David Owsley Museum of Art facts for kids
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| Established | 1936 |
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| Location | Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana |
| Collection size | 11,000 items |
| Nearest car park | McKinley parking garage |
The David Owsley Museum of Art (DOMA) is an exciting art museum located at Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana. It's a special place where you can see many different kinds of art. The museum is inside the Fine Arts building on the university campus.
The museum's name changed on October 6, 2011. It used to be called the Ball State Museum of Art. The new name honors David T. Owsley. He is the grandson of Frank C. Ball, one of the famous Ball Brothers. David Owsley gave the museum more than 2,300 pieces of art. He also planned to give $5 million to the museum.
Since 2012, the museum has made its galleries bigger. This happened because other departments in the Fine Arts Building moved to new places. The museum finished expanding its space in 2013. Today, the museum holds about 11,000 pieces of art. These include paintings, photographs, prints, and sculptures. It is one of only four art museums in Indiana with such a wide range of art from all over the world.
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History of the Museum
The story of the museum began in 1892. A group of women in Muncie formed the Art Students' League. They wanted to make more people interested in art. This group held many successful art shows.
In 1905, they created the Muncie Art Association. Their goals were to have an art show every year. They also wanted to buy one new artwork each year. This helped them start a permanent collection of art. At first, these artworks were displayed in the hallways of Muncie schools.
Later, the Ball Brothers founded the Indiana State Normal School. The art association's collection then moved to this school. In 1931, plans were made to build a special home for the art. The museum building opened in 1936. Architect George F. Schreiber designed it in the Collegiate Gothic style. The building cost $420,000 to build.
The Fine Arts Building and Museum
Before the Great Depression, there was a big need for an Art Center. Ball State University needed more classrooms for art and music. They also needed a proper space for an art gallery. George F. Schreiber was chosen to design the building.
However, construction was put on hold in 1932. The state of Indiana stopped all spending for a while. Enough money was finally raised in 1935 to begin building. In 1936, the Fine Arts Building and Museum of Art officially opened. This happened under President L.A. Pittenger.
The Fine Arts Building was not just for art. It also housed other departments. These included foreign language, English, and social science classes. There was also a Renaissance-style auditorium for performances.
Museum Directors Over Time
Many people have helped lead the museum. Francis F. Brown was the first supervisor of the gallery. After him, Alice Nichols became director in 1949. She retired in 1972. William Story took over from Nichols and worked until 1983. Later directors included Alain Joyaux and Peter Blume.
The current director is Robert G. La France. He was hired in 2014. He continues to lead the David Owsley Museum of Art today.
Fine Arts Terrace Area
The Fine Arts Terrace is a grassy area on campus. It is located in the center of the Quad. The terrace is between the David Owsley Museum of Art and the statue of Beneficence. This famous statue was created by Daniel Chester French. Each May, the university holds its undergraduate graduation ceremonies on the Fine Arts Terrace.
Museum Events and Activities
The David Owsley Museum of Art hosts many fun events throughout the year. Some events happen regularly. For example, Meditation in the Museum and Sketching in the Museum take place every Friday afternoon. These are held during the school year, from August to May.
Other events are scheduled at different times. You can find their dates and times on the David Owsley Museum of Art website. The museum also shares updates on its Facebook page (David Owsley Museum of Art Ball State University) and Twitter page (@DOMAatBSU). Some of these special events include:
- Final Fridays: These evenings feature "PechaKucha" talks. These are short, fast-paced presentations. It's a lively night with creative conversations, art demonstrations, and a chance to meet new people.
- Expert Art: Professionals and experts come together to talk about and study artworks in the museum. They share their knowledge and insights.
- Docent's Choice: Docents are trained museum guides. They lead friendly, question-based tours. These tours focus on a specific gallery or a special theme.
- First Person: An artist will talk about their ideas and the meaning behind a work of art in the museum. It's a chance to hear directly from the creator.
Art Collections at DOMA
The museum has a very diverse collection of art. It includes pieces from many different time periods and places. You can search the collection online through the DIDO (Digital Images Delivered Online) Database.
Some of the special collections include:
- The Ball Family Collection
- Art by Indiana Painters, including the famous Hoosier Group
- Art from different historical periods and regions:
- Ancient art
- Medieval art
- Renaissance art
- 17th century art
- 18th century art
- 19th century art
- Modern and Contemporary Art
- Asian art
- European and American Works on Paper and Photography
- European and American Decorative Arts and Furniture
- Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas
Famous Artworks to See
The museum is home to many well-known pieces of art. Here are just a few examples of the amazing works you can find there:
- Print of The Great Wave off Kanagawa by Hokusai
- The Martyrdom of Saint Lawrence by Massimo Stanzione
- Storm King of the Hudson by Thomas Cole
- The Concord Minute Man of 1775 by Daniel Chester French
- Under The Trees I by Andre Lhote
- Mao by Andy Warhol
- Statue of Rising Day & Descending Night by Adolph Alexander Weinman from the 1915 San Francisco World's Fair
- Bowl of Goldfish by Childe Hassam
- Pregnant Woman by Edgar Degas
- Right Bird Left by Lee Krasner
- Portrait of Francis Basset (1757-1835) by Joshua Reynolds
- Frieze, No. 4 by John Coplans
- Portrait of Charlotte by John Watson Gordon
See also
