Another donor is Dmitri Chimes, son of the late Thomas Chimes, who said, "I am certainly going to donate some of my father's work . . . just because I think they have an important collection of Philadelphia artists."
Dorothy Del Bueno, 78, a retired professor of nursing who is on the collections committee, said the changing perception of Woodmere has energized both donors and artists. "My ultimate gift keeps expanding," she said. "I keep buying things that will be part of the bequest."
Still, Valerio describes his acquisition budget as "pennies" (the museum's overall budget is $2 million). He watches at Freeman's auctions as works he covets - just one, perhaps, of 50 Bo Bartletts recently sold - become priced out of reach. (On his wish list: Horace Pippin, Jessie Willcox Smith).
Matt Palczynski, a staff lecturer at the Philadephia Museum of Art, is to take on a new post as Woodmere's new curator, and is already in on the planning for a new exhibition: "Philadelphia Realism on the Edge," featuring the work of Peter Paone. Valerio is also in the midst of placing the entire collection online at http://woodmere.yourcontentcounts.com/.
He's also given thought and resources to renovation, putting aside for now controversial plans to expand. He's torn up carpets, pulled down fabric, repainted, and transformed the main rotunda space into a spare, stylish exhibition hall in which he stages Friday jazz concerts.
On a recent day, financial people at Woodmere were giving tours to bankers, and the boardroom was filled with works he's pondering for a future show on painters painting families - the kind of outside-the-box idea that appeals to him, from both an intellectual and a popular perspective. His canvas is ever ready.
He'd like to make the entire complex more inviting - grounds, museum, and eventually that distinctive tower, which currently is pretty much off limits. It's a little complicated to get up there, but when he does, there's almost nothing Bill Valerio can't see.
Contact staff writer Amy S. Rosenberg at arosenberg@phillynews.com or @amysrosenberg on twitter.
