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 art museum at Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana. It is located inside the Fine Arts building on 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 five Ball Brothers who helped start the university. David Owsley gave the museum over 2,300 pieces of art. He also planned to donate $5 million.
The museum has about 11,000 works of art. Most of these are paintings, photographs, prints, and sculptures. It is one of only four art museums in Indiana with a collