January 6, 2009
Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art
The art museum on campus at the University of Oregon re-opened in 2005 after a four-year, $14 million facelift that expanded its gallery space and brought the building up to snuff in terms of security and climate control -- allowing it to borrow heavy-hitting art works from heavy-hitting collectors.
The museum has a strong collection of Asian art, which formed was the core of its collection when it first opened in the 1930s as a private study center on campus. Along the way it's acquired some interesting 20th century Northwest art, particularly a large collection of more than 400 works by the late Morris Graves, who sold the box of his paintings and sketches quite cheaply to a collector when he was broke. The museum also has work by Guy Anderson, Kenneth Callahan and Mark Tobey, though much of it isn't generally exhibited.
Photo: Fern 2004
all text and images © 2005-06 by Bob Keefer
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