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{{Infobox museum
{{Infobox museum
| name = Joslyn Art Museum
| name = Joslyn Art Museum
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| established = 1931
| established = 1931
| dissolved =
| dissolved =
| location = [[Omaha]], [[Nebraska]]
| location = [[Omaha]], [[Nebraska]], United States
| type = [[Art museum]]
| type = [[Art museum]]
| collection = Art collection
| collection =
| visitors =
| visitors =
| director =
| director =
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| website = {{URL|joslyn.org}}
| website = {{URL|joslyn.org}}
}}
}}
The '''Joslyn Art Museum''' is the principal fine arts [[museum]] in the state of [[Nebraska]], [[United States|United States of America]]. Located in [[Omaha, Nebraska|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 [[Visual arts of the United States|American]] and [[European art history|European artists]] such as [[Pierre-Auguste Renoir]] and [[William-Adolphe Bouguereau]].
The '''Joslyn Art Museum''' is a fine arts [[museum]] in [[Omaha, Nebraska|Omaha]], [[Nebraska]], [[United States]]. It opened in 1931 at the initiative of [[Sarah H. Joslyn]], in memory of her husband, businessman George A. Joslyn.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=The Joslyns : About : Joslyn Castle |url=https://joslyncastle.com/about/the-joslyns.html |access-date=2023-04-30 |website=joslyncastle.com |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Joslyn Art Museum Omaha Nebraska {{!}} Art Museum, Art Classes Omaha Nebraska {{!}} Entertainment Omaha |url=https://www.joslyn.org/expansion/ |access-date=2023-04-26 |website=www.joslyn.org}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite book |last1=Day |first1=Holiday T. |title=Joslyn Art Museum: Paintings & Sculptures from the European & American Collections |last2=Sturges |first2=Hollister |publisher=[[Joslyn Art Museum]] |year=1987 |isbn=0-936364-18-1 |location=Omaha, Nebraska |pages=10–12 |language=English}}</ref> Since its opening there have been multiple building expansions to house the museum's growing collection.<ref name=":11" /><ref name=":182" /><ref name=":1" /> It is the only museum in Nebraska with a comprehensive permanent collection.<ref name=":1" /> Some of the main works in the museum are part of the nineteenth and twentieth-century collections of [[Visual arts of the United States|American]] and [[European art history|European artists]].<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":17">{{Cite book |last=Joslyn Art Museum |title=Fifty Favorites of The Joslyn Art Museum |year=1994}}</ref>


==George and Sarah Joslyn==
==History==
Originally from Vermont, George and Sarah Joslyn moved to [[Des Moines, Iowa|Des Moines]], Iowa in 1879 for George's new printing job at the Iowa Printing Company, which involved manual labor.<ref name=":182">{{Cite book |last=Beal |first=Graham W. J. |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/31011665 |title=Joslyn Art Museum : a building history |date=1997 |publisher=The Museum |others=Joslyn Art Museum |isbn=0-936364-25-4 |location=Omaha, Neb. |oclc=31011665}}</ref><ref name=":42">{{Cite web |title=Joslyn Memorial Museum {{!}} Nebraska Architecture |url=https://nebraskaarchitecture.org/building/81/joslyn-memorial-museum |access-date=2023-04-28 |website=nebraskaarchitecture.org}}</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">{{Cite web |last=Gaster |first=Patricia C. |date=2022-10-29 |title=George A. Joslyn of Omaha |url=https://history.nebraska.gov/george-a-joslyn-of-omaha/ |access-date=2023-04-17 |website=History Nebraska |language=en-US}}</ref> He then founded his own company, called the [[Patent insides|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" />
[[File:Joslyn Atrium North.jpg|thumb|left|240px|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, [[Peter Kiewit Sons|Kiewit]], started construction of the museum.<ref>[http://www.kiewit.com/about-us/history/the-early-years.aspx ] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111231152519/http://www.kiewit.com/about-us/history/the-early-years.aspx |date=December 31, 2011 }}</ref> Opening on November 29, 1931,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.joslyn.org/about/history/ |title=Joslyn Art Museum Omaha Nebraska &#124; Art Museum, Art Classes Omaha Nebraska &#124; Entertainment Omaha |publisher=Joslyn.org |date= |accessdate=2014-08-10}}</ref> as a gift to the people of Omaha from Sarah H. Joslyn in memory of her husband, George A. Joslyn;<ref name=History>{{cite book | last =Beal| first =Graham W. J. | title =Joslyn Art Museum: A Building History| publisher =Joslyn Art Museum | year =1994 | location = Omaha, Nebraska | isbn =0-936364-25-4}}</ref> It occupies a large and impressive [[Art Deco]] building designed by John and [[Alan McDonald (architect)|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 Americans in the United States|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.<ref name=iron>{{cite book | last =Bain | first =David Haward | title =The Old Iron Road: An Epic of Rails, Roads, and the Urge to Go West | publisher =Penguin Books | year =2004 | location =New York City, New York | pages =65–6 | isbn =0-14-303526-6}}</ref>


