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 art museum you can visit in Ocala, Florida. Since 2004, it has been connected with the College of Central Florida.

The Appleton Museum has a huge permanent collection of over 24,000 artworks. These include art and artifacts from Europe, America, Asia, Africa, and even ancient cultures from the Americas. It also shows special exhibits that change throughout the year. The museum loves to collect art from Florida artists. It also shows the history and growth of Central Florida culture.

History of the Museum

A business leader named Arthur I. Appleton and his wife, Martha O'Driscoll, bought land in Ocala in the mid-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 in Ocala.

With help from Mr. Appleton and Museum Director Moussa Domit, the museum opened in 1987. Over 300 skilled workers from 130 companies helped build it. The museum is covered in 80,000 square feet of Italian marble. The floors have 15,000 square feet of granite from Bolivia.

In 1996, a new part called the Edith-Marie Appleton Wing was added. This wing was paid for by Arthur I. Appleton's sister. In 2009, a large art storage area was also built. This made the museum almost 82,000 square feet in total size.

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.

Museum Features and Design

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

The Appleton Museum is part of the Appleton Cultural Center. This center is east of Ocala's downtown area. It shares the space with the Ocala Civic Theatre. The museum's building itself is a work of art!

The two-story building is made of travertine marble. It has a beautiful fountain and a long reflecting pool outside. The museum grounds cover 11.3 acres of nicely designed land.

Inside, the Appleton Museum has many cool features. There are six large art galleries with lots of space. It also has a 250-seat auditorium and a cafe. These areas are built around an open-air courtyard.

The Edith-Marie Appleton Wing has even more to explore. It includes four classrooms, one with interactive video technology. There's also an art library with over 2,000 art books. Plus, you can find an art workshop there.

Art Collections

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

Permanent Collections

Florida Artists

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

Equine Art

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 has a collection about horses! Arthur I. Appleton himself started a horse farm when he moved to Ocala. This collection shows over 3,000 years of horse history from around the world. It includes ancient horse-bridle bits and modern artworks.

European Art

This collection shows a wide range of European art from the 1600s to the 1800s. It includes paintings, sculptures, and decorative items. You can see art from different styles like Romanticism and Realism. The artworks come from countries like France, Italy, the Netherlands, and Great Britain.

Pre-Columbian Art

This collection focuses on amazing artifacts from the Pre-Columbian Era in the Americas. These objects were made by native peoples in Mexico, Central America, and South America. They were created before Europeans had a big influence there. You can see art from cultures like the Maya and Moche. The collection includes pottery, bowls, items made of gold and jade, and statues.

Asian Art

The Asian Art exhibit is one of the biggest collections at the Appleton. It has religious and everyday items from all over Asia. You can see sculptures and textiles of Buddha from India, Tibet, and Thailand. There are also old Chinese artifacts, like ceramic figures of horses from the Tang Dynasty. You can also find Japanese art, including tiny sculptures called netsukes and beautiful kimonos.

African Art

Much of this collection was bought by Arthur I. Appleton from 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 from the Baga people. Another is a full set of Maiden Spirit Dance Regalia from the Igbo of Nigeria.

Modern and Contemporary Art

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

Maritime Art

This collection features art about the sea and how humans interact with it. It mostly shows paintings and models of old sailing ships. These artworks 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 William Adolphus Knell and Montague Dawson.

Artists Displayed

Many artists have their art shown in the museum. Here are some of them: