Tucson Museum Of Art

Located in the Presidio District of downtown Tucson, Arizona

Description

The Tucson Museum of Art and Historic Block is an art museum and art education institution located in the Presidio District of downtown Tucson, Arizona.

Contact

University of Arizona Museum of Art & Archive of Visual Arts

Email: [email protected]

Street Address: 1031 North Olive Road

Tucson, AZ 85721-0002 Phone: 520-621-7567 Fax: 520-621-8770

A COMMITMENT TO THE ARTS

Membership at the Tucson Museum of Art is a commitment to Tucson's art and cultural history. Your support means that the Tucson Museum of Art is one of Arizona's most accessible, diverse and innovative art institutions. Members play an important role in expanding our mission of connecting the arts to life by providing world-class exhibitions, educational programs and cultural celebrations.

Membership

You can fill out the online application at tucsonmuseumofart.org/membership-form or click the button below to become a member of the museum.

Mission

The Tucson Museum of Art and Historic Block aims to establish a connection between art and life through meaningful and engaging experiences that encourage discovery, creative expression, and cultural comprehension.

Vision

A visionary regional museum and center for artistic exploration and appreciation, the Tucson Art Museum and Historic Block aims to inspire a dynamic human experience, promote a love of the visual arts, and highlight the diverse cultures of Southern Arizona.

Core Values

Our choices, actions, and outcomes are guided by eight core values.These values serve as the foundation for the vision and mission.The core values serve as the lens through which all actions and decisions are viewed and considered.The Tucson Museum of Art places a high value on the following core values. It is important to emphasize the works of art and artists that form the foundation of the Tucson Museum of Art's mission and are a source of motivation for building productive relationships with the community. The Tucson Museum of Art houses important public works representing major collection areas of Latin American art, American Western art, and contemporary art. The Tucson Museum of Art provides quality arts education to people of all ages, abilities and backgrounds. The Tucson Museum of Art is the premier hub for vibrant and innovative visual arts and cultural experiences in Tucson and southern Arizona. The Tucson Museum of Art believes that a culture of inclusion, diversity, equity and accessibility is embedded in the museum's collections, exhibitions and educational programs, as well as its board members, staff and all volunteer groups.

The Tucson Museum of Art serves as an incubator for ideas that connect the museum's extensive and diverse collections and historical resources to the life of the community. The Tucson Museum of Art serves as a cultural cornerstone of economic development. The Tucson Museum of Art promotes a culture of financial and structural sustainability to ensure the viability of museums for future generations.

History

The Museum moved into the Kingan House on Franklin Street in the El Presidio Historic District in 1924, when it was first established as the Tucson Fine Arts Association. In order to establish our exhibition and education mission, the association was officially renamed the Tucson Art Center in 1954. The Tucson Art Center took over five historic properties when it moved to its current location in 1975: Romero House, Stevens House, Edward Nye Fish House, and La Casa Cordova are among the residences.

The Tucson Museum of Art and Historic Block occupies an entire city block in the historic downtown area. Asian, modern and contemporary art, art from Latin America, the American West, and original and traveling exhibitions are featured at the museum. To further engage and educate visitors, the museum also provides tours, educational programs, studio art classes, and a Museum Store. For the benefit of the city and its surroundings, the Tucson Museum of Art is dedicated to enhancing daily life and expanding public access to the arts.

TUCSON MUSEUM OF ART COMPANY HISTORY TIMELINE

1924

1927

After the opening of the new Scott Avenue Temple of Music and Art in October 1927, the group moved to the Temple Gallery upstairs.

1941

The exhibition was expanded and in 1941 the TFAA presented Southwestern Oils featuring a series of lectures and works by renowned artist Maynard Dixon, hinting at imminent growth as a major new art gallery.

1947

Craftspeople and artists put on A New Look at Art, the city's first non-jury exhibition of local art, which attracted 7,412 people in 1947.