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=":17" /><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" />
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 suck my punani 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.<ref name="KETV 7">{{cite web|last=KETV 7 Omaha News|title=Join KETV For Jazz On The Green|url=http://www.ketv.com/entertainment/13490811/detail.html|publisher=Hearst Television Inc|accessdate=2 March 2012|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120222064409/http://www.ketv.com/entertainment/13490811/detail.html|archivedate=22 February 2012}}</ref> {{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.<ref name=Pitcher>{{cite web|last=Pitcher|first=John|title=Turner's green to host jazz|url=http://www.omaha.com/article/20100319/NEWS01/703199926|archive-url=https://archive.is/20120905024350/http://www.omaha.com/article/20100319/NEWS01/703199926|url-status=dead|archive-date=5 September 2012|publisher=Omaha World-Herald|accessdate=2 March 2010}}</ref>


In 1940, Sarah Joslyn passed away and gave control of the Society of Liberal Arts 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" /><ref name=":17" />
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.<ref>http://www.omaha.com/living/new-cost-to-visit-omaha-s-joslyn-art-museum-free/article_2ae0ab44-dc53-5261-bec4-c6beba0fb2ac.html</ref>

==Building history==
[[Peter Kiewit Sons|Kiewit]] started construction on the Joslyn Memorial building in 1928,<ref name=":8">{{Cite web |date=2011-12-31 |title=The Early Years - Kiewit.com |url=http://www.kiewit.com/about-us/history/the-early-years.aspx |access-date=2023-04-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111231152519/http://www.kiewit.com/about-us/history/the-early-years.aspx |archive-date=December 31, 2011 }}</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" /><ref name=":17" />

The Memorial occupies a large and impressive [[Art Deco|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">{{Cite web |last=Cruse |first=Kiley |title=Historic Omaha architecture: 5 masterpieces of the 1920s |url=https://omaha.com/news/local/history/historic-omaha-architecture-5-masterpieces-of-the-1920s/article_7871db22-7169-11eb-9acb-137d00ddcbfd.html |access-date=2023-04-30 |website=Omaha World-Herald |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":42" /> The impressive [[Art Deco|art deco]] facade of the building drew inspiration from [[Egyptian temple|Egyptian temples]], [[Streamline Moderne|art moderne]] motifs, and the [[Nebraska State Capitol|Nebraska capitol building]] in [[Lincoln, Nebraska|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 [[Great Plains|plains]]—both the original [[Native Americans in the United States|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" />

