Castellani Art Museum facts for kids
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| Established | 1978 |
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| Location | 5795 Lewiston Road Lewiston, New York |
| Type | Art museum |
| Collections | Contemporary art, folk art |
| Owner | Niagara University |
The Castellani Art Museum is an exciting art museum located on the campus of Niagara University in Lewiston, New York. This museum features special exhibits from well-known and new contemporary artists. It also showcases traditional folk arts, which are artworks made by everyday people.
Contents
Discovering the Museum's History
How the Museum Started
The Castellani Art Museum began in 1976. A person named Armand J. Castellani wanted to help people learn about and love art. He also hoped to improve how people understood different cultures. He started collecting art to create a great collection for students at Niagara University. It was also for everyone living in the Western New York area.
Building a Home for Art
The first museum building was called the Buscaglia-Castellani Art Gallery. It was built in 1978 and was not on the university campus. This gallery held about 300 pieces of art. In 1990, the museum got a new name: the Castellani Art Museum. A brand-new building was built right on the university campus.
The new building was designed by Thomas Moscati. It has seven different areas where art can be shown. There are also indoor and outdoor spaces for sculptures. The museum includes a shop, offices, and areas for storing and preparing artworks.
Learning and Art Programs
The museum is also a place for learning. Students in the Niagara University Fine Arts Program have studio and classroom spaces there. The museum helps create art education programs for university students. It also works with other local schools and cultural groups. People from the community can join volunteer programs to help out.
Special Art Exhibitions
In 2016, the museum had a special Folk Arts exhibition. This show explored the beautiful details and meanings of beadwork. It featured historic and modern works from Native American groups. These included the Haudenosaunee, Wabanaki, and Chippewa peoples.
Exploring the Art Collection
What's in the Collection?
The museum has a huge permanent collection of over 5,700 artworks. This collection includes many types of art. You can see paintings, prints, photographs, drawings, and sculptures. Most of these artworks are from the 1800s, and the modern and contemporary art periods.
Art from Different Times
The collection features art from various time periods:
- 1800s Art: This includes European artists like Daumier and the impressionist Armand Guillaumin. American landscape artists like John Henry Twachtman and Jasper Francis Cropsey are also featured.
- Early 1900s Art: You can find works by famous European artists such as Pablo Picasso and Salvador Dalí. American artists like Charles E. Burchfield are also part of this group.
- Mid-1900s Art: This section includes art by well-known artists like Robert Motherwell, Willem de Kooning, and Andy Warhol. You can also see works by Joan Miró and Barbara Hepworth.
- Recent Contemporary Art: The museum has art from the last few decades. This includes pieces by Basquiat, Keith Haring, and Susan Rothenberg.
Generous Donations
Armand and Eleanor Castellani loved collecting art since the 1960s. They generously donated much of their own personal art collection to the Castellani Art Museum.
See also
- List of university art museums and galleries in New York State
