OCMH Receives Gift of James Colway Collection from Community Bank, N.A.

Rick Stickels, OSBCF President, and Jonathan Pawlika, OCMH Board Chair

The bulk of the collection was part of the Art in the Embassies program--work displayed in U.S. Embassies around the world between 1967-1982. The pieces present quintessential scenes of America by an Oneida native who lived and worked near the Mansion House. The paintings depict rural and small town scenes from such Central New York locations as Oneida, Siloam, Vernon, Boonville, Cooperstown, Oneida Lake, Stockbridge, Cazenovia, Knoxboro, Augusta and Hatch Lake.

James Colway was an important local artist who served as the Art Director and Director/Vice-President of Advertising at Oneida Limited. The Oneida Community, and subsequently Oneida Limited, understood the power of public relations and marketing from their earliest Communal days. In the early 20th century, Oneida Limited was on the vanguard of advertising, hiring major artists to design ads. This trend began with artists such as Coles Phillips and Maxfield Parrish and continued with James Colway. The Colway Collection will help OCMH tell the story of the creative innovation of Oneida Limited.

OCMH looks forward to a future opening event to showcase this collection and honor Mike Kallet and Community Bank’s gift.

Thanks to Rick Stickels, President of Oneida Savings Bank Charitable Foundation, who was instrumental in facilitating this donation to OCMH.

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