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" />[[File:Joslyn Atrium North.jpg|thumb|left|240px|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 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">{{Cite web |last=Freeman |first=Betsie |title=Joslyn Art Museum breaks ground on $100 million addition |url=https://omaha.com/news/local/joslyn-art-museum-breaks-ground-on-100-million-addition/article_7e4c99de-ee31-11eb-b6f2-3b795ebdb1fd.html |access-date=2023-04-17 |website=Omaha World-Herald |language=en}}</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, Omaha, Nebraska|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">{{Cite web |last=Beau |first=Bryan F. Le |date=2021-12-15 |title=Arts News: Joslyn Art Museum Announces Plans for a Redesign and New Addition |url=https://kcstudio.org/arts-news-joslyn-art-museum-announces-plans-for-a-redesign-and-new-addition/ |access-date=2023-05-10 |website=KC STUDIO |language=en-US}}</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">{{Cite web |date=2012-02-22 |title=Join KETV For Jazz On The Green - Entertainment News Story - KETV Omaha |url=http://www.ketv.com/entertainment/13490811/detail.html |access-date=2023-04-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120222064409/http://www.ketv.com/entertainment/13490811/detail.html |archive-date=February 22, 2012 }}</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">{{Cite news |last=Pitcher |first=John |date=2010 |title=Turner's green to host jazz |work=Omaha World-Herald |url=http://www.omaha.com/article/20100319/NEWS01/703199926 |access-date=September 16, 2023 |archive-date=June 16, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110616031904/http://www.omaha.com/article/20100319/NEWS01/703199926 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Announced in 2018, the next addition to the Joslyn Art Museum will be the Rhonda and Howard Hawks Pavilion, named after the philanthropists who created the Hawks Foundation.<ref name=":11" /> The museum closed for construction of the new addition in the spring of 2022 and plans to reopen in 2024.<ref name=":4" /><ref name=":11" /> This new space will create an extra forty-two thousand square feet for the museum, which will include gallery spaces, classrooms, a new gift shop, and multi-purpose community spaces.<ref name=":11" /><ref name=":4" /> The architecture firm [[Snøhetta (company)]] and local architecture company [[Alley Poyner Macchietto Architecture]] worked together to design the new addition.<ref name=":15">{{Cite web |title=Joslyn Art Museum Expansion |url=https://www.snohetta.com/projects/joslyn-art-museum-expansion |access-date=2023-04-30 |website=www.snohetta.com |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":11" /> As with the original Memorial building and the 1994 addition, Kiewit Building Group will serve as the contractor for the project.<ref name=":11" /> Along with the new building space, the gardens and outdoor spaces surrounding the museum will be revamped, and old offices in the original building will be restored.<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" /> To tie the addition in with the rest of the museum exterior, there will be small flecks of pink, noticeable from the outside of the pavilion.<ref name=":15" /><ref name=":1" /> The addition will also create 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">{{Cite web |title=Sarah Joslyn {{!}} Omaha Magazine |url=http://www.omahamagazine.com/2013/08/30/304197/sarah-joslyn |access-date=2023-04-30 |website=www.omahamagazine.com |language=en}}</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">{{Cite web |last=Bicak |first=Carol |title=New cost to visit Omaha's Joslyn Art Museum: free |url=https://omaha.com/lifestyles/new-cost-to-visit-omahas-joslyn-art-museum-free/article_2ae0ab44-dc53-5261-bec4-c6beba0fb2ac.html |access-date=2023-04-30 |website=Omaha World-Herald |language=en}}</ref> As of the museum's temporary closure for renovations and expansion in 2022, admission remained free.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":162" />


