The Mason Beekley Collection of skiing art and photography is looking for a new home.
“When one door closes, another opens,” said Nat Messina, an attorney and director for the Beekley Family Foundation. The Foundation learned in mid-September, 2009, that the $5 million collection can no longer be housed at the Mammoth Mountain Ski Museum.
Mason Beekley
“The collection has a lot of potential for anyone who is willing to fully utilize it,” says Messina, who adds that only about 5 percent was on display in Mammoth at any one time.
The Beekley Foundation is looking for an organization that would provide or build a suitable museum; keep the collection whole and intact; ensure that it’s properly managed by a curator or librarian; and offer public visitation as well as access for ski historical research people. An organization in a resort or ski town that draws visitors looking for a cultural experience, and that is committed to promoting the collection, would be an ideal fit, Messina says. In the right environment, the collection can attract additional guests and provide a compelling environment for fundraisers and other events, Messina says.
The collection contains 200 exquisite paintings and sculptures of skiers; 600 posters, some of which now auction for as much as $10,000; magazine covers dating back to the 19th century; unique etchings and lithographs; 2,400 ski pins and stamps; and one of the world’s largest libraries of ski books. Beekley, who died in 2001, was a successful entrepreneur and founder of the International Skiing History Association. He painstakingly and lovingly assembled ski books and graphics over a half-century of collecting’ a history lover could easily spend a week perusing its treasures. “In collecting art,” Beekley once said, “my two criteria are: there must be a skier in the illustration and I must like it.”
For more information on the collection, contact Messina at 860-240-6027 or email nmessina @ murthalaw.com.
Here are samples of paintings from the Beekley Collection.
Classic Norwegian painting of 2-year old prince Häkon being taken to safety in Osterdalen from Lillehammer in 1206. Famous annual, Norwegian Birchlegs cross country race, held in memorial to this historic flight.
Mountain Skiers 9"x12" c.1920 Artist: Albert Meindl (Austria)
Original pin-up painting from the 1950’s Artist: Houillier
Skiing 28"x40" 1947 Artist: Ladis W. Sabo (USA)
John Fry
John Fry is the former editor-in-chief of SKI, America's oldest ski magazine, and founding editor of the award-winning New York Times magazine Snow Country. He, has received the FIS (International Ski Federation) Journalism Award, and lifetime achievement awards from the International Skiing History Association and from the North American Snowsports Journalists Association (NASJA). Fry launched NASTAR (National Standard Ski Race), The Nations Cup of alpine ski racing, and the Graduated Length Method of teaching, and has been elected to the U.S. National Ski Hall of Fame. He is president of the International Skiing History Association.
