Christmas stamp event attracts 175 attendees at Indianapolis museum

By Linn’s Staff

Approximately 175 people turned out for the United States Christmas Madonna and Child forever stamp dedication ceremony held Sept. 17 at the Indianapolis Museum of Art at Newfields in Indianapolis, Ind.

The first-day ceremony took place Sept. 14 in Washington, D.C.

Newfields has the oil-on-canvas painting, created by the workshop of Sassoferrato (1609–85), shown on the stamp in its collection.

Linn’s Stamp News editor-in-chief Jay Bigalke was the master of ceremonies for the event, which was organized by local postal officials.

A ceremony program was produced by Linn’s for the event, and an autograph session took place after the ceremony.

U.S. Postal Service district manager for the Greater Indiana District Christi Johnson-Kennedy was the dedicating official. Indianapolis postmaster Keith Blane led the audience in the pledge of allegiance.

Additionally Indiana first lady Janet Holcomb spoke at the ceremony and assisted with the unveiling along with museum director Belinda Tate.

The actual painting hung on the wall near the ceremony poster of the enlarged stamp. The museum stated that the painting will remain on display throughout the holiday season.

The museum’s Clowes conservator of paintings Roxane Sperber and curatorial assistant Sadie Arft shared the podium to discuss the painting itself. They noted that the stamp shows a preconservation version of the work and that their conservation efforts took place after the Postal Service obtained an image to use for the stamp.

The USPS retail booth had the double-sided panes (booklets) of 20 available for purchase along with a pictorial cancellation that featured the Newfields logo on it.

Many attendees added the stamp and postmark to their ceremony programs after the event.

Newfields also had a retail table selling its set of 5-inch by 7-inch notecards that feature the Madonna and Child painting. The notecards are available available online from the museum from the museum.

Newfields provided light snacks and coffee to attendees, and also invited two members of the Indianapolis Baroque Orchestra to play music before and after the ceremony.

For further information on the Christmas Madonna and Child stamp, see Linn’s Sept. 2 issue, page 8.

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