==Collections==
==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, local business owner Charles Nelson Dietz donated a personal collection in 1934, and the Jessie Barton Christianity Bequest donated works from the collection of Guy Barton.<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 Woodbury Parsons|Harold Parsons]] purchased European art for the Memorial.<ref name=":2" /> When Eugene Kingman took over as director in 1947, he expanded the [[Pottery of ancient Greece|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 [[Phillip G. Schrager]] collection, which will be housed in the Hawks Pavilion.<ref name=":11" /><ref name=":1" />
The permanent collections of the Joslyn Art Museum are:
[[File:Joslyn Atrium South.jpg|thumb|200px|From the balcony at the east end of the atrium, one can see another Chihuly work, ''Glowing Gemstone Polyvitro Chandelier'', hanging above the café.]]
*Ancient, including an exceptional collection of [[Greece|Greek]] [[pottery]]
*European: 16th- and 17th-century works include paintings by [[Paolo Veronese|Veronese]], [[Titian]], [[Claude Lorrain]], [[Rembrandt]] and [[El Greco]]. However the strongest collections are from the 19th century, including [[romanticism|romantic]] works by [[Eugène Delacroix|Delacroix]] and [[Gustave Doré]], [[Realism (arts)|realist]] works by [[Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot|Corot]] and [[Gustave Courbet]], and an [[impressionism|impressionist]] works by [[Degas]], [[Monet]], [[Pissarro]], and [[Pierre-Auguste Renoir|Renoir]]
*American: the collection includes early American [[portrait]]ure by [[James Peale]] and [[Mather Brown]]; many works by painters of the [[Hudson River School]], realist works by [[Winslow Homer]] and [[Thomas Eakins]], and works by the American impressionists [[Childe Hassam]] and [[William Merritt Chase]]
*Western American: including important collections of work by the Swiss artist [[Karl Bodmer]] based on his 1832-34 journey to the [[Missouri River]] frontier, and by [[Alfred Jacob Miller]], also illustrating the West of the 1830s.
*Native American: including both traditional works and work done under the influence of, or in reaction against, European conventions and training.
*Twentieth Century: a wide range of 20th-century painting and sculpture is represented, including paintings by [[Henri Matisse]], [[Stuart Davis (painter)|Stuart Davis]], [[Theodore Roszak (artist)|Theodore Roszak]], [[John French Sloan|John Sloan]] and [[Robert Henri]], and sculpture by [[Deborah Butterfield]], [[Bob Haozous|Robert Haozous]], [[Donald Judd]], [[Sol LeWitt]] and [[Martin Puryear]]. The collection stresses significant American artistic movements, including [[regionalism (art)|regionalism]] (with paintings by [[Grant Wood]] and [[Thomas Hart Benton (painter)|Thomas Hart Benton]]) and [[Abstract Expressionism]] (with work by [[Jackson Pollock]], [[Hans Hofmann]], and [[Helen Frankenthaler]]) and [[Pop Art]] (with work by [[George Segal (artist)|George Segal]] and [[Tom Wesselmann]]).


Permanent collections at the Joslyn Art Museum:<ref name=":1" />
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.


* [[File:Joslyn Atrium South.jpg|thumb|200px|From the balcony at the east end of the atrium, one can see another Chihuly work, ''Glowing Gemstone Polyvitro Chandelier'', hanging above the café.]]Ancient: A collection of [[Greece|Greek]] [[pottery]] and various statues of Greek, Roman and Egyptian origin.<ref name=":1" />
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.
* European: 16th- and 17th-century works, including paintings by [[Paolo Veronese|Veronese]], [[Titian]], [[Claude Lorrain]], [[Rembrandt]] and [[El Greco]]. The 19th century collection includes [[Romanticism|Romantic]] works by [[Eugène Delacroix|Delacroix]] and [[Gustave Doré]], [[Realism (arts)|realist]] works by [[Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot|Corot]] and [[Gustave Courbet]], and [[Impressionism|impressionist]] works by [[Degas]], [[Monet]], [[Pissarro]], and [[Pierre-Auguste Renoir|Renoir]]<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" />
* American: Early American [[Portrait|portraiture]] by [[James Peale]] and [[Mather Brown]]; works by painters of the [[Hudson River School]], realist works by [[Winslow Homer]] and [[Thomas Eakins]], and works by the American impressionists [[Childe Hassam]] and [[William Merritt Chase]].<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" />
* Native American: Both traditional works and art done under the influence of, or in reaction against, European conventions and training.<ref name=":192">{{Cite web |last=Miranda |first=Carolina A. |date=2022-09-03 |title=Wendy Red Star reimagines a 19th century Indigenous gathering at the Broad |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/newsletter/2022-09-03/essential-arts-wendy-red-star-at-the-broad-essential-arts-arts-culture |access-date=2023-05-10 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":1" />
* Art of the American West: Collections of work by the Swiss artist [[Karl Bodmer]], based on his 1832–34 journey to the [[Missouri River]] frontier, and by [[Alfred Jacob Miller]], illustrating the West in the 1830s.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":1" />
* Latin American: Prominent works in this collection include paintings of saint figures and pottery from Felix Ortiz.<ref name=":1" />
* Post War and Contemporary (20th century): A wide range of paintings and sculpture is represented, including paintings by [[Henri Matisse]], [[Stuart Davis (painter)|Stuart Davis]], [[Theodore Roszak (artist)|Theodore Roszak]], [[John French Sloan|John Sloan]] and [[Robert Henri]]. Sculpture by [[Deborah Butterfield]], [[Bob Haozous|Robert Haozous]], [[Donald Judd]], [[Sol LeWitt]] and [[Martin Puryear]]. The collection stresses significant American artistic movements, including [[Regionalism (art)|regionalism]] (with paintings by [[Grant Wood]] and [[Thomas Hart Benton (painter)|Thomas Hart Benton]]) and [[Abstract Expressionism]] (with work by [[Jackson Pollock]], [[Hans Hofmann]], and [[Helen Frankenthaler]]) and [[Pop Art]] (with work by [[George Segal (artist)|George Segal]] and [[Tom Wesselmann]]).<ref name=":17" /><ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" />
* Asian: Consists mainly of ancient Asian sculpture from the 2nd and 3rd centuries, through works from the 19th century.<ref name=":1" />

