Mary Burkett
Mary Elizabeth Burkett
Early life and education
Burkett was born 7 October 1924 in
Abbot Hall
After her travels Burkett was appointed to the staff of the newly-opened Abbot Hall Art Gallery in 1962, and became its director in 1966, succeeding Helen Kapp. She held this post until she retired in 1986.[2] Under her leadership the museum developed and expanded, and major acquisitions included Barbara Hepworth's Trezion, works by George Romney, and the triptych The Great Picture of Lady Anne Clifford.[1] She established the adjacent Museum of Lakeland Life & Industry which opened in 1971 and in 1973 was the first winner of the Museum of the Year award.[1]
While at Abbot Hall she wrote several books on Cumbrian artists and other personalities, including
Felt
In 1979 she organised an exhibition "Art of the Feltmaker" at Abbot Hall, and wrote a book to accompany the exhibition, which toured the country. Following the interest in this exhibition the International Feltmakers Association was founded in 1984 and Burkett became its first President.[6]
After Abbot Hall
In the year of her retirement from Abbot Hall, Burkett inherited
She was a supporter of many cultural institutions in Cumbria. She was a Trustee of the Rosehill Theatre in
Burkett died 12 November 2014. The previous night she had attended a lecture at Senhouse Roman Museum, and a few days before had announced a grant award as President of the Rosehill Theatre Trust.[7] Her substantial art collection was auctioned after her death.[8]
Recognition
Burkett was appointed OBE in the 1978 New Year Honours.[9]
A 1986 oil portrait by Carel Weight, titled Mary Burkett, OBE, is held in the Abbot Hall Art Gallery.[10]
Selected publications
- Burkett, Mary E. (December 1977). "An Early Date for the Origin of Felt". Anatolian Studies. 27: 111–115. S2CID 161302565.
- Burkett, M.E. (1979). Art of the Felt Maker. Abbot Hall Art Gallery. ISBN 978-0950333519.
- Burkett, Mary; Malet de Carteret, Genette (2006). The Beckoning East: A Journey Through Turkey and Persia in 1962. Skiddaw Press. ISBN 978-0952835660.
- Burkett, Mary E. (2003). Christopher Steele 1733-1767 of Acre Walls, Egremont : George Romney's teacher. Skiddaw Press. [11]
References
- ^ a b c d e Haste, Cate (5 December 2014). "Mary Burkett obituary". The Guardian. Retrieved 25 May 2020.
- ^ a b c d e Shenton, Kenneth (2 December 2014). "Mary Burkett: Author and curator who helped save Abbot Hall Gallery". The Independent. Retrieved 25 May 2020.
- ^ a b Mullen, Adrian (4 December 2014). "Obituary: Tributes paid to arts champion Mary Burkett". The Westmorland Gazette. Retrieved 25 May 2020.
- ^ Inglewood, Cressida (18 December 2014). "Mary Burkett, 1924 – 2014". Lakeland Arts. Retrieved 25 May 2020.
- ^ "Skiddaw hermit paintings found". Times and Star. 15 January 2016. Retrieved 28 May 2020.
- ^ "History". International Feltmakers Association. Retrieved 25 May 2020.
- ^ a b "Obituary - Mary Burkett OBE, of Isel Hall". Times and Star. 21 November 2014. Retrieved 28 May 2020.
- ^ "Major sale of Mary Burkett's estate". Times and Star. 26 August 2015. Retrieved 28 May 2020.
- ^ "No. 47418". The London Gazette (1st supplement). 30 December 1977. p. 10.
- ^ "Mary Burkett, OBE". artuk.org. Art UK. Retrieved 25 May 2020. Includes image of the portrait
- ^ "Catalogue record for "Christopher Steele..."". British Library. Retrieved 29 May 2020.
Further reading
- Verinder, Ben (2008). I Felt Like an Adventure - A Life of Mary Burkett. Memoir Club. ISBN 9781841041896.
- David A. Cross, ed. (2011). Dear Mary, Love Percy: A Creative Thread - The Illustrated Letters of Percy Kelly to Mary Burkett 1968-1993. Skiddaw Press.
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