of traditional academic realism. But we can also note that invariably the show presents an example of Photorealism or Hyperrealism. Overall, the Butler’s Midyear show is a treat for the eye and mind and an essential part of summer in Ohio.

Dr. Louis Zona
Executive Director/Chief Curator
The Butler Institute of American Art

April 2022

The Private Collection of David M. and Cecile Draime

The private art collection of D. Max and Cecile Draime now on view at The Butler Institute of American Art includes many of the biggest names in world art, including choice works by American masters. Among the American stars are two members of the New York School, Robert Motherwell, and William Baziotes. Their art can be seen as highly charged abstractions that helped to define the American style of artmaking after the Second World War. Both men had participated in the Federal Art Project of the WPA before turning their attention toward emotion-based painting that became known as Abstract Expressionism.

Baziotes’ paintings often include organic shapes that appear to be floating in a void. Motherwell depends upon heavy applications of paint accompanied by intentional splashing and a distinctive black shape which dominates the rectangular canvas or board. One can also find in Motherwell’s color choice of dominant black, brown, and cream is somewhat reminiscent of the color markings of a variety of bulls. Motherwell’s work is often said to pay tribute to Spanish culture and the bullring, which is such an important element of that culture.

A hidden gem in the Draime Collection, installed in the second-level galleries of the Butler, is a classic painting by the Depression Era painter, Reginald Marsh, whose Walking Girl is so very typical of this influential artist and teacher. Completed in 1949, the Marsh painting, with its rich earth tones, offers a wonderful view of a favorite subject of so many artists of the period, the female form in motion.

The post-world-war American art, as seen in the Draime collection, would ultimately impact European art in a big way. Remember that for generations, the opposite had been true, when Americans looked to Europe for inspiration. This distinguished collection speaks volumes on the success of American art and artists at mid-century.

Dr. Louis Zona
Executive Director/Chief Curator
The Butler Institute of American Art

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