;Sculpture Gardens<ref name=":1" />

Peter Kiewit Foundation Sculpture Garden:<ref name=":1" />

* ''Oedipus at Colonnus'' (1968) by [[Leonard Baskin]]
* ''Untitled'' (2005) by [[Jun Kaneko]]
* ''Bronze Bench #5'' (2005) by [[Betty Woodman]]
* ''Dineh'' (1981) by [[Allan Houser|Allen Houser]]
* ''Spirit of the Dance'' (1932) by [[William Zorach]]
* ''Large Covered Wagon'' (2004) by [[Tom Otterness]]
* ''One of the Burghers of Calais'' (1987) by [[Auguste Rodin]]
* ''Double-Sided Settee (A Trio)'' (1983) by [[Scott Burton]]
* ''Addih-Hiddisch, Hidatsa Chief'' (2008) by [[John Coleman (artist)|John Coleman]]
* ''Sioux Warrior'' (2008) by [[John David Brcin]]
* ''The Omaha Riverscape'' (2008-2009) by [[Jesús Moroles]]
[[File:Joslyn Sculpture Garden.jpg|thumb|265x265px|After the garden was completed; summer 2010.]]Discover Garden:<ref name=":1" />

* ''Noodles & Doodles'' by Smith Bourne and Associates Inc.
* ''Folded Square Alphabet O'' (1987) by [[Fletcher Benton]]
* ''Metamorphosis'' by [[Bernard Matemera|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:<ref name=":1" />

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

Temporary Exhibitions at the Joslyn Art Museum (most recent):<ref name=":1" />

* [[Allison Janae Hamilton]]: Recent Works (February 5–May 1, 2002)
* [[Yuyi Morales]]: Soñadora (January 15–April 17, 2022)
* Ninety Years of Joslyn Art Museum (October 27, 2021–May 1, 2022)
* Faces from the Interior: The North American Portraits of [[Karl Bodmer]] (October 2, 2021–May 1, 2022)
* Guy Goldstein (October 2, 2021–January 2, 2022)
* American [[Art Deco]]: Designing for the People. 1918-1939 (June 5–September 5, 2021)
* [[Diedrick Brackens]] (June 5–September 5, 2021)
* [[Wendy Red Star]] (January 30–April 25, 2021)
* Revisiting America: The Prints of [[Currier and Ives|Currier & Ives]] (November 21, 2020–April 11, 2021)
* [[Tuan Andrew Nguyen]] (September 19, 2020–January 3, 2021)

These are just a few of the temporary exhibitions that were displayed at the Joslyn Art Museum after it was safe to reopen due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic in the United States|COVID-19 pandemic]] and before construction started on the Rhonda and Howard Hawks Pavilion.<ref name=":1" />


