:''see also the ''Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art'',

Washington State University Washington State University (Washington State, WSU, or informally Wazzu) is a public land-grant research university with its flagship, and oldest, campus in Pullman, Washington. Founded in 1890, WSU is also one of the oldest land-grant unive ...

, Pullman, Washington Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art (JSMA) is an

art museum An art museum or art gallery is a building or space for the display of art, usually from the museum's own Collection (artwork), collection. It might be in public or private ownership and may be accessible to all or have restrictions in place. A ...

located on the

campus A campus is traditionally the land on which a college or university and related institutional buildings are situated. Usually a college campus includes libraries, lecture halls, residence halls, student centers or dining halls, and park-like se ...

of the

University of Oregon The University of Oregon (UO, U of O or Oregon) is a public research university in Eugene, Oregon. Founded in 1876, the institution is well known for its strong ties to the sports apparel and marketing firm Nike, Inc, and its co-founder, billion ...

in Eugene,

Oregon Oregon () is a U.S. state, state in the Pacific Northwest region of the Western United States. The Columbia River delineates much of Oregon's northern boundary with Washington (state), Washington, while the Snake River delineates much of it ...

. The original building was designed by Ellis F. Lawrence as part of his "main university quadrangle," now known as the

Memorial Quadrangle The Memorial Quadrangle is a residential quadrangle at Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut. Commissioned in 1917 to supply much-needed student housing for Yale College, it was Yale's first Collegiate Gothic building and its first project ...

. Its first Director, Asian art collector, and female museum specialist Gertrude Bass Warner also influenced the buildings design, particularly its innovative climate control measures. The museum is accredited by the

American Alliance of Museums American(s) may refer to: * American, something of, from, or related to the United States of America, commonly known as the "United States" or "America" ** Americans, citizens and nationals of the United States of America ** American ancestry, pe ...

History

The University of Oregon Museum of Art opened its doors to the public in 1933. Designed by Ellis F. Lawrence, UO dean of Architecture & Allied Arts at the time, the museum was built to house the Murray Warner Collection of Oriental Art—more than 3,700 works of art given to the university by Gertrude Bass Warner. Warner had pushed for arts education based on material culture since moving to Eugene in 1920s, and the collection's first home had been Gerlinger Hall, the Woman's Memorial Hall attributed to first female regent and art enthusiast

Irene Hazard Gerlinger Irene Strang Hazard Gerlinger (December 3, 1876 – April 5, 1960) was an American fundraiser and the first woman on the University of Oregon Board of Regents. She is the namesake for Gerlinger Hall on the University of Oregon campus. Irene Hazar ...

, where it resided until 1933. As the museum's first director and "curator for life," Warner sought to bridge cultural divides through art and culture education, as seen in the inaugural set of conditions for the Murray Warner Collection of Oriental Art: "It is my wish, hope and prayer that the officers in charge of this collection, the President of the University, and the professors of the University keep in mind the object of this gift, and keep presenting to the students and the public the ideas of fellowship, friendship and love toward our neighbors across the Pacific—that peace may always be maintained in order that this collection may be a blessing and that love may reign at home and abroad. (Oregana, 1934, pp. 165-167)" A major museum expansion took place from 2002 to 2005, at which time the museum was given its current name in honor of Schnitzer, the major donor for the expansion work.

Mission and activities

The Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art enhances the University of Oregon's academic mission and furthers the appreciation and enjoyment of the visual arts for the general public. It aims to provide an atmosphere of discovery – the JSMA mission statement includes this guiding principle: "We recognize our visitors' different learning styles and the needs of a multigenerational and diverse audience". The only academic museum in Oregon accredited by the American Alliance of Museums, the JSMA hosts exhibitions and houses collections of historic and contemporary art. It manages research and educational programs and publishes resources in support the university's academic mission, including outreach initiatives to serve the diverse interests of off-campus communities. According to the University Development office, a new visitor pavilion will be created in the near future if funding is available.

Exhibits

The JSMA's standing galleries present from its holdings of Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and American art, as well as an extensive collection of contemporary Cuban art, including the original vintage photographs from the personal collection of Cuban photographer

Alberto Korda Alberto Díaz Gutiérrez, better known as Alberto Korda or simply Korda (September 14, 1928 – May 25, 2001), was a Cuban photographer, remembered for his famous image ''Guerrillero Heroico'' of Argentine Marxist revolutionary Che Guevara. ...

. Special exhibition galleries display curated artwork both from these permanent collections and outside collections, representing cultures across the globe, past and present. A new exhibit is planned for the museum featuring work addressing the

Black Lives Matter movement Black Lives Matter (abbreviated BLM) is a decentralized political and social movement that seeks to highlight racism, discrimination, and racial inequality experienced by black people. Its primary concerns are incidents of police br ...

Inscriptions

The buildings contains three prominent quotations on its main, west-facing facade. Above the door, there is a quotation from

Proverbs A proverb (from la, proverbium) is a simple and insightful, traditional saying that expresses a perceived truth based on common sense or experience. Proverbs are often metaphorical and use formulaic speech, formulaic language. A proverbial phra ...

, near the south end of the facade there is a passage from

Plato Plato ( ; grc-gre, Πλάτων ; 428/427 or 424/423 – 348/347 BC) was a Greek philosopher born in Athens during the Classical period in Ancient Greece. He founded the Platonist school of thought and the Academy, the first institution ...

, and on the north part a quotation from

Lao Tzu Laozi (), also known by numerous other names, was a semilegendary ancient Chinese Taoist philosopher. Laozi ( zh, ) is a Chinese honorific, generally translated as "the Old Master". Traditional accounts say he was born as in the state of ...

. In addition, the cornerstone contains a passage from

Psalms The Book of Psalms ( or ; he, תְּהִלִּים, , lit. "praises"), also known as the Psalms, or the Psalter, is the first book of the ("Writings"), the third section of the Tanakh, and a book of the Old Testament. The title is derived ...

References

External links