Joslyn Art Museum

The Joslyn Art Museum is the principal fine arts museum in the state of Nebraska, United States of America. Located in Omaha, it was opened in 1931 at the initiative of Sarah H. Joslyn in memory of her husband, businessman George A. Joslyn. It is the only museum in the state with a comprehensive permanent collection, and although it includes works from Paolo Veronese, El Greco, Titian, among others, its greatest strengths are the outstanding art collections of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries of American and European artists such as Pierre-Auguste Renoir and William-Adolphe Bouguereau.

Joslyn Art Museum
The Fountain Court in Joslyn Art Museum.
Established1931
LocationOmaha, Nebraska
Coordinates41.2603°N 95.9461°W / 41.2603; -95.9461
TypeArt museum
Collection sizeArt collection
Websitejoslyn.org

History

The museum's glass atrium (the west view) contains a café and gift shop. Dale Chihuly's Chihuly: Inside and Out is seen at the far end.

In 1928, Kiewit started construction of the museum.[1] Opening on November 29, 1931,[2] as a gift to the people of Omaha from Sarah H. Joslyn in memory of her husband, George A. Joslyn;[3] It occupies a large and impressive Art Deco building designed by John and Alan McDonald, constructed of Georgia Pink marble, with 38 different marbles from all over the world in the interior, close to downtown Omaha. The decorative panels on the exterior were designed by sculptor John David Brcin and refer to the peoples of the plains - the original Native American inhabitants and the later European explorers and settlers. Inscriptions carved on the building were written by Hartley Burr Alexander. A substantial extension, designed by Lord Norman Foster, opened in 1994.[4]

In 2008, construction began on the Joslyn Sculpture Garden. The garden opened in summer 2009 featuring work from local and national artists as well as a reflecting pool and waterfall.[5] Shortly after its opening, the garden hosted the 24th annual Jazz on the Green festival which it hosted until 2010 when Omaha Performing Arts began producing the event and moved it to the Midtown Crossing at Turner Park which could development to better accommodate the growing event.[6] The free eight-week festival features locally, regionally, and nationally-known jazz musicians and draws thousands of spectators who can sit on the lawn with picnic snacks to enjoy the performances.

In May 2013, the Museum stopped charging general admission, again providing free access to the public as it had done from its opening until the mid-1960s.[7]

Collections

The permanent collections of the Joslyn Art Museum are:

From the balcony at the east end of the atrium, one can see another Chihuly work, Glowing Gemstone Polyvitro Chandelier, hanging above the café.

Although the best known names appear in the European and American collections, it is probably the Western American and Native American collections that have the greatest importance as collections, allowing a rare opportunity to study these genres and periods of art as well as giving an important insight into the history of the western United States.

In addition to its permanent collections, the museum mounts regular special exhibitions. It also serves as an important regional educational and artistic resource, and its building includes an auditorium where regular concerts are held.

The Walter & Suzanne Scott Pavilion
During construction of the sculpture garden; summer 2008.
Jazz on the Green, summer 2009.
After the garden was completed; summer 2010.

See also

References

  1. "History-The Early Years". Kiewit Corporation. Archived from the original on December 31, 2011. Retrieved March 8, 2020.
  2. "History-About". Joslyn Art Museum. Retrieved 2014-08-10.
  3. Beal, Graham W. J. (1994). Joslyn Art Museum: A Building History. Omaha: Joslyn Art Museum. ISBN 978-0936364254.
  4. Bain, David Haward (2004). The Old Iron Road: An Epic of Rails, Roads, and the Urge to Go West. New York City: Viking. pp. 65–6. ISBN 978-0670033089.
  5. "Join KETV For Jazz On The Green". KETV News. July 3, 2007. Archived from the original on 22 February 2012. Retrieved March 8, 2020.
  6. Pitcher, John (March 19, 2010). "Turner's green to host jazz". Omaha World-Herald. Archived from the original on September 5, 2012. Retrieved March 8, 2020.
  7. Bicak, Carol (April 10, 2013). "New cost to visit Omaha's Joslyn Art Museum: free". Omaha World-Herald. Retrieved March 8, 2020.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.