Tucson Museum Of Art
Landmark: Tucson Museum of Art and Historic Block
Address: 140 N Main Ave, Tucson, AZ 85701
Located in the Presidio District of downtown Tucson, Arizona
The hustle and bustle of Downtown Tucson can be overwhelming. With over 80 restaurants and bars, numerous shops, and a variety of entertainment venues, a quiet and peaceful afternoon is hard to come by. However, tucked away in the historic El Presidio District of Tucson, lies a hidden gem of the city. Far enough away from the chiming bell of the streetcar, yet close enough to still feel a part of the culture of Downtown can be found The Tucson Museum of Art and Historic Block. This collection of historic buildings provides visitors with a tranquil venue to appreciate the rich history that is the very foundation on which this town is built.
About
The Tucson Museum of Art (TMA) was first established in the year 1924, under the name Tucson Fine Arts Association, and was located in different places than the current location. In 1975, the museum moved to its current location on North Main Avenue and changed its name to what we know today. TMA is both an art museum and an art education institution for everyone who wants to learn about art. The museum started serving as a community art education venue since its inception in 1924.
Brief History
There were members of the Tucson women’s club and 50 other people from Tucson and also Louise Norton, a member of the Tucson Fine Arts Association (TFAA) which the current Museum founded as when it was first opened. Initially, TFAA used to be used as a gallery and space where people could give lectures. In 1941, exhibitions expanded and TFAA presented Southwestern Oils and featured works and lecture series. In 1947, the city’s first non-juried exhibition of local artists was presented by artists and craftspeople and it drew about 7412 visitors. The craft show was created in 1950 and it became the Arizona Biennial which has been the statewide biennial art exhibition for the longest time in the state. In 1967, the organization which is the current Tucson Museum of Art started a permanent collection with some major donations.
Contact
University of Arizona Museum of Art & Archive of Visual Arts,
Email: [email protected]
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.
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
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.
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.
EXHIBITION
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. 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
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.
• 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.
The Tucson Museum of Art's history in detail
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.
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.
Historical evidences of 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. 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. Historic
Blocks of the Museum
The museum took on five more properties, all of which have historical significance and interesting stories to tell. These five properties include La Case Cordova, Romero House, Edward Nye Fish House, Stevens/Duffield House, and the J. Knox Corbett House.
Edward Nye Fish House
The story behind the building of the Edward Nye Fish House is fascinating and paints a really interesting picture of what life in old Tucson was like. The house was built and owned in 1868 by Edward Nye Fish. Fish was originally from Massachusetts, however, he and 20 of his friends sailed a boat all the way to San Francisco in 1849. After becoming wealthy from his time in California, Fish and his family moved to Tucson. Fish bought the property that is now managed by the museum. The house was decorated quite revolutionary for the time, with many pieces within the homecoming from Europe. The house also had wood floors, something that not many had done at this time.
Perhaps the most notable part of the museum is the yellow sculpture outside of one of the side entrances to the museum. It almost acts as a known landmark to locals and an intriguing piece to those who are just visiting Tucson. As you walk past the sculpture and into the main building of the museum, you enter the main gallery area. Some of the galleries and exhibits are a part of the museum’s extensive permanent collection, however, most are showcased temporarily by curators. The current exhibitions include Desert Dweller, Dress Matters: Clothing as Metaphor, American Art, Art of the American West, Contemporary Art, Folk Art of the Americas, Latin American Art, and Modern Art.
J. Knox Corbett House
The J. Knox Corbett House is a two-story home completed in 1907 to have a Mission Revival or known as a Spanish Mediterranean style which was very popular during that time. The outside of the J Knox Corbett House includes many different architectural designs that suggest the house is of Mission Revival Style. These characteristics include the stucco-covered brick, clay tiled roof, as well as arched porch.
La Casa Cordova
La Casa Cordova, the oldest adobe home in downtown Tucson, is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. La Casa Cordova was built within the area enclosed by the Presidio wall. Some historians believe that La Casa’s original rooms may predate the Gadsden Purchase of 1854. This date of construction is based on the oldest portion of the building, the two back rooms on the south side, which appear on the earliest known map of Tucson, the 1862 Major D. Ferguson map.