==Gallery==
==Gallery==
Line 56: Line 123:
| [[File:Joslyn Sculpture Garden 1.jpg|thumb|200px|During construction of the sculpture garden; summer 2008.]]
| [[File:Joslyn Sculpture Garden 1.jpg|thumb|200px|During construction of the sculpture garden; summer 2008.]]
| [[File:Jazz on the Green Omaha.jpg|thumb|220px|Jazz on the Green, summer 2009.]]
| [[File:Jazz on the Green Omaha.jpg|thumb|220px|Jazz on the Green, summer 2009.]]
|
| [[File:Joslyn Sculpture Garden.jpg|thumb|200px|After the garden was completed; summer 2010.]]
|}
|}


==See also==
==See also==
*[[Joslyn Castle]]
*[[Joslyn Castle]], the place where the Joslyn family lived.


==References==
==References==
Line 66: Line 133:


==External links==
==External links==
*{{Commons-inline|Category:Joslyn Art Museum|Joslyn Art Museum}}
*{{Commons-inline}}
*[http://www.joslyn.org Official Joslyn Art Museum website]
*[http://www.joslyn.org Official Joslyn Art Museum website]

{{authority control}}


[[Category:Museums in Omaha, Nebraska]]
[[Category:Museums in Omaha, Nebraska]]
[[Category:Art Deco architecture in Nebraska]]
[[Category:Art Deco architecture in Nebraska]]
[[Category:History of Midtown Omaha, Nebraska]]
[[Category:History of Midtown Omaha, Nebraska]]
[[Category:Art museums in Nebraska]]
[[Category:Art museums and galleries in Nebraska]]
[[Category:Art museums established in 1931]]
[[Category:Art museums and galleries established in 1931]]
[[Category:1931 establishments in Nebraska]]
[[Category:1931 establishments in Nebraska]]
[[Category:Asian art museums in the United States]]
[[Category:Asian art museums in the United States]]

Latest revision as of 07:56, 6 December 2024

Joslyn Art Museum
The Fountain Court in Joslyn Art Museum.
Map
Established1931
LocationOmaha, Nebraska, United States
Coordinates41°15′37″N 95°56′46″W / 41.2603°N 95.9461°W / 41.2603; -95.9461
TypeArt museum
Websitejoslyn.org

The Joslyn Art Museum is a fine arts museum in Omaha, Nebraska, United States. It opened in 1931 at the initiative of Sarah H. Joslyn, in memory of her husband, businessman George A. Joslyn.[1][2][3] Since its opening there have been multiple building expansions to house the museum's growing collection.[4][5][2] It is the only museum in Nebraska with a comprehensive permanent collection.[2] Some of the main works in the museum are part of the nineteenth and twentieth-century collections of American and European artists.[3][6]

George and Sarah Joslyn

[edit]

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.[5][7][1] In 1880, they went to Omaha, where George was to manage his own printing branch of the company.[1][8] 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.[8][3][1] 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.[8]

As a couple, George and Sarah Joslyn were known to be great lovers of the arts, especially music.[7][3] When George died in 1916 (as the richest man in Nebraska),[8] Sarah decided she wanted a memorial building dedicated to his life and accomplishments, which would reflect their love for the arts.[3] 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.[6][2] Sarah Joslyn founded and funded the nonprofit Society of Liberal Arts to find a permanent home for art collections in Omaha.[3] 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.[2][3][5]

In 1940, Sarah Joslyn passed away and gave control of the Society of Liberal Arts to the trustees.[1][3] The endowment she left to help maintain the museum was then also used to acquire new art and expand the museum's collection.[2][6]

Building history

[edit]

Kiewit started construction on the Joslyn Memorial building in 1928,[9] but plans for the building started to come together much earlier, in 1920.[7] 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.[5][6]

The Memorial occupies a large and impressive art deco building designed by John McDonald (architect) and Alan McDonald (architect).[7][5][2][3] 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.[5][1][10][7] The impressive art deco facade of the building drew inspiration from Egyptian temples, art moderne motifs, and the Nebraska capitol building in Lincoln.[7][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.[2][3]

