Gary Russell Libby (born June 7, 1944) is an American art historian, author, educator and former museum director known for his books and scholarly exhibitions in the visual arts and his work on the history and development of the Florida School of Art.
Early life and education
Libby was born in
Boston
Boston (), officially the City of Boston, is the state capital and most populous city of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, as well as the cultural and financial center of the New England region of the United States. It is the 24th- mo ...
, Massachusetts, the second of three sons to Sylvia Phillips Libby of Boston and Charles Willard Libby of
Machias, Maine
Machias is a town in and the county seat of Washington County in Down East Maine, United States. As of the 2020 census, the town population was 2,060. It is home to the University of Maine at Machias and Machias Valley Airport, a small publi ...
. After graduation from
Fort Myers Senior High School
Fort Myers Senior High School (also known as "FMHS") is a public school in Fort Myers, Florida. It was opened October 19, 1911, making it one of the oldest schools in the state of Florida, and the oldest in Lee County. It is managed by the Lee ...
,
Fort Myers, Florida, he attended the
University of Florida
The University of Florida (Florida or UF) is a public land-grant research university in Gainesville, Florida. It is a senior member of the State University System of Florida, traces its origins to 1853, and has operated continuously on its ...
, where he received an Associate of Arts, Bachelor and Masters of Arts degrees in English Literature. Libby was awarded a post-graduate National Defense Education Act Fellowship to attend
Tulane University
Tulane University, officially the Tulane University of Louisiana, is a private research university in New Orleans, Louisiana. Founded as the Medical College of Louisiana in 1834 by seven young medical doctors, it turned into a comprehensive pub ...
,
, Louisiana, where he was accepted into the doctoral program with an interest in turn of the century art and literature journals published in England, such as the ''Savoy'' and the ''Yellow Book''. At Tulane, Libby worked with Dr. Jessie Poesch, Professor of Art History at Sophie Newcomb College, Tulane University, and author of the 1983 landmark publication ''The Arts of the Old South''. After graduation from Tulane with another masters in English Literature and the completion of all coursework and examinations for the Ph.D. degree, Libby was hired as an assistant professor by
Stetson University
Stetson University is a private university with four colleges and schools located across the I–4 corridor in Central Florida with the primary undergraduate campus in DeLand. The university was founded in 1883 and was later established in 1887 ...
in 1972.
Career
![Gary Russell Libby at dedication of the Gary R](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/fc/Gary_Russell_Libby_at_dedication_of_the_Gary_R._Libby_Gallery_located_in_the_UF_School_of_Art_and_Art_History.jpg)
At Stetson University,
DeLand, Florida
DeLand is a city in central Florida. It is the county seat of Volusia County. The city sits approximately north of the central business district of Orlando, and approximately west of the central business district of Daytona Beach. As of the 2020 ...
, Libby developed the curriculum for a number of upper-division interdisciplinary courses for a new major in the arts and humanities. He also worked with Fred Messersmith AWS, chairman of the Department of Art, in developing a series of exhibitions that explored the careers of artists from the United States and abroad who painted in
Florida
Florida is a state located in the Southeastern region of the United States. Florida is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the northwest by Alabama, to the north by Georgia, to the east by the Bahamas and Atlantic Ocean, and to ...
from post-Civil War to
World War I
World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...
. While at Stetson, Libby published a number of articles in academic journals, including the ''Italian Quarterly'' and ''Paideuma''.
He also began his study of Cuban historic artists in the Fulgencio Batista Collection of Cuban art housed at the Cuban Foundation Museum,
Museum of Arts and Sciences,
Daytona Beach, Florida. Libby’s "Artistic Taste in Pre-Castro Cuba" was one of the lead papers presented at the Southeastern Museum Conference, Charleston, South Carolina, 1975. That paper became the foundation of two books Libby authored. (''Two Centuries of Cuban Art: 1759-1959'', a softcover bi-lingual catalog, published by the Ringling Museum of Art, with essays interpreting works of art from the Batista Collection exhibition, 1980. Libby curated the exhibition at the
John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art
The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art is the official state art museum of Florida, located in Sarasota, Florida. It was established in 1927 as the legacy of Mable Burton Ringling and John Ringling for the people of Florida. Florida State Univ ...
,
Sarasota
Sarasota () is a city in Sarasota County on the Gulf Coast of the U.S. state of Florida. The area is renowned for its cultural and environmental amenities, beaches, resorts, and the Sarasota School of Architecture. The city is located in the sou ...
, Florida, with additional works from the
Museum of Modern Art
The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) is an art museum located in Midtown Manhattan, New York City, on 53rd Street between Fifth and Sixth Avenues.
It plays a major role in developing and collecting modern art, and is often identified as one of ...
, New York;
The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum
The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, often referred to as The Guggenheim, is an art museum at 1071 Fifth Avenue on the corner of East 89th Street on the Upper East Side of Manhattan in New York City. It is the permanent home of a continuously exp ...
