University Art Museum

You are Invited…

By wilso952 June 20, 2011
Exhibitions, University Art Museum

Many events are organized in relation to exhibitions: openings, galas, previews, special lectures, concerts, etc. The WAM collection contains many invitations to such events in association with exhibitions past.

American Identities: Cabinet Card Portraits, 1870-1910, from The Doan Family Collection
Exhibited February 25-March 22, 1985 at the University Art Museum in Northrop Auditorium.

From a February 19, 1985 UM News Release (Digital Conservancy):

“The exhibition presents a selection of 55 Cabinet cards, primarily Midwestern in origin, collected by the Doan family of Fort Dodge, Iowa, over the past 20 years…

The “artist-photographers” who produced the portraits shifted around scenes and properties until the right “fit” for the subject was achieved… It was important to present subjects at their best in the chosen role, whether beau, debutante, successful merchant or farmer, war hero or proud parents. Even the most humble person took on an air of dignity in the photographer’s lens.”

Art Sandwiched In

By wilso952 June 14, 2011
University Art Museum

Almost everyday for lunch I have a turkey sandwich at my desk (not in the Archives – no food allowed of course). This is not very exciting, or interesting whatsoever. I thought about my mundane lunch ritual when I came across the folder titled, “Art Sandwiched In” in BOX 88. In the late 1980s, the University Art Museum conducted lunchtime art programming for University staff. Lectures were held on a variety of art topics, from the history of furniture to ancient world wonders.

Although this program has long since ended, I found myself jealous of the University staff members of years past who had this exciting lunchtime opportunity open to them. Then I thought of the University’s Public Art on Campus program, administered by the Weisman. I think I’ll create my own lunch time art appreciation series, grab my turkey sandwich, leave my desk behind, and find a bench next to a campus installation to “sandwich in” some art…

The Balloon: A Bicentennial Exhibition

By wilso952 May 23, 2011
Exhibitions, University Art Museum

To celebrate the invention of the balloon in 1783, the University Art Museum held a bicentennial exhibition in 1983… and collaborated with other arts organizations to provide events that featured the art, technology, and history of – the balloon.

The 1984 U of M Summer Session Bulletin (contained within a “Ballooning” folder) features the ballooning festivities by including a cover image of a hot-air balloon that was present on campus (with a design that matches the original Montgolfier balloon).

From a September 6, 1983 UM News Release (Digital Conservancy),”200 Years of Ballooning Will Be Celebrated with Facts and Fancy at U of M Art Museum,”

“Original engravings, watercolors, etchings and decorative art objects will depict experiments and fantasies in balloon design and will indicate how the balloon was used as a symbol and in satire… An additional exhibition of photographic murals will show the development of flight from its invention to the present.”

The exhibit included items from the U.S. Air Force Academy’s Gimbel Aeronautical Collection, Metropolitan Museum of Art, Cooper Hewitt Museum in New York, MIA, as well as the U of M Libraries own ballooning collection.

(Today, Images of Ballooning from the Piccard, Scholl and Winzen Collections can be accessed from the UMedia Archive.)

The opening preview invitation for the exhibition reveals how “Ballooning” was introduced to the University… complete with fashion show, a gourmet balloon-inspired buffet dinner, and balloon launch. (Though, note that the fireworks were canceled).

The news release also indicates that music would compliment the festivities:

“Students and faculty of the university’s School of Music will perform musical selections arranged by Professor Robert Laudon at 8 p.m. Nov. 9 in Scott Hall”

A recording from the performance was kept along with the exhibition files:

Evolution of a Catalogue

By arecaroe May 17, 2011
Exhibitions, University Art Museum

The Go Betweens: The Lives of Immigrant Children was an exhibition developed by the University Art Museum and shown in 1986. Along with the catalogue, I found some sketches done by the designers outlining what the final catalogue would look like. I always find it interesting to peek behind the scenes and see the work that goes into creating products such as a catalogue or an exhibition…

Layout of the catalogue, and a page of the finished product.

Museology

By wilso952 April 9, 2011
University Art Museum

Prior to the University’s current Museum Studies graduate minor, a museology program was offered through the Department of Art History. The program, as well as a discussion of the field of museum work, is described in a July 3, 1975 article in the MN Daily titled, “Art interns: learning in a crowded field” (pg. 9).

From a folder of records documenting a course in museology at the University Art Museum in Spring 1985, a chart detailing The Planning, Designing, Construction, and Installation of Exhibitions:

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