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.[5][2] 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).[5] The inscriptions carved on the building were written by Hartley Burr Alexander.[2] Sarah gave $2.6 million for the construction of the Memorial building, and an endowment for its continued maintenance.[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.[2][3] In 1938, the Memorial was listed as one of the one hundred finest buildings in the United States.[2]

Several decades after the Memorial building opened to the public, it was running out of space for staff and the growing collection.[5] 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.[5] With this idea in mind, he wanted to expand the Memorial and construct additional buildings, which would include a science museum and a planetarium.[5] Lack of funds for the project and Kingman's departure in 1969 put an end to this plan.[5] 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.[5] After his departure, the Joslyn Memorial returned to a strong focus on the arts.[5]

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.[5] 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.[5]

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 1994, the first addition to the Joslyn Art Museum was finally built. Designed by Lord Norman Foster, and included the Scott Pavilion.[4] HDR Inc. and the Kiewit construction company worked together to build this addition.[5] 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.[10][7][5] 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.[5] 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.[2][5] 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.[5]

In 2008, construction began on the Joslyn Museum Sculpture Gardens, which would better utilize the space received in the 1987 land exchange.[2][5][11] The gardens opened in the summer of 2009, featuring work from local and national artists as well as a reflecting pool and waterfall.[12][2] 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.[13]

Announced in 2018, the next addition to the Joslyn Art Museum will be the Rhonda and Howard Hawks Pavilion, named after the philanthropists who created the Hawks Foundation.[4] The museum closed for construction of the new addition in the spring of 2022 and plans to reopen in 2024.[11][4] This new space will create an extra forty-two thousand square feet for the museum, which will include gallery spaces, classrooms, a new gift shop, and multi-purpose community spaces.[4][11] The architecture firm Snøhetta (company) and local architecture company Alley Poyner Macchietto Architecture worked together to design the new addition.[14][4] As with the original Memorial building and the 1994 addition, Kiewit Building Group will serve as the contractor for the project.[4] Along with the new building space, the gardens and outdoor spaces surrounding the museum will be revamped, and old offices in the original building will be restored.[14] The exterior of the Rhonda and Howard Hawks Pavilion resembles a cloud, reflecting the original theme of the Great Plains.[14] To tie the addition in with the rest of the museum exterior, there will be small flecks of pink, noticeable from the outside of the pavilion.[14][2] The addition will also create a new entrance to the museum, allowing visitors to access the rest of the museum through the Pavilion.[4]

Admissions

[edit]

At its opening in 1931, the Memorial was to be an admission-free facility.[15][16] Free admission continued until 1965, when an entry fee of 25 cents per person was instituted.[15][16] 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. [16] In 2010, admission went up to eight dollars per adult. In 2013, however, the museum moved back to its original vision of free admission.[16][2] 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.[16][17] As of the museum's temporary closure for renovations and expansion in 2022, admission remained free.[2][17]

Collections

[edit]

When the Joslyn Memorial first opened, there was a need for art to fill the galleries.[3] The Art Institute of Omaha and the Friends of Art donated paintings, local business owner Charles Nelson Dietz donated a personal collection in 1934, and the Jessie Barton Christianity Bequest donated works from the collection of Guy Barton.[3][2] 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.[3] When Eugene Kingman took over as director in 1947, he expanded the Greek vase collection as well as art and artifacts from Indigenous cultures.[3] In 1986 the Karl Bodmer collection, initially on loan to the museum, was donated and became part of the permanent collection.[3] In recent years, the Joslyn has continued to expand its collections, particularly the contemporary and modern, with the acquisition of the Phillip G. Schrager collection, which will be housed in the Hawks Pavilion.[4][2]

Permanent collections at the Joslyn Art Museum:[2]

Sculpture Gardens[2]

Peter Kiewit Foundation Sculpture Garden:[2]

After the garden was completed; summer 2010.

