Joslyn Art Museum

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Template:Short description Template:Use mdy dates Template:Use American English Template:Infobox museum The Joslyn Art Museum, commonly referred to as the Joslyn, is a fine arts museum in Omaha, Nebraska, the largest in the state.<ref name="Joslyn History">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> It opened in 1931 at the initiative of Sarah H. Joslyn, in memory of her husband, businessman George A. Joslyn.<ref name=":0">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name=":1">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name=":2">Template:Cite book</ref> Since its opening, the museum has gone through several expansions, the last of which was completed in 2024.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":182" /> It is the only museum in Nebraska with a comprehensive permanent collection, comprising over 12,000 objects, including nineteenth and twentieth-century collections of American and European art, Western American Art, Chinese and Japanese art, as well as contemporary art.<ref name="The Joslyn Collection">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The Joslyn is home to the Margre H. Durham Center for Western Studies, established in 1980, which stewards two of the most important collections of works by Western artists Karl Bodmer and Alfred Jacob Miller in the country.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

History

George and Sarah Joslyn

Originally from Vermont, George and Sarah Joslyn moved to Des Moines, Iowa in 1879 for George's new printing job at the Iowa Printing Company, which involved manual labor.<ref name=":182">Template:Cite book</ref><ref name=":42">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name=":0" /> In 1880, they went to Omaha, where George was to manage his own printing branch of the company.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":5">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He then founded his own company, called the Western Newspaper Union, which soon became the largest supplier of "ready print" newspapers and provided news for 12,000 people within the United States. This is the period during which he gained most of his wealth.<ref name=":5" /><ref name=":2" /><ref name=":0" /> George was known as a philanthropist, but he was also considered a hard man of business in the Omaha community, and also considered an entrepreneurer.<ref name=":5" />

As a couple, George and Sarah Joslyn were known to be great lovers of the arts, especially music.<ref name=":42" /><ref name=":2" /> When George died in 1916 (as the richest man in Nebraska),<ref name=":5" /> Sarah decided she wanted a memorial building dedicated to his life and accomplishments, which would reflect their love for the arts.<ref name=":2" /> It would also serve as a gift to the people of Omaha and a way for the Joslyns to give back to the city that had given them so much.<ref name=":1" /> Sarah Joslyn founded and funded the nonprofit Society of Liberal Arts to find a permanent home for art collections in Omaha.<ref name=":2" /> When the Society of Liberal Arts was created, her intended purpose for it was to create and operate the Joslyn Memorial building; it would officially become the Joslyn Art Museum in 1987.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" /><ref name=":182" />

When Sarah Joslyn died in 1940, control of the Society of Liberal Arts passed to the trustees.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2" /> The endowment she left to help maintain the museum was then also used to acquire new art and expand the museum's collection.<ref name=":1" />

Building history

Kiewit started construction on the Joslyn Memorial building in 1928,<ref name=":8">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> but plans for the building started to come together much earlier, in 1920.<ref name=":42" /> Since the Joslyns were particularly fond of music, the building was initially designed as a concert hall. Art galleries were added at the suggestion of various arts groups throughout Omaha.<ref name=":182" />

The Memorial occupies a large and impressive art deco building designed by John McDonald (architect) and Alan McDonald (architect).<ref name=":42" /><ref name=":182" /><ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" /> John McDonald was a close friend to the Joslyns; before designing the Memorial, he designed their Scottish castle-like home, commonly known as the Joslyn Castle, along with several other public and residential buildings throughout Omaha.<ref name=":182" /><ref name=":0" /><ref name=":10">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name=":42" /> The impressive art deco facade of the building drew inspiration from Egyptian temples, art moderne motifs, and the Nebraska capitol building in Lincoln.<ref name=":42" /><ref name=":10" /> The Memorial building is constructed of Georgia pink marble, with 38 different marbles from all over the world and stone from across Europe and Africa in the interior.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" />

The decorative panels on the exterior were designed by sculptor John David Brcin, and refer to the peoples of the plains—both the original Native American inhabitants and the later European explorers and settlers.<ref name=":182" /><ref name=":1" /> There are eight decorative panels in total around the outside of the building: Dissemination of Intelligence (front right), The Pioneer Press (front left), The Homesteaders (north), Civic Builders (south), Indian Signal Fire (north), Indian Prayer for Life (south), Indian Picture Writing (back north), and Indian Sign Language (back south).<ref name=":182" /> The inscriptions carved on the building were written by Hartley Burr Alexander.<ref name=":1" /> Sarah gave $2.6 million for the construction of the Memorial building, and an endowment for its continued maintenance.<ref name=":10" />