1950

The Arizona Biennale, which debuted in 1950 and is now the state's longest-running biennial art exhibition, evolved from the Craft Show.

1967

The Tucson Museum of Art was founded in 1967, and its permanent collection was established with a number of significant gifts.

1975

The Main Museum opened on May 1, 1975, with the first exhibition of the Tucson Collects. It was designed by Andy Anderson, chief architect of the Tucson Architecture Company founded by William Wilde.

2000

From the Spanish colonial era to the paintings and engravings of Picasso, Thomas Gainsborough, John Singleton Copley, Renoir, Monet, Gilbert Stewart, and Camille Pissarro, 2000 is a representation of 2000 years of art.

ABOUT TUCSON MUSEUM OF ART

The Tucson Fine Arts Association was established on March 20, 1924, in the Presidio District of downtown Tucson, Arizona, by 50 other Tucsonans, including Louise Norton, who was a founding member of the TFAA board. At first, TFAA served as a venue for monthly lectures and a gallery. The group moved to the Temple Gallery on the upper floor following the October 1927 opening of the brand-new Scott Avenue Temple of Music and Art. TFAA's 1941 exhibition of works and a lecture series by noted artist Maynard Dixon, hinted at the museum's impending expansion into a major new art museum.

Want to be a part of Tucson Museum of Art's history?

The main Museum's initial show, Tucson Collects, which featured loaned artwork from 43 individual collections of Tucsonans, was held on May 1, 1975. Andy Anderson, a major architect of the Tucson architecture firm founded by William Wilde, designed the building.

The major galleries of the Tucson Museum are built in an open downward spiral that connects the levels and ramps, evoking the Guggenheim Museum in New York City. The Tucson Museum of Art organizes innovative touring exhibitions and draws inspiration from regional history, local artists, and collections.

OUR COLLECTION

The Tucson Museum of Art and Historic Block aims to represent and collect a wide variety of items that intensifies the discourse between local and worldwide cultures, histories, and artistic practices. Its permanent collection of approximately 10,000 works of art spans continents, centuries, and media.

THE PERMANENT COLLECTION INCLUDES:

Principal Collections

• Art of the American West. The Art of the American West collection features works of historical and contemporary art from the past 200 years to the present. The collection consists of paintings, sculptures, paper works, photography, and a variety of other mediums representing artists who have lived or been influenced by the western United States. This includes artistic traditions and innovations spanning the Southwest, Plains, Rocky Mountains and Northwest Pacific regions.

• Contemporary art. The contemporary art collection includes art from 1970 to the present day. The collection's diverse artists and works of art offer a global perspective and highlight contemporary art related to the American Southwest. This includes handicrafts, drawings, paintings, photography, sculpture, sculpture and video.

• Indigenous Arts. The Indigenous Art Collection includes examples of other art forms, including pottery, weaving, beading, wood carving, painting, sculpture, paperwork, photography, and other sculptures from 1000 years ago to the present day. The objects in the collection communicate complex socio-political issues and show cultural resilience through the ages.

• Modern Arts. The Modern art collection includes art from the late 19th and late 20th centuries in the United States and around the world. The collection focuses primarily on American art and features artists who were born in Europe and migrated to the United States. It provides a snapshot of a critical period of change and awakening to global influences on the world of art, including crafts, drawing, painting, photography, printmaking and sculpture.

Other Collections

• Asian Art. The Asian Art Collection encompasses art forms created across Asia and Southeast Asia, including works from contemporary China, Japan, India, Iran, Korea, Nepal, Taiwan, Thailand, Tibet and Syria.

• Decorative arts. The decorative arts collection includes furniture, household items, decorative ceramics, textiles, clothing, jewelry and temporary objects from the 12th to 20th centuries.

• European art. The European Art Collection includes European works on paper, painting, decorative arts and sculpture from the 12th to the 21st centuries.

ABOUT TUCSON MUSEUM OF ART

Founded on March 20, 1924 in the Presidio district of downtown Tucson, Arizona as the Tucson Art Association, the museum was created by Tucson Women's Club members and 50 other Tucsonans, including TFAA founding director Louise Norton. TFAA was originally a gallery and monthly lecture space. After the opening of the new Scott Avenue Temple of Music and Art in October 1927, the group moved to the Temple Gallery upstairs. The exhibition was expanded and in 1941 the TFAA presented Southwestern Oils featuring a series of lectures and works by renowned artist Maynard Dixon, hinting at imminent growth as a major new art gallery.

Want to be a part of Tucson Museum of Art's history?

The Arizona Biennial, the state's longest-running statewide biennial art show, was first held as the Craft Show in 1950. Based on a number of significant donations, the organization that would eventually become the Tucson Museum of Art began assembling a permanent collection in 1967. Among these donations were significant pre-Columbian, Spanish Colonial, and Western American art collections. 600 items include feather arts, jewelry, ceremonial containers, figurines, masks, and sculptures.

Designed by Andy Anderson, chief architect of the Tucson Architecture Company founded by William Wilde, the Main Museum opened on May 1, 1975 with the first exhibition of the Tucson Collects. It represents 2000 years of art, from the Spanish colonial period to the paintings and engravings of Picasso, Thomas Gainsborough, John Singleton Copley, Renoir, Monet, Gilbert Stewart and Camille Pissarro. The museum attracted 50,000 visitors in its first year. Reminiscent of the Guggenheim Museum in New York, the Tucson Museum of Art's main gallery is arranged in a downward spiral that opens around a central "well" that connects the levels and ramps.

The Tucson Museum of Art has curated original exhibitions based on local collections, local artists and local history, as well as contemporary travel exhibits. In both name and design, the Tucson Museum of Art & Historic Block pays homage to the city's colorful past. In addition to the contemporary structure, five old adobe homes serve as the gallery's residence. The museum's collection contains modern and contemporary art as well as pieces from the American West and Latin America. Additionally, the museum presents renowned traveling exhibits. Recently, a lot of visitors have commended the display diversity and the distinctive setting. The collection's quality and the presence of well-known artists pleased other visitors. Reviews highlight the museum's artwork as well as the gift store and cafe that are located there. About 3.2 kilometers west of the University of Arizona campus, in the El Presidio neighborhood, is where you'll find the Tucson Museum of Art & Historic Block. People can plan a free visit on the first Thursday of the month from 5pm to 8pm. Parking is uncharged.

Members of the Tucson Women's Club's Arts Council came to the conclusion that art needed money in March 1924. At that first meeting, the Tucson Fine Arts Association was established. The group expanded over a period of over 80 years to become the Tucson Museum of Art. The Tucson Center for the Arts, located at 325 West Franklin Street, should be highlighted.

A bit of history on the Tucson Museum of ART

The Tucson Museum of Art connects art and life through meaningful and engaging experiences that inspire discovery, spark creativity and foster cultural understanding. This was a nice museum to explore with a variety of art and sculptures. Anyone who enjoys art and loves learning about other cultures has a lot to offer at the Tucson Museum of Art and Historic Block. 45 minutes is definitely not enough time to explore the museum. It's a big museum, but not as big as other museums, so if you really want to take the time, you can do it in a few hours. However, I was able to see a lot of great art in the area and learn about Native American and Latin American art.

In addition to historical and indigenous works, there are contemporary prints, an exhibition of desert-like Southwestern art, and classics such as Rodin sculptures and Monet paintings. The museum spans several floors and is located near the Presidio district. Parking was easy to find as it was on the roadside. Art lovers should check out the Tucson Museum of Art and Historic District. Because there is so much to see and admire here. The museum is quite small but has a lot of great art. They also have questionable art. The gift shop is very cute and the staff is friendly. They are not allowed to bring backpacks but they do provide free lockers. I think it's well worth coming here.

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