The American Folk Art Museum mourns the passing of artist, curator, and philanthropist Jane Walentas. Her tireless and devoted efforts for the betterment of New York City were exemplified by her care, conservation, and championing of Jane’s Carousel in DUMBO, Brooklyn.

In 1983, on the occasion of that year’s Fall Antiques Show (which raised funds for the museum), Mrs. Walentas curated Uncle Sam: An American Folk Hero. The exhibition included artworks from the museum’s collection, enjoyed coverage in The New York Times, and expanded the scholarship related to depictions of Uncle Sam.

The museum’s staff, board, and President Elizabeth V. Warren, a former classmate of Mrs. Walentas in the Master’s Degree program of Folk Art Studies at New York University, extend their sympathies to her family and her husband David, a former Trustee of the museum.