The Joslyn Memorial building opened in 1931 and consisted of various art galleries, a concert hall, a lecture hall, an art library, classrooms, and an atrium with a fountain.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" /> In 1938, the Memorial was listed as one of the one hundred finest buildings in the United States.<ref name=":1" /> Several decades after the Memorial building opened to the public, it was running out of space for staff and the growing collection.<ref name=":182" /> Eugene Kingman, the director of the Joslyn during the 1960s, wanted the Joslyn to be the "Smithsonian of Omaha," a place where science and the arts could come together.<ref name=":182" /> With this idea in mind, he wanted to expand the Memorial and construct additional buildings, which would include a science museum and a planetarium.<ref name=":182" /> Lack of funds for the project and Kingman's departure in 1969 put an end to this plan.<ref name=":182" /> However, Kingman saved quite a bit of historical material as part of his vision for the Memorial, which was later donated to historical museums around Omaha.<ref name=":182" /> After his departure, the Joslyn Memorial returned to a strong focus on the arts.<ref name=":182" />

File:Joslyn Art Museum addition.JPG
The Walter & Suzanne Scott Pavilion, seen in 2012

Even though there was still no expansion of the memorial building, in 1987 the Joslyn Memorial participated in a land exchange with Omaha Central High School.<ref name=":182" /> Through this exchange the Joslyn acquired land to the east of the memorial building to add a sculpture garden and expand parking, while the high school gained land to the northeast where a new football stadium was constructed.<ref name=":182" />In 1994, the first addition to the Joslyn Art Museum was finally built. Designed by Lord Norman Foster, and included the Scott Pavilion.<ref name=":11">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref> HDR Inc. and the Kiewit construction company worked together to build this addition.<ref name=":182" /> The exterior of the 1994 addition used pink Georgian marble from the same quarry as the original Memorial building, to make the addition look like a part of the original structure.<ref name=":10" /><ref name=":42" /><ref name=":182" /> A development campaign for the Joslyn Museum and the Western Heritage Museum (Durham Museum) ensured that there was plenty of money to construct this long-awaited addition to the museum.<ref name=":182" /> The $15.95 million budget included modern art acquisitions, visiting show galleries, a cafe, a kitchen, offices, storage space, a security control center, classroom space, and a beautiful glass atrium that connects the new addition to the Memorial building.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":182" /> Aside from the 1994 addition, sections of the memorial building were updated as part of the project, such as the restrooms, concert hall, and lecture hall.<ref name=":182" />

In 2008, construction began on the Joslyn Museum Sculpture Gardens, which would better utilize the space received in the 1987 land exchange.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":182" /><ref name=":4">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The gardens opened in the summer of 2009, featuring work from local and national artists as well as a reflecting pool and waterfall.<ref name=":13">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name=":1" /> Shortly after its opening, the garden hosted the 24th annual Jazz on the Green festival; it continued to host that event until 2010, when Omaha Performing Arts began producing it. It was then moved it to the Midtown Crossing at Turner Park.<ref name=":14">Template:Cite news</ref>

File:Joslyn Art Museum Entry Atrium.jpg
The museum's entry atrium, in Hawks Pavilion.

Announced in 2018, the most recent addition to the Joslyn Art Museum, the Rhonda and Howard Hawks Pavilion, has added 42,000 sq. ft. of space to the museum.<ref name=":11" /> The museum closed for construction of the new addition in May 2022 and reopened in September 2024.<ref name=":4" /><ref name="Omaha's Joslyn Art Museum reopens after $100m expansion">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref> The architecture firm Snøhetta and local architecture company Alley Poyner Macchietto Architecture worked together to design the new addition.<ref name=":15">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> This new space includes galleries, classrooms, a new gift shop, and multi-purpose community rooms.<ref name=":11" /><ref name=":4" /> As with the original Memorial building and the 1994 addition, Kiewit Building Group served as the contractor for the project.<ref name=":11" /> Along with the new building space, the gardens and outdoor spaces surrounding the museum were revamped.<ref name=":15" /> The exterior of the Rhonda and Howard Hawks Pavilion resembles a cloud, reflecting the original theme of the Great Plains.<ref name=":15" /> The addition also created a new entrance to the museum, allowing visitors to access the rest of the museum through the Pavilion.<ref name=":11" />

Admissions

At its opening in 1931, the Memorial was to be an admission-free facility.<ref name=":7">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name=":3">Klein, Becky (2016). "Admission Fees As Barrier To Entry: Joslyn Art Museum".</ref> Free admission continued until 1965, when an entry fee of 25 cents per person was instituted.<ref name=":7" /><ref name=":3" /> As time went on the price of admission continued to rise; in 1987, it was two dollars for adults, while children and seniors paid one dollar.<ref name=":3" /> In 2010, admission went up to eight dollars per adult. In 2013, however, the museum moved back to its original vision of free admission.<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":1" /> This change was made possible through a three-year grant from the Sherwood Foundation Grant; the Foundation believed that the Joslyn would be able to make up the funds from paid admissions in other ways once the grant concluded, as admission fees only represented 2–4% of the museum's overall revenue.<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":162">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> As of the museum's reopening in 2024, admission remained free.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":162" />

Collections

When the Joslyn Memorial first opened, there was a need for art to fill the galleries.<ref name=":2" /> The Art Institute of Omaha and the Friends of Art donated paintings. Nettie Fowler Dietz, wife of a local business owner, donated her personal collection in 1934, and Jessie Barton Christiancy bequested her collection and that of her late father, the industrialist Guy Conger Barton, to the museum.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":1" /> These were some of the first groups and people to donate collections to the Joslyn. After Sarah's death, Paul Grummann, who was the director from 1931–1947, and Harold Parsons purchased European art for the Memorial.<ref name=":2" /> When Eugene Kingman took over as director in 1947, he expanded the Greek vase collection as well as art and artifacts from Indigenous cultures.<ref name=":2" /> In 1986 the Karl Bodmer collection, initially on loan to the museum, was donated and became part of the permanent collection.<ref name=":2" /> In recent years, the Joslyn has continued to expand its collections, particularly the contemporary and modern, with the acquisition of the collection of Omaha manufacturer Phillip G. Schrager, housed in the Hawks Pavilion.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

Permanent collection

The Joslyn Art Museum permanent collection includes:

  • Native American: Both traditional works and art done under the influence of, or in reaction against, European conventions and training.<ref name=":192">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name=":1" />

  • Art of the American West: 269 watercolor paintings, 117 drawings, and more than 200 North American prints by the Swiss artist Karl Bodmer from his 1832–34 journey to the Missouri River frontier with the German Prince Maximilian of Wied-Neuwied, the largest collection of Bodmer's works in the United States, donated in 1986 by Omaha energy company InterNorth;<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref> over 110 works by painter Alfred Jacob Miller, illustrating the West in the 1830s, constituting the third largest collection of works by Miller in the United States, behind the Walters Art Museum in Baltimore and the Gilcrease Museum in Tulsa.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

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  • Asian: Consists mainly of ancient Chinese sculpture from the 2nd and 3rd centuries, as well as Japanese decorative arts of the 19th and 20th centuries.<ref name=":1" />

Sculpture gardens

Joslyn's sculpture gardens include:<ref name=":1" />

Peter Kiewit Foundation Sculpture Garden:

File:Joslyn Sculpture Garden.jpg
After the garden was completed, 2010.

Discover Garden:

  • Noodles & Doodles by Smith Bourne and Associates Inc.
  • Folded Square Alphabet O (1987) by Fletcher Benton
  • Metamorphosis by Benard Matemera
  • Yellow Ascending (1977) by George Sugarman
  • Pencil Bench (2009) by Ron Parks
  • 22 1/2 Degrees with Crayon Tips (2009) by Ron Parks
  • Cubular (2009) by Peter McClenon Carter

Other outdoor sculpture:

  • Able Charlie (1983) by Kenneth Snelson
  • Untitled (1981) by John Henry
  • Pawn (1980) by Sidney Buchanan
  • Generations (2007) by Josiah Manzi

See also

References

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