Appleton Museum of Art facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Appleton Museum of Art

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Established	1987
Location	4333 East Silver Springs Boulevard Ocala, Florida
Type	Art museum

The Appleton Museum of Art is a cool place to visit in Ocala, Florida. It's an art museum that shows off amazing artworks from all over the world. Since 2004, it has been connected with the College of Central Florida. This means the college helps run the museum.

The museum has a huge collection of over 24,000 pieces. These include art and old objects from Europe, America, Asia, and Africa. You can also see modern art and art from ancient times before Columbus. The museum also has special shows that change throughout the year. It collects art from Florida artists too. This helps show the history of Central Florida culture.

History of the Appleton Museum

A businessman named Arthur I. Appleton and his wife, Martha O'Driscoll, bought land in Ocala in the 1970s. They started a horse farm called Bridlewood Farm. Building the Appleton Museum of Art began in 1984. It was built on 44 acres of land.

Mr. Appleton and the museum's director, Moussa Domit, guided the building process. The museum first opened to the public in 1987. Over 300 skilled workers from 130 companies helped build it. The outside of the museum is covered in 80,000 square feet of Italian marble. The floors inside have 15,000 square feet of granite from Bolivia.

In 1996, a new part called the Edith-Marie Appleton Wing was added. Arthur I. Appleton's sister paid for this part. In 2009, a storage area for art was also built. This made the museum almost 82,000 square feet in total. In 2013, the Appleton Museum of Art received a special award. It was accredited by the American Alliance of Museums. This means it meets high standards for museums.

Appleton Museum of Art's open-air courtyard, as viewed from a second story balcony.

What You Can See at the Museum

The Appleton Art Museum is part of the Appleton Cultural Center. This center is east of Ocala's downtown area. It also shares space with the Ocala Civic Theatre. The museum building itself is a work of art. It's a two-story building made of travertine marble. A fountain and a long reflecting pool surround it. The beautiful grounds cover over 11 acres.

Inside the Appleton Museum of Art, there are many cool things. It has six art galleries with thousands of square feet of space. There's also an auditorium with 250 seats and a cafe. These areas are around an open-air courtyard.

The Edith-Marie Appleton Wing has four classrooms. One classroom even has interactive video technology. There's also an art library with over 2,000 art books. Plus, there's an art workshop where you can get creative!

Art Collections at the Appleton Museum

The Appleton Museum has eight main art collections. These collections cover many different time periods and themes. They also have temporary exhibits that change often.

Main Collections to Explore

Art by Florida Artists

One important goal of the Appleton Museum is to support local artists. They collect and show artworks made by artists from Florida. This is possible thanks to special funds. These funds help the museum buy art from Florida artists.

Horses in Art: The Equine Collection

Ocala, Florida, where the museum is, is known as the "Horse Capital of the World." It has many horse farms and riding centers. So, it makes sense that the Appleton Museum would show off this history. One of its main collections celebrates Ocala's horse legacy. Arthur I. Appleton and his wife even started a horse farm there. The Equine collection shows over 3,000 years of horse history. It includes items from all over the world.

European Art Through the Centuries

This collection features a wide range of European art. It covers art from the 17th to the 19th centuries. You can see paintings, sculptures, and decorative items. The artworks show different art styles like Romanticism and Realism. They come from countries like France, Italy, and Great Britain.

Ancient Art from the Americas

This collection focuses on objects from the time before Columbus in the Americas. These items were made by native people from Mexico, Central America, and South America. They were created before Europeans had a big influence. You can see art from cultures like the Maya and Moche. The collection includes pottery, gold items, and statues.

Art from Asia

The Asian Art exhibit is one of the largest collections at the Appleton. It has religious and everyday items from across Asia. You can see sculptures of Buddha from India and Thailand. There are also old Chinese objects. These include ceramic horses from the Tang Dynasty. You can also find Japanese art, like tiny sculptures called netsukes and kimonos.

Art from Africa

Much of this art was bought by Arthur I. Appleton. He got it from the collection of Dr. Victor David DuBois. Dr. DuBois collected African art while working for the U.S. Government in Africa. Most pieces are from West African cultures. Many were bought directly from the people who made them. One cool piece is a 20th-century Dance Headdress. It was made by the Baga people of Guinea. Another is a full set of Maiden Spirit Dance Regalia. This is from the Igbo people of Nigeria.

Modern and Contemporary Art

This collection shows art from the 1950s to today. It includes paintings, sculptures, and photos. You can see works by famous artists like Salvador Dali and Andy Warhol.

Art of the Sea: Maritime Collection

This collection features different artworks about the sea. It mostly shows paintings of old sailing ships. There are also models of historic ships. These pieces were collected by Arthur I. Appleton. He served in the United States Navy during World War II. The collection includes art by British artists like Montague Dawson.

Artists You Might Know

Many artists have their work shown at the museum. Here are some of them: