The Frederick R. Weisman Art Museum, located at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, is a renowned art museum that houses over 20,000 acquisitions, including large collections of traditional Korean furniture and modern American Art. The museum was founded in 1934 as University Gallery and was originally housed in an upper floor of the university's Northrop Auditorium. In 1993, the museum moved to its current building, designed by world-renowned architect Frank Gehry, and renamed in honor of art collector and philanthropist Frederick R. Weisman....
Frederick R. Weisman Art Museum (United States)
The Frederick R. Weisman Art Museum, located at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, is a renowned art museum that houses over 20,000 acquisitions, including large collections of traditional Korean furniture and modern American Art. The museum was founded in 1934 as University Gallery and was originally housed in an upper floor of the university's Northrop Auditorium. In 1993, the museum moved to its current building, designed by world-renowned architect Frank Gehry, and renamed in honor of art collector and philanthropist Frederick R. Weisman.
The Museum Building
The current museum building is considered highly significant because it was built prior to the widespread use of computer aided design in architecture. The abstract structure presents two faces, depending on which side it is viewed from. To the south and east, it presents a brick facade that blends with the historic buildings along Northrop Mall. To the north and west, it is an abstraction of a fish and waterfall in curving and angular brushed steel sheets. The stainless steel skin was fabricated and installed by the A. Zahner Company, a frequent collaborator with Gehry's office.
The Collection
The museum has a vast collection of modern and contemporary art from India and around the world. Collections include works by Marsden Hartley, Alfred Maurer, Charles Biederman, Robert Henri, James Bard, Guy Orlando Rose, John Wheatley, Carmen Lomas Garza, and Joseph Hirsch.
Painting by 'Robert Henri' : Willie Ge (
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Painting by 'James Bard' : P. Crary (
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Painting by 'James Bard' : Metamora (
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Painting by 'Guy Orlando Rose' : Marguerite (
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Painting by 'James Bard' : Grey Hound (
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Painting by 'James Bard' : Fanny (
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The Museum History
The museum received a major addition, also designed by Frank Gehry, in 2011. HGA Architects and Engineers served as local consultants for the project. The Frederick R. Weisman Art Foundation is located on the campus of Pepperdine University in Malibu, California.
The Museum Founder
Frederick Rand Weisman (April 27, 1912 – September 11, 1994) was a Minneapolis native who became well known as an art collector in Los Angeles. In 1982 Weisman purchased an estate in the Holmby Hills area of Los Angeles that would serve as a showcase for his personal collection of 20th-century art. When he opened the art collection to the public, he wanted to share the experience of living with art, rather than the usual, more formal protocol of seeing art in a gallery or museum. The estate remains the home of the Frederick R. Weisman Art Foundation to this day.
The Museum Mission
The mission of the Frederick R. Weisman Art Museum is to provide an educational and cultural experience for visitors of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities by collecting, preserving, interpreting, and exhibiting modern and contemporary art in a dynamic and accessible environment. The museum strives to be a welcoming place where people can come together to learn about, appreciate, and enjoy the visual arts.
The Museum Impact
The Frederick R. Weisman Art Museum is an important cultural institution that has a significant impact on the community it serves. The museum provides access to modern and contemporary art for people who may not otherwise have the opportunity to experience it, and it plays a vital role in promoting arts education and appreciation. The museum also contributes to the local economy by attracting visitors from around the region and providing jobs for local residents.
The Museum Future
The Frederick R. Weisman Art Museum is committed to continuing its mission of providing access to modern and contemporary art for people of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities. The museum will continue to collect, preserve, interpret, and exhibit art in a dynamic and accessible environment, and it will strive to be a welcoming place where people can come together to learn about, appreciate, and enjoy the visual arts.
Conclusion
The Frederick R. Weisman Art Museum is an important cultural institution that plays a vital role in promoting arts education and appreciation. The museum provides access to modern and contemporary art for people who may not otherwise have the opportunity to experience it, and it contributes to the local economy by attracting visitors