Maridon Museum celebrates anniversary
Cynthia Marshall rang a bell to usher in 20 minutes of silence.
For nearly a year, Marshall, who is an ordained Buddhist hospice chaplain, and the Crystal Lotus Sangha members have given dharma talks and meditation lessons at the Maridon Museum, 322 N. McKean St.
“I think the Maridon is a symbol that the people of Butler care about the arts and they also care about education. The Maridon is so important because it's about the diversity,” said Marshall, the honors studies director at the Community College of Beaver County,
“When we give talks, they really complement, so that if you know a little bit about Buddhism or Tibetan Buddhism, then you can appreciate more the archetypes,” she said about the connection to the museum.
Dharma talks, lessons based on the words of Buddha about love and compassion, are one form of community outreach at the museum, she said, adding the meditation is nondenominational.
The museum celebrated its 15-year anniversary at its annual Harvest Moon Festival fundraiser in September at the Butler Country Club, which grossed $25,000 to benefit the museum.
The museum, which opened on May 8, 2004, is the only museum in the Western Pennsylvania region with a specific focus on Asian art and culture coupled with a collection of German Meissen porcelain.
“You are visiting a museum that's not only beautiful, but gives you insight onto a very different culture and a very different art concept; that's what makes this so special,” Marshall said. “It's a little bit of something that a lot of people don't know about.”
The Asian art collection includes jade and ivory sculptures, tapestries, landscape paintings, scrolls and artifacts.The Maridon's permanent collection includes more than 800 art objects that date to the Neolithic Period (2nd and 3rd millennium B.C.), as well as a set of 6-foot-by-8-foot ink-on-paper scrolls by the contemporary Chinese artist Wan Qingli, which was painted in 2002.Three hundred pieces of Meissen porcelain are also included in the museum's collection. Many works date back to the early 18th century, and one exceptional piece comes from the personal collection of the Augustus the Strong, Elector of Saxony from 1694-1733, and the “founding father” of Meissen porcelain.The museum — the objects and the buildings that house them — was the gift of Mary Hulton Phillips, who died in 2009.Phillips was a philanthropist, said Roxann Booser, the Maridon's executive director who has been with the museum for nine years.“Mary was quite a character,” Booser said. “She only collected what she liked. If she only liked three pieces out of a five -piece collection, she only bought the three.”Phillips did not have children and often joked that a person's belongings did not follow them when they died, she said.What started out as a small idea became a collection of art, Booser said.One highlight of the museum is its rosewood Buddha, which was in Phillips' basement, that guests are allowed to touch and rub its belly for good luck.About a year ago when the museum started its social media presence on Instagram, people would post selfies of themselves with the piece of art, Booser said.The museum's signature piece is its ivory egret with bronze legs. Although the piece is surprisingly heavy, it is well balanced, she said.One of its oldest pieces is a horse made of red patina that is completely intact, she said.In 2016, the Butler County Chamber of Commerce and Butler County Tourism & Convention Bureau gave the museum the 2016 Butler County Community Champion Award.People have visited the Maridon from around the world, including Israel, Booser said.“It's amazing where people come from and read about us,” she said.Booser said the museum is a “backyard treasure” found in Butler.“I call it my happy place,” she said. “Everyone comes in here to have a good time and try to learn something.”In keeping with happy places, in December the Crystal Lotus Sangha group will have an open house at the museum for people to drop in and meditate and sit quietly if they are stressed from the holidays, Marshall said.
Here is the Maridon Museum's Chinese Film Series fall schedule. The screenings are free and open to the public. Donations are welcome.Nov. 8: “House of Flying Daggers” directed by Zhang Yimou, 2004Nov. 11: “Kaili Blues” directed by Bi Gan, 2015Dec. 5: “Falling Flowers” directed by Huo Jianqi, 2013NOTE: Reservations are required by calling 724-282-0123.
Tibetan Book of the DeadWHAT: Have you ever wondered about life after death? Or, rather, life between death and rebirth?The Tibetan Book of the Dead is an ancient text that describes how the living can break the cycle of death and rebirth, enabling confused, disembodied souls to move on to a new reality.Cynthia Marshall will review the origins of the mystical text and its lessons.WHEN: 6 p.m. Oct. 24COST: No charge — donations welcomeFOR MORE INFORMATION: Call 724-282-0123 or send email to info@maridon.org.DharmasWHAT: The Maridon Museum will host Dharmas based on the teachings of Buddha and a contemplative period of meditation. Open to anyone, the Dharmas are on the third Thursday of the month and will include more instruction and shorter periods of meditation. The Crystal Lotus meditation group will host and support beginning practitioners of meditation, which has proved to be beneficial for those suffering stress, anger and emotional strife.WHEN: 6 p.m. every second and third Thursday of the month through DecemberCOST: Donations welcome. All proceeds benefit the Maridon Museum.TO REGISTER: Call 724-282-0123
