Joslyn Art Museum

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Joslyn Art Museum
File:Fountain Court Joslyn Art Museum Omaha.JPG
The Fountain Court in Joslyn Art Museum.
Established 1931
Location Omaha, Nebraska
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Type Art museum
Collection size Art collection
Website joslyn.org

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.

History

File:Joslyn Atrium North.jpg
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. It opened in summer 2009 in time for the annual Jazz on the Green festival. The Garden features work from local and national artists as well as a reflecting pool and waterfall. The garden is now host to the annual Jazz on the Green festival, held every summer for the past 25 years in July and August. The festival lasts for 8 weeks and features local, regional, and national jazz musicians. The event is free and draws thousands of spectators who can come and sit and bring a bottle of wine and snacks to enjoy.[5] As of 2010, Omaha Performing Arts has taken over the event and moved it to the park in the Midtown Crossing at Turner Park development to better accommodate the growing event.[6]

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.

Gallery

File:Joslyn Art Museum addition.JPG
The Walter & Suzanne Scott Pavilion
File:Joslyn Sculpture Garden 1.jpg
During construction of the sculpture garden; summer 2008.
File:Jazz on the Green Omaha.jpg
Jazz on the Green, summer 2009.
File:Joslyn Sculpture Garden.jpg
After the garden was completed; summer 2010.

See also

References

  1. [1] Archived December 31, 2011 at the Wayback Machine
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  7. http://www.omaha.com/living/new-cost-to-visit-omaha-s-joslyn-art-museum-free/article_2ae0ab44-dc53-5261-bec4-c6beba0fb2ac.html

External links