, New York, and the Museum of Modern Art of Latin America, Washington, DC. ''Cuba-A History in Art'', University Press of Florida, 1997, revised edition 2015.)
At Stetson University, Libby served as Secretary of the Faculty Senate and acting University Art Archivist. In 1975, he was elected as a Trustee at the Museum of Arts and Sciences, Daytona Beach, Florida, and became a Charter Member of the International Society of Fine Art Appraisers, Ltd.
In 1977, Libby was hired as the Executive Director of the Museum of Arts and Sciences which became accredited by the
American Alliance of Museums
American(s) may refer to:
* American, something of, from, or related to the United States of America, commonly known as the "United States" or "America"
** Americans, citizens and nationals of the United States of America
** American ancestry, p ...
and a Smithsonian Affiliate under Libby’s leadership. The museum grew from one location of 7,000 sq. ft. to 120,000 sq. ft. with three different locations. Libby was also selected for and completed one of the first classes of the Smithsonian Institution’s Museum Leadership and Management Certification Program directed by Jane Glaser. At the museum, Libby organized and led the first international museum travel program in Florida. This annual program introduced cultural treasures in Mexico, Central America, South America, Europe, Scandinavia, North and Equatorial Africa, the Middle East, Asia and Australia to thousands of central Floridians who attended these interpreted educational and cultural expeditions. At his 2002 retirement, the trustees of the Museum of Arts and Sciences named Libby as the first Director Emeritus and named the Lobby of the Museum the "Gary R. Libby Entry Court." A trustee-led community-wide effort also raised nearly one million dollars to endow the Gary R. Libby Curator of Art position at the Museum of Arts and Sciences.
Libby continues to teach and lecture at Stetson University as a Visiting Professor / Guest Curator and also guest lectures for the Honors College at the University of Florida as adjunct lecturer.
Personal life and public service
Gary R. Libby lives in a restored National Register Colonial Revival House built in 1925 in Daytona Beach. He is active in a number of area heritage, arts and cultural organizations and was selected as a Daytona Beach Hometown Hero in 2016.
Libby is past secretary of the Florida Association of Museums and received their Lifetime Achievement Award in 1998. He is a two-time past president of the Florida Art Museum Directors Association who presented him with their Lifetime Achievement Award in 2000. Also in 2000, he was awarded the National Community Service Award by the National Junior Leagues of America. Libby was appointed to the Florida Arts Council through a gubernatorial appointment, 2005-2007. He served as a Trustee at Stetson University, 2008-2011. In 2012, he was elected to the University of Florida Foundation. Libby was elected to the Board of Visitors at the Cornell Fine Art Museum at
Rollins College,
Winter Park, Florida
Winter Park is a city in Orange County, Florida, United States. The population was 30,183 according to the 2022 census population estimate. It is part of the Orlando–Kissimmee–Sanford, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Winter Park was f ...
, 2014, and chaired the Exhibitions Committee. In 2014, he was selected as the citywide Mayoral representative to the Daytona Beach Charter Review Commission. He also was elected to the City of Daytona Beach Board of Adjustments in 2016.
Libby serves or has served on a number of Daytona Beach, Volusia County, State of Florida and National Advisory Boards including the
Institute of Museum and Library Services
The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) is an independent agency of the United States federal government established in 1996. It is the main source of federal support for libraries and museums within the United States, having the ...
(Libby served as a National Reviewer for their Grants Program) and the
American Alliance of Museums
American(s) may refer to:
* American, something of, from, or related to the United States of America, commonly known as the "United States" or "America"
** Americans, citizens and nationals of the United States of America
** American ancestry, p ...
, (he served as a Visiting on-site Accreditor for mid-size and large museums seeking accreditation from the AAM.) Both organizations are located in Washington, DC. Libby was the creator and moderator of a one-hour cultural information program, Culture Comes Alive, on radio AM 1380, streaming internationally on the web from 2013-2016.
Exhibitions curated
In May 2016 Stetson University’s Hand Art Center hosted the exhibition, “American Painting and the Florida School of Art” organized by guest curator, Gary R. Libby. This exhibition is one of over seventy-five exhibitions curated by Libby during his 30-year career as an arts educator, curator and museum director.
Recent exhibitions curated by Libby and accompanied by publications include: ''Reflections - Paintings of Florida 1865-1965'' (2009); ''Reflections II - Watercolors of Florida 1835-2000'' (2012), the Bronze Award winner at the Florida Book Awards 2012; ''Chihuly – Form From Fire'' (1993), ''Cuba : A History in Art'' (1997, revised edition 2015); ''A Treasury of Indian Miniature Paintings'' (1992), and ''A Treasury of American Art''(2003), The Henry Luce Foundation American Art Initiative Award recipient.
The ''Celebrating Florida – Works of Art from the Vickers Collection'' exhibition curated by Libby won the 1995 State of Florida Sesquicentennial Award. The exhibition, including a companion book and video, toured the state throughout 1995 and concluded at the State Capitol Gallery in the newly constructed capitol building in Tallahassee, Florida.