Discover Garden:[2]

  • 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:[2]

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

Temporary Exhibitions at the Joslyn Art Museum (most recent):[2]

  • Allison Janae Hamilton: Recent Works (February 5–May 1, 2002)
  • Yuyi Morales: Soñadora (January 15–April 17, 2022)
  • Ninety Years of Joslyn Art Museum (October 27, 2021–May 1, 2022)
  • Faces from the Interior: The North American Portraits of Karl Bodmer (October 2, 2021–May 1, 2022)
  • Guy Goldstein (October 2, 2021–January 2, 2022)
  • American Art Deco: Designing for the People. 1918-1939 (June 5–September 5, 2021)
  • Diedrick Brackens (June 5–September 5, 2021)
  • Wendy Red Star (January 30–April 25, 2021)
  • Revisiting America: The Prints of Currier & Ives (November 21, 2020–April 11, 2021)
  • Tuan Andrew Nguyen (September 19, 2020–January 3, 2021)

These are just a few of the temporary exhibitions that were displayed at the Joslyn Art Museum after it was safe to reopen due to the COVID-19 pandemic and before construction started on the Rhonda and Howard Hawks Pavilion.[2]

[edit]
The Walter & Suzanne Scott Pavilion
During construction of the sculpture garden; summer 2008.
Jazz on the Green, summer 2009.

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d e f "The Joslyns : About : Joslyn Castle". joslyncastle.com. Retrieved April 30, 2023.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai "Joslyn Art Museum Omaha Nebraska | Art Museum, Art Classes Omaha Nebraska | Entertainment Omaha". www.joslyn.org. Retrieved April 26, 2023.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t Day, Holiday T.; Sturges, Hollister (1987). Joslyn Art Museum: Paintings & Sculptures from the European & American Collections. Omaha, Nebraska: Joslyn Art Museum. pp. 10–12. ISBN 0-936364-18-1.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i Freeman, Betsie. "Joslyn Art Museum breaks ground on $100 million addition". Omaha World-Herald. Retrieved April 17, 2023.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v Beal, Graham W. J. (1997). Joslyn Art Museum : a building history. Joslyn Art Museum. Omaha, Neb.: The Museum. ISBN 0-936364-25-4. OCLC 31011665.
  6. ^ a b c d e Joslyn Art Museum (1994). Fifty Favorites of The Joslyn Art Museum.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g "Joslyn Memorial Museum | Nebraska Architecture". nebraskaarchitecture.org. Retrieved April 28, 2023.
  8. ^ a b c d Gaster, Patricia C. (October 29, 2022). "George A. Joslyn of Omaha". History Nebraska. Retrieved April 17, 2023.
  9. ^ "The Early Years - Kiewit.com". December 31, 2011. Archived from the original on December 31, 2011. Retrieved April 30, 2023.
  10. ^ a b c d Cruse, Kiley. "Historic Omaha architecture: 5 masterpieces of the 1920s". Omaha World-Herald. Retrieved April 30, 2023.
  11. ^ a b c Beau, Bryan F. Le (December 15, 2021). "Arts News: Joslyn Art Museum Announces Plans for a Redesign and New Addition". KC STUDIO. Retrieved May 10, 2023.
  12. ^ "Join KETV For Jazz On The Green - Entertainment News Story - KETV Omaha". February 22, 2012. Archived from the original on February 22, 2012. Retrieved April 30, 2023.
  13. ^ Pitcher, John (2010). "Turner's green to host jazz". Omaha World-Herald. Archived from the original on June 16, 2011. Retrieved September 16, 2023.
  14. ^ a b c d "Joslyn Art Museum Expansion". www.snohetta.com. Retrieved April 30, 2023.
  15. ^ a b "Sarah Joslyn | Omaha Magazine". www.omahamagazine.com. Retrieved April 30, 2023.
  16. ^ a b c d e Klein, Becky (2016). "Admission Fees As Barrier To Entry: Joslyn Art Museum".
  17. ^ a b Bicak, Carol. "New cost to visit Omaha's Joslyn Art Museum: free". Omaha World-Herald. Retrieved April 30, 2023.
  18. ^ Miranda, Carolina A. (September 3, 2022). "Wendy Red Star reimagines a 19th century Indigenous gathering at the Broad". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved May 10, 2023.
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