Romero House
The Romero House is located at the northeast corner of the Historic Block. Although it has undergone numerous alterations, part of the building is believed to date from the nineteenth century. It has been maintained not only for its historical significance (its north wall is believed to contain remnants of the original Presidio wall), but also exemplifies the evolution of a home and its occupants.
Stevens/Duffield House
The Stevens/Duffield House is located on Main Avenue along with the Edward Nye Fish House. Today, the Stevens/Duffield House is home to the museum’s award-winning restaurant Cafe a la C'Art. Interestingly, both of the properties and their original owners of the buildings have intriguing, intertwined histories.Milton B. Duffield, a hot-tempered man, purchased the one-room building adjacent to the Stevens home. He came to Tucson in 1863 as U.S. Marshal in Arizona and served for two years. For a time he was employed as a special postal agent, and in 1870 he became engaged in a heated mining claim. Duffield was shot and killed by the man with whom he was engaged in the property dispute.
Why people visit the Museum
While many who visit the museum are art enthusiasts, the museum does a great job of catering to first-time visitors or visitors who may not have an extensive background. Didactics, or written information about an exhibit, can be found both about each show and about each piece within the shows. Clearly, the Tucson Museum of Art has made a lasting impact on the Tucson community. Not only does It work to preserve the rich history of old Tucson, it also works to showcase amazing art to the community as well. The museum will forever be engrained in the heart of Tucson.
Hours and Policies changed due to COVID 19
The Museum was reopened to the public on July 30, 2020. Due to the pandemic, for safety and enjoyable experiences for visitors, staff, and community members, they have made important changes to their policies and operations. The Tucson Museum and Historic Block is closed on from Monday to Wednesday and open Thursday-Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. General admission is $12 for adults, $10 for Seniors, $7 for college students and children 13-17 and free for children 12 and under, veterans and museum members.
References
1 ) Everything You Need to Know About Visiting Tucson Museum of Art & Historic Block. (n.d.). Tucson Museum of Art & Historic Block Reviews | U.S. News Travel. Retrieved October 2, 2022, from https://travel.usnews.com/Tucson_AZ/Things_To_Do/Tucson_Museum_of_Art_Historic_Block_62210/
2 ) Arizona Daily Star, E. R. (2009, January 9). A bit of history on the Tucson Museum of Art. Arizona Daily Star. Retrieved October 2, 2022, from https://tucson.com/a-bit-of-history-on-the-tucson-museum-of-art/article_395b8480-4ce0-50c3-9e0f-051301cbf06b.html
3 ) Tucson Museum of Art History: Founding, Timeline, and Milestones. (2020, August 27). Tucson Museum of Art History: Founding, Timeline, and Milestones. Retrieved October 2, 2022, from https://www.zippia.com/tucson-museum-of-art-careers-646960/history/
4)Search the Collection – Tucson Museum of Art. (n.d.). Search the Collection – Tucson Museum of Art. Retrieved October 2, 2022, from https://www.tucsonmuseumofart.org/search-the-collection/
5) Buff, M. (2011, September 6). The Tucson Museum of Art: A Video Introduction - SouthernArizonaGuide.com. SouthernArizonaGuide.com. Retrieved October 2, 2022, from https://southernarizonaguide.com/tucson-museum-of-art/
7) Tucson Museum of Art and Historic Block | Tucson, AZ 85701. (n.d.). Tucson Museum of Art and Historic Block | Tucson, AZ 85701. Retrieved October 2, 2022, from https://www.visittucson.org/listing/tucson-museum-of-art-and-historic-block/300/
8)Tucson Museum of Art and Historic Block - Tucson, AZ. (n.d.). Yelp. Retrieved October 2, 2022, from https://www.yelp.com/biz/tucson-museum-of-art-and-historic-block-tucson?start=10
9) "Mission and History," museum website, accessed November 18, 2016.https://www.tucsonmuseumofart.org/about/mission-n-history/
Link to Museum Website: https://tucsonmuseumofart.org
Link to Museum Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/TucsonMuseumofArt/
Link to Reviews of Museum: https://www.yelp.com/biz/tucson-museum-of-art-tucson