Publications and books
Gary R. Libby has edited and written books and catalogs on a number of topics in the arts and humanities to include:
* ''Cuba – A History in Art'' (1997) ISBN Number 0933053126, (Revised Edition, 2015) ISBN Number 978-0-8130-4998, University Press of Florida, 103 pgs.
* ''Reflections II Watercolors of Florida 1835-2000'' (2012) ISBN Number 0615508596, Museum of Arts and Sciences, 360 pgs.
* ''Reflections : Paintings of Florida 1865-1965'' (2009) ISBN Number 0933053185, Museum of Arts and Sciences, 184 pgs.
* ''A Treasury of American Art'' (2003) ISBN Number 0-933053-07-X, Museum of Arts and Sciences (Luce Foundation), 230 pgs.
* ''Coast to Coast-The Contemporary Landscape in Florid''a (1999) ISBN Number 0-933053-14-2, Museum of Arts and Sciences, 119 pgs.
* ''Celebrating Florida – Works of Art From The Vickers Collection'' (1995), ISBN Number first edition 0-933053-09-6, Museum of Arts and Sciences and the University Press of Florida, 144 pgs.
* ''A Century of Jewelry and Gems'' (editor) (1995), ISBN Number 093305308, Museum of Arts and Sciences, 96 pgs.
* ''A Treasury of Indian Miniature Painting'' (editor) (1992), ISBN Number 0933053045, 9780933053045, Museum of Arts and Sciences, 80 pgs.
* ''Alexander Archipenko : Themes and Variations'' (editor) (1989), ISBN Number 0-933053-03-7, Museum of Arts and Sciences, 97pgs.
Honors and awards
# 2016 Stetson University, DeLand, Florida, dedicated the largest gallery in the Homer and Dolly Hand Art Center as the Gary R. Libby Gallery of Art.
# 2015 The University of Florida, College of the Arts, Gainesville, Florida, renamed the Focus Gallery as the Gary R. Libby Gallery of Art.
2012 Bronze Award for Art History/Criticismfrom the Florida Book Awards for ''Reflections-II Watercolors of Florida 1865-2000''.
# 2003 American Art Initiative Publication Award, from th
Henry Luce Foundation for ''A Treasury of American Art''.
2000 Lifetime Achievement Award the Florida Art Museum Directors Association.
# 1995 State of Florida Sesquicentennial Award, Florida Division of Historical Resources, for ''Celebrating Florida – Works of Art from the Vickers Collection'' and Statewide tour of the exhibition concluding in the visual arts galleries at the State Capitol, Tallahassee, Florida.
1998 Lifetime Achievement Award Florida Association of Museums.
# 1999 Outstanding Community Leadership Award, Halifax Area Chamber of Commerce
Notes
References
# Gary R. Libby website http://www.garyrlibby.com/
# Gary R. Libby Curriculum Vitae http://www.garyrlibby.com/curriculum-vitae
# Gary R. Libby (introduction to Journey of the Highwaymen) http://www.thehighwaymen.com/about_foreword.html
# Gary R. Libby (author of Cuba-A History in Art
www.goodreads.com/author/show/303742
# Biography of author Gary R. Libby : Booking Appearance
www.allamericanspeakers.com/author/Gary+R.+Libby# A Treasury of American Art by Gary R. Libby from Antiques and Fine Ar
www.antiquesandfineart.com/articles/article.cfm?request=503# Gary R. Libby, Paideuma https://paideuma.wordpress.com/2009/12/14/paideuma-1-2/
# Florida School of Art Exhibition Opens at Hand Art Center http://www.stetson.edu/today/2016/05/florida-school-of-art-exhibition-opens-at-hand-art-center/
# Florida Art at Stetson University https://www.beacononlinenews.com/articles/2016/06/28/florida-art-stetson-university
# Daytona arts leader Gary Libby honored with University… http://www.news-journalonline.com/news/20150324/daytona-arts-leader-gary-libby-honored-with-university-of-florida-gallery-renaming
# Gary R. Libby Gallery Dedication Brings Together College of Arts Alumni, Supporters and Friends http://arts.ufl.edu/in-the-loop/news/gary-r-libby-gallery-dedication-brings-together-college-of-the-arts-alumni-supporters-and-friends/
External links
* Interview with Gary R. Libby by Dr. Paul Ortiz entitled
“Gary Libby, An Oral History, November 22, 2014” 90 minutes. The Samuel Proctor Oral History Program on the occasion of the 50th Anniversary of the University Gallery, University of Florida. 2014. Videographer Hilary White.
* Companion video to th
"Celebrating Florida - Works of Art from the Vickers Collection'exhibition curated by Gary R. Libby. 27 minutes. Museum of Arts & Sciences, Daytona Beach, Florida. 1995
{{DEFAULTSORT:Libby, Gary Russell
Historians of Cuba
21st-century scholars
21st-century American non-fiction writers
American art historians
American art curators
University of Florida alumni
Tulane University alumni
Tulane University faculty
Stetson University faculty
Loyola University New Orleans
1944 births
Living people