European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - May 28, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse                                American Art returns to Tiverny an architect s drawing shows How the new museum fits into the surrounding  Ray Rowden Washington Bureau French impressionist Claude Monet is again contributing to the Richness of american Art. And once again As it was a Century ago Little More is required of the master than his presence. On june 2, an american foundation will open Musee american Tiverny next to the Musee Claude Monet and the Monet gardens in the Village of Tiverny about 50 Miles Northwest of Paris. Aspiring american impressionists following in the Wake of the great French master made up almost half of the Village s 600 residents during the late 1800s. The new museum s opening exhibit focuses on the work of americans in France during that period. The museum s founder Daniel j. Terra Hopes to maintain the largest selection of historical american Art available in Europe. The inaugural exhibition which runs through october will have about 90 paintings by such americans As Theodore Robinson Mary Cassatt Winslow Homer John Singer Sargent and Maurice Prendergast. The Centrepiece of the exhibit is Robinson s the wedding March. Painted from memory it records the procession led by Monet preceding the marriage of his stepdaughter Suzanne Hochede to Theodore Butler an american impressionist in Tiverny in 1892. Rich with symbolism Terra considers it to be an Apt focus for the opening of a museum of american Art in France. However the most impressive work May Well be John Singer Sargeant s Oyster gatherers of Canale. It is on loan from Washington s Corcoran gallery and is one of the american expatriate s most recognized works. Many pieces Are from Terra s personal and foundation collections. Terra a successful entrepreneur in inks and other graphic arts chemicals was former president Reagan s 1979 Campaign finance chairman and subsequently american ambassador at Large for cultural affairs. Terra opened an Art museum in Evanston iii., in 1980, and Chicago s Terra museum of american Art in 1987. A the Terra foundation for the arts has bankrolled the project since the idea took shape five years ago. That was when Terra Learned that the House next to Monet s Home and recently restored gardens were available for Sale. Quot my wife and i were on plane to Paris the next Day Quot Terra said. Quot Purchase of the House was completed the Day after we arrived in  the House was Home to american impressionist Lilia Cabot Perry who proved to be More successful at promoting impressionist Art than at producing it. Terra used the House As a Headquarters during the construction of the adjoining museum and plans to restore it in the near future. The museum s unusual architecture a most of the building is underground its roofs covered with Heather a is the result of Terra s persistence and diplomacy As Well As the skills of the designers. The idea to submerge the facility in the rolling Seine Valley terrain did not emerge until a meeting with French officials who had just disapproved the seventh design for the proposed facility. Quot the first sketches were really just doodles on a Napkin Quot Terra said. Quot but that caught the attention of the French officials and i did t let anyone leave until we had the concept approved sometime after  while construction of the state of the Art facility has stretched the financial limits of his foundation Terra believes the museum will support itself through Entrance fees classes and Bookstore sales. He noted that since the restoration of the Monet gardens Tiverny has become an increasingly popular destination. Quot no new museum has drawn As Many visitors As we expect to draw in our first year Quot Terra said. Quot about 500,000 people a year visit Tiverny now and we Hope a million will be visiting five years Down the  Terra s research indicates that 45 percent of tin visitors to the Monet gardens Are French 15 percent Are american and the remainder Are from throughout the world. Tiverny can be reached from Paris via the a-1 3 autoroute with exits at Vernon or Bonniere. It is also accessible by train from the Paris Saint Lazare station to the Vernon station on the Paris Rouen line. The Muse am6rlcaln it very 99 Rue Claude Monet will be open 10 . To 6 . Daily except monday when it will be closed All Day through nov. 1. Admission is 30 franc about $5.70 Tor adults and 20 francs for students and group members children under 7 years admitted free. Reservations required for guided Tours. Additional information is available by calling 32-51 -94-65 or through Tel fax at 32-51-94-67. If calling from outside France to sure to add the country code. Quot Oyster gatherers of Canale Quot along with three figure studies and to o versions of the final painting by John Singer Sargent Are included in the inaugural exhibition. May 28, 1992 stripes Magazine 13