Obituary: Donations from Joey Tanenbaum changed the face of Art Gallery of Hamilton
The Art Gallery of Hamilton owes a debt of gratitude to the late Max Tanenbaum. For it was he who motivated his son Joseph (Joey) to become a celebrated art collector.
Joey Tanenbaum - who died May 11 in Toronto at the age of 89 - bought a painting in 1964 of children playing with rabbits after his wife, Toby, suggested they have some art in their home.
Soon after, his father called him into his office.
He says, No. 2 (he always called him No. 2 because he was the second son of seven siblings), are you my son?'" Tanenbaum told The Spec in 2015. And I said, Yes, Dad,' and he says Because how could my son spend a hundred dollars for some shmow-blow paint and oil?'"
He said he slammed the door when he left and called Toby. He told her they were about to become art collectors.
To spite the old man, that's right," Tanenbaum said. True story."
The result was that the Art Gallery of Hamilton was the recipient of donations of 19th Century European, African and Oceanic art from Tanenbaum between 2001 and 2012.
It totaled 400 pieces at one time, was valued at more than $100 million and brought the AGH envy from galleries around the world, including the Louvre in Paris. Louvre curator, Jacques Foucart, once said if his gallery had the Tanenbaum European collection it would certainly" generate surprise and interest.
The Art Gallery of Hamilton said the donations from Tanenbaum accounted for one of the most important chapters in its history since it was founded in 1914.
In 2015, Tanenbaum endowed a new curator of European Art position at the AGH, a $75,000-a-year commitment for 20 years.
The Art Gallery of Hamilton is deeply saddened by the passing of Joey Tanenbaum, one of the country's most generous philanthropists," the AGH said in a statement.
With his profound commitment to art and unwavering dedication to our mission and the City of Hamilton, Joey was integral to the significant growth of our institution. His legacy will live through the AGH's collection, exhibits and programs for generations to come."
On May 18, International Museum Day, the AGH showcased a selection of the 317 pieces from the Tanenbaum collection. He has also made donations to the Royal Ontario Museum, Art Gallery of Ontario and the Kitchener Waterloo Art Gallery.
Joey Tanenbarum was born in September 1932 to Max and Anne Tanenbaum. His grandfather, Abraham, arrived in Canada from Poland in 1911 with just $8. He became a scrap dealer and eventually founded the Runnymede Iron and Steel Co. in the 1920s. His father, Max, founded York Steel in the early 1950s.
Tanenbaum worked as a labourer at Runnymede and eventually founded Jay-M Holdings, a real estate company. York Steel bought the Bridge and Tank steel fabricating company in Hamilton in 1971 and Tannenbaurm served as president and CEO from 1975 to 1983 when it was sold. He commuted to Hamilton from Toronto and is a former member of the Hamilton Club.
Tanenbaum started donating art in the 1980s to declutter his home, but more importantly as a way to reduce the debt carried by the family business with tax breaks. He eventually eliminated the debt.
He said he picked the AGH because he hit it off with senior staff like Louise Dompierre, Shirley Madill and Shelley Falconer. The gallery received its first big donation in 2002 and hired police to escort the 211 works from Toronto.
He told The Spectator he also favoured Hamilton because Dofasco helped his grandfather get his company off the ground in 1917 by doing business with him. Others wouldn't work with him because he was Jewish.
We can never forgive that," Tanenbaum said.
In 2000, he and his wife were named Philanthropist of the Year by the National Society of FundRaising Executives. McMaster University bestowed an honorary law degree on Joey and Toby Tanenbaum in 2015. Mac president Patrick Deane called them two of the country's most generous and influential philanthropists."
Tanenbaum is survived by his wife, Toby, five children and four grandchildren. His mother, Anne, died in 2008 at 99. His father, Max, died in 1983.
Daniel Nolan can be reached at dannolanwrites@gmail.com