Contemporary Arts Museum Houston facts for kids
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| Established | 1948 |
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| Location | 5216 Montrose Boulevard, Houston, Texas 77006 |
The Contemporary Arts Museum Houston (CAMH) is a special art museum in Houston, Texas. It started in 1948. This museum shows modern art to everyone.
It's a unique museum because it doesn't collect art. Instead, it focuses on showing art from today and the recent past. The museum also explores new ideas in art. It helps people understand modern art better through fun education programs. The current building opened in 1972.
Contents
History of the Museum
How It Started
In 1948, a group of seven people in Houston had an idea. They wanted to create a place for new art. They also wanted to show how art fits into modern life. They did this through art shows, talks, and other activities.
At first, the museum didn't have its own building. It held shows in different places around the city. Sometimes, they even used The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. Early shows featured famous artists like László Moholy-Nagy.
By 1950, the museum was doing very well. It was able to build a small, professional space. Here, they showed amazing art from artists like Vincent van Gogh and Joan Miró. They also featured works by Alexander Calder and Max Ernst. Local artists like John T. Biggers and his students also had their art displayed. Houstonians were excited to see these new ideas.
Becoming More Professional
A big change happened in 1957. The museum hired its first professional director, Jermayne MacAgy. Before this, only volunteers ran the museum. Ms. MacAgy quickly organized many important shows. These included "The Sphere of Mondrian" and "The Disquieting Muse: Surrealism." She also put on Mark Rothko's second museum show.
During the 1960s, the museum kept focusing on different art themes. It also explored modern architecture and design. They had shows about individual artists too. Important exhibitions included "The Emerging Figure" and works by Robert Rauschenberg.
By the end of the 1960s, the museum's first building was too small. So, the museum's leaders raised money. They bought a good spot on Montrose and Bissonnet. A new building was designed by Gunnar Birkerts.
In 1972, the new building opened. The first show was called Ten. It featured artists using new and different art materials. Throughout the 1970s, the museum continued to show new art from across the country and Texas. This included shows by John Angus Chamberlain and Dalé Gas. Dalé Gas was one of the first big shows of Hispanic artists in the U.S. The museum also helped new Texas artists like James Surls and John Alexander.
Growing Even More
In the 1980s, the museum grew a lot. It became known for its shows that traveled to other places. These shows featured installation art and performance art. They also had shows about modern still-life paintings. There was a group show of art by Texas artists.
The museum also had shows for single artists. These included Ida Applebroog, Robert Morris, and Frank Stella. Texan artists like Earl Staley and Melissa Miller were also featured.
A new series called Perspectives started in the museum's lower gallery. This series quickly showed new works by both rising and famous artists. Many of these artists had not shown their work in Houston before. By 2011, over 175 shows had been part of this exciting series.
In the 1990s, the museum changed its focus. It decided to only show art made in the last 40 years. It also worked to share art from around the world. Big shows at the end of the 20th century included Art Guys: Think Twice and Tony Cragg: Sculpture. Other artists featured were Ann Hamilton, Richard Long, and Robert Rauschenberg.
The Museum Today
On January 1, 1997, the museum closed for a short time. This was for its first big renovation in 25 years. The museum reopened on May 10, 1997. The first show was "Finders/Keepers." This show highlighted the museum's connection with its community. It borrowed important artworks back from private collectors. These were works that had first been shown at the Contemporary Arts Museum. Other important shows since then include "Elvis + Marilyn: Two Times Immortal."
As the new millennium began, the museum looked back at past shows. "Outbound: Passages from the Nineties" celebrated the art of the previous decade. Other shows in the new century have included "Afterimage: Drawing Through Process." Single-artist shows have featured artists like Alighiero e Boetti, William Kentridge, and Juan Muñoz.
Directors
- 1979-1989: Linda L. Cathcart
- 2009–2018: Bill Arning
- 2020–present: Hesse McGraw
See also
In Spanish: Contemporary Arts Museum Houston para niños
