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The afternoon of November 15 at the Longmont Museum saw a large gathering of art enthusiasts and friends to celebrate the generous donation by Shirley Stanosheck. She donated 22 works from the collection of her late husband, Don Stanosheck.
Don’s long career with ITT took him all over the world and he collected art and antiques during his travels. He moved from California to Longmont in 1997, met and married Shirley, and developed a deep and long-lasting interest in local contemporary art.
Joanne Kirves described how Don would visit her Muse Gallery, particularly on Second Fridays and want to meet the artists whenever possible. She described how he often measured the paintings to “see if they fit”. He would have a particular space in his home gallery in mind that needed just the right work to fill it.
Over the years, Don and Shirley met many of the artists whose work they were collecting and formed friendships that transcended the initial commercial transactions. Many of the artists visited the Stanoshecks in their home, with Dru Marie Robert even helping Don rehang all of his artwork so that he could fit a few more paintings on the walls.
Several of the artists whose work Don collected were with Shirley at the Museum – Henry (Dan) Groenewald, John Taft, Scott Fraser and of course Dru Marie Robert. They not only spoke highly of the Stanoshecks, but also of Longmont as an up and coming, vibrant art center.
Dan Groenewald is planning to return to Longmont from Fort Collins as he believes the art scene is more appealing here.
A representative selection of the collection is on view now through November 25 in the Museum’s Swan Atrium. The full collection will be displayed in perhaps two years from now. Shirley hopes that it will be sooner, as she said “I will be 100 by then!”
Don Stanosheck suffered from ataxia, a disease of the nervous system, his entire life, but he didn’t let that stop him from making the most of his long life. He passed away at the age of 93 on September 3, 2017, and left a legacy not only for his family, but also for all the people of Longmont.
Visit the Swan Atrium through 25th November this year at the Longmont Museum, 400 Quail Road, Longmont CO 80501 or learn more at www.longmontmuseum.org .
