Major donation made by May Gruber to Currier Museum of Art

Manchester, NH - The Currier Museum of Art announced that it has received a significant gift from the estate of Manchester businesswoman - May Gruber.

Among  the generous donations there are works of art by Rembrandt Harmensz van Rijn and Giovanni Battista Tiepolo. But also works by more contemporary artists, such as: Jennifer Bartlett, David Hockney, Michael Mazur, Jim Hodges and Elizabeth Murray.

“May Gruber felt strongly about giving back to the community that helped her company to grow”, said Susan Strickler, Currier Director and CEO.

“Her tastes were eclectic and wide-ranging, as is evidenced by the works she gave to the Currier. Because of her bequest, the region has an even more exceptional collection of art to cherish”.

Gruber came to know several of the artists, including Jennifer Bartlett and Jim Hodges. She often contacted artists when she purchased their work, because she wanted to learn about their lives and artistic motivation.

May Gruber is the former head of Pandora Industries, a Manchester institution manufacturing knitwear items until 1983. She and her first husband, Saul Sidore, began collecting art in the 1960s, based on advice from Charles Buckley, then director of the Currier (1955-1964).

Collecting became a passion during her second marriage to Sam Gruber, a painter in his own right.