Art of the Olympians

A school class pose for a photo during an AOTO workshop break.

Art of the Olympians (AOTO) is an organization and program of Olympian and Paralympian artists that promote[s] the Olympic Ideals – values, integrity, character, respect, honor, and work ethic – through exhibitions and educational programs.[1] It puts on traveling exhibitions, runs workshops, organizes talks at schools,[2][3] to show and discuss the connection between sport, art and the Olympics. AOTO previously operated a museum.

AOTO is a program of the non-profit Al Oerter Foundation.[4]

History

Art of the Olympians museum in Fort Myers, FL circa 2010

Art of the Olympians was founded in 2006 by Olympic gold medalist discus thrower and artist Al Oerter, who died in 2007.[5][6] In 2006, the organization put on a touring exhibition of Art by Olympians.[7] Art of the Olympians put on an exhibition at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.[8] AOTO also held a 2008 exhibition at the Rauschenberg Gallery, Edison College in Fort Myers, FL.[9]

In January 2010, the organization opened the Art of the Olympians Museum and the Al Oerter Center for Excellence in downtown Fort Myers, Florida.[10][11][12][13][14]

In February 2010 Art of the Olympians held an exhibition at the XXI Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver. In 2011, graphic artist and former long jumper Bob Beamon became the CEO of the Art of the Olympians Museum and Gallery.[15][16]

During the 2012 London summer Olympics AOTO held two international exhibitions in the United Kingdom. The first was held at the University College of London and the second was held in Torbay on the south coast of England.[5][17][18][19]

On July 16, 2013 CEO Bob Beamon released an open letter directed to the museum's board announcing his resignation. On July 17, after 3 and a half years, the Art of the Olympians museum and the Al Oerter Center for Excellence closed its doors.[20][21] On the AOTO website they posted an announcement: "Its time to reorganize and restructure the foundation. A new direction focused on National and International Exhibitions programs will further the vision of the founder." Cathy Oerter, Al Oerter's widow, is currently the CEO of Art of the Olympians.[22]

In December 2015, Roald Bradstock became the Executive Director of the Al Oerter Foundation (AOF) and Art of the Olympians.[23] And on December 2, Prince Albert ll of Monaco became the Trustee of the Al Oerter Foundation[24] and Art of the Olympians.

In March 2016, Bradstock was interviewed on BBC Radio Two and then CNN International World Sport. He announced that AOTO was marking their 10 year anniversary by launching a global campaign and search for new Olympian and Paralympian artists.

On April 25th, 2017 International Olympic Committee President, Thomas Bach, appointed Bradstock to the Olympic Culture and Heritage Commission.[25]

Olympian artists

Numerous Olympians and Paralympians have contributed works to the foundation:[26]

  1. Rink Babka – Painting
  2. Carl Borack – Film / Video / Photography
  3. Roald Bradstock – Painting / Drawing / Collage / Performance Art
  4. Greg Burns – Painting
  5. Chris Coleman – Photography
  6. Skip Cutting – Painting
  7. Joseph Dube – Painting
  8. Jean-Blaise Evéquoz – Painting
  9. Peggy Fleming – Painting
  10. Simon Goody – Painting
  11. Shane Gould – Photography
  12. Martin Hagen – Sculpture
  13. Florence Griffith-Joyner – Painting
  14. Kader Klouchi – Painting
  15. Bill Kund – Photography
  16. Queen Kyomo – Dancing
  17. Nancy Lewington – Photography
  18. Vincent Mathews – Mixed Media
  19. Lucia Medzihradska – Mixed Media
  20. Tony Moore – Poet
  21. Cameron Myler – Photography
  22. Al Oerter – Painting
  23. Emanuela Pierantozzi – Sculpture
  24. Peter Schifrin – Sculpture
  25. Kate Schmidt – Painting
  26. John Stillings – Painting
  27. Allison Wagner – Painting
  28. Larry Young – Sculpture
  29. Wojciech Zablocki – Watercolor
  30. Lynda Blutriech – Photography
  31. Robin Cousins – Performer
  32. Neil Eckersley – Painter, Digital Artist
  33. Kevin McMahon – Digital Media
  34. Tasha Danvers – Painter, Singer
  35. Chris Channon – Poet
  36. Breaux Greer – Photography
  37. Brenden Reilly – Drawing, Painting
  38. Bob Beamon – Graphic Artist
  39. Amy Acuff – Model, Painter
  40. Rafer Johnson – Actor
  41. Gary Visconti – Painter
  42. Shevon Stoddart – Singer
  43. Birgit Fischer – Photography
  44. Eric Josjö – Photography
  45. Jamie Nieto – Actor, Writer, Director
  46. Alex Fong – Singer, Actor
  47. Michelle Campi – Painter, Poet
  48. Prince Hubertus of Hohenlohe-Langenburg – Photographer, Singer
  49. Cheung Ho Lun[27] – Painter
  50. Kevin Young – Drawing
  51. Corinna West – Poetry
  52. Pauline Gardiner – Painter
  53. Jennifer Chandler – Painter
  54. Reynaldo Brown – Photography
  55. Shannon Miller – Writer
  56. Lanny Barnes – Drawing
  57. John Herbert – Graphic Design
  58. Ben Nighthorse Campbell – Jewelry
  59. Joseph Joyce – Painter
  60. Michael Murray - Painter

Trustee

Board of Directors

The foundation has a board of directors:[29]

Executive Directors

References

  1. ↑ "Art of The Olympians – Home page". artoftheolympians.org.
  2. ↑ "Art of the Olympians: Former Olympic athletes speak to children at Seacrest". NPDN. Retrieved 2015-10-19.
  3. ↑ "‘Art of the Olympians’ brings athlete/artist to Mariner High – pineisland-eagle.com, news, sports, Florida info, Pine Island Eagle". www.pineisland-eagle.com. Retrieved 2015-10-19.
  4. ↑ "PROGRAMS | Al Oerter Foundation". aloerter.org. Retrieved 2016-01-27.
  5. 1 2 "Olympic art exhibit comes out from the shadows". USATODAY.COM. Retrieved 2015-10-19.
  6. ↑ Pucin, Diane (2007-10-02). "Al Oerter, 71; discus thrower won gold medals in four consecutive Games". Los Angeles Times. ISSN 0458-3035. Retrieved 2015-10-14.
  7. ↑ Olympic Greats Exhibit Their Art
  8. ↑ "Beijing 2008".
  9. ↑ "2008 Exhibition Archives | Bob Rauschenberg Gallery". Retrieved 2015-10-19.
  10. ↑ "Ft.Myers magazine – Art of the Olympians Museum". www.ftmyersmagazine.com. Retrieved 2015-10-14.
  11. ↑ "Museum carries a torch for Olympians' art  : Travel". stltoday.com. Retrieved 2015-10-14.
  12. ↑ "Hertfordshire Mercury Newspaper".
  13. ↑ "masterstrack.com » Al Oerter’s art museum opens, and Olympians give their support". masterstrack.com. Retrieved 2015-10-19.
  14. ↑ "Art of the Olympians receives support from D.C. Delegation | Florida Weekly". charlotte.floridaweekly.com. Retrieved 2015-10-19.
  15. ↑ "leevcb.com" (PDF). August 23, 2011.
  16. ↑ "Bob Beamon: The Beamon dream". The Independent. Retrieved 2015-10-14.
  17. ↑ Wall Street Journal
  18. ↑ USA Gymnastics
  19. ↑ "Great Britain 28 July: London | World Harmony Run". www.worldharmonyrun.org. Retrieved 2015-10-19.
  20. ↑ "The Art of the Olympians Museum closed". NBC-2.com. Retrieved 2015-10-14.
  21. ↑ http://archive.news-press.com/article/20140223/NEWS0110/302230034/Former-Art-Olympians-building-won-t-anything-anytime-soon
  22. ↑ "Art of the Olympians | Executives". artoftheolympians.org. Retrieved 2015-12-23.
  23. ↑ "Art of the Olympians | Executives". artoftheolympians.org. Retrieved 2015-12-20.
  24. ↑ "Art of the Olympians | Trustee". artoftheolympians.org. Retrieved 2015-12-20.
  25. ↑ https://www.olympic.org/news/ioc-announces-composition-of-its-commissions-38-per-cent-of-members-now-women
  26. ↑ "AOF artists". Art of the Olympians. Retrieved 27 January 2016.
  27. ↑ http://www.specialolympics.org/games-search.aspx?gamesID=4566&searchterm=CHEUNG%2C+Ho+Lun
  28. ↑ "AOF Trustee". Art of the Olympians. Retrieved 27 January 2016.
  29. ↑ "AOF Directors". Art of the Olympians. Retrieved 27 January 2016.
  30. ↑ "AOF Executives". Art of the Olympians. Retrieved 27 January 2016.
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