MIAMI BEACH, FL (June 2, 2009)―This fall, The Wolfsonian–Florida International University will commemorate the individuals and family foundations that have played a major role in the museum's success during the past thirteen years by recognizing their gifts of $50,000 and above.

A permanent installation in the museum's lobby will be formally unveiled on November 10, 2009. Donors will have their names engraved on the spines of cast aluminum books, which join to create a "library." The books for this permanent installation or “donor library” were chosen to underscore The Wolfsonian's mission as a center for learning and research and to represent how an individual critically shapes the whole, be it a book in a library or an individual in society. The books also function as personal time capsules; each contains a compartment into which donors are invited to place mementos, thus preserving information on the lives and times of the museum's contributors.

The books are designed in five shapes and sizes, each demarking a specific giving level ranging from $50,000 to more than $1 million. In addition, the installation includes a cast aluminum bust of Wolfsonian founder Mitchell Wolfson, Jr., created by Dorothy Haase in 2004. The Wolfsonian will acknowledge as inaugural inductees donors whose cumulative gifts total $50,000 and above. In subsequent years, only single gifts of $50,000 or more will qualify. The donor library was conceived by the late Ton Luyk (1936-2007), an interior designer and long-time Wolfsonian supporter, in collaboration with architect Mark Hampton. “As a public and educational institution, The Wolfsonian relies on the great generosity of its donors for continuous support,” notes Wolfsonian director Cathy Leff. “We are so grateful to the various individuals and family foundations that have played a vital role in supporting The Wolfsonian’s rich array of exhibitions and public programs.”

Gifts made to The Wolfsonian's Annual Fund helps support many of the museum's initiatives including exhibitions, programs, publications, web-based projects, and acquisitions. For information about the donor recognition library or The Wolfsonian's Annual Fund, please contact the development office at 305.535.2632 or email davids@thewolf.fiu.edu.

About The Wolfsonian–Florida International University
The Wolfsonian–FIU is a museum and research center that uses objects to illustrate the persuasive power of art and design to explore what it means to be modern, and to tell the story of social, political, and technological changes that have transformed the world. The approximately 120,000 artifacts that comprise The Wolfsonian collection range from fine art, graphic design, and political propaganda to furniture, rare books, and ephemeral materials such as postcards and travel brochures. Since opening to the public just ten years ago, The Wolfsonian has developed and disseminated critically acclaimed exhibitions, publications, and educational programs that highlight the impact of design in shaping the modern world. Its vast patrimony of primary source materials provides unparalleled opportunities for scholarship and appreciation, making it a unique resource for local, national, and international audiences.

The Wolfsonian is located at 1001 Washington Avenue, Miami Beach, FL. Admission is $7 for adults; $5 for seniors, students, and children age 6 -12; and free for Wolfsonian members, State University System of Florida staff and students with ID, and children under six. The Wolfsonian, presently on a Summer Schedule through October 14, 2009, is open Thursday and Friday from noon-9pm (galleries close at 7pm on Thursday); Saturday and Sunday from noon-6pm; and is closed Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. Contact us at 305.531.1001 or visit us online at www.wolfsonian.org for further information.

The Wolfsonian–FIU receives ongoing support from the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs, the Florida Arts Council; the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs and the Cultural Affairs Council, the Miami-Dade County Mayor and Board of County Commissioners; the City of Miami Beach, Cultural Affairs Program, Cultural Arts Council; the Arthur F. and Alice E. Adams Foundation; William J. and Tina Rosenberg Foundation; Continental Airlines, the Official Airline of The Wolfsonian–FIU; The Miami Herald; Miami.com; Bacardi U.S.A., Inc.; Robert Mondavi Winery; and Pistils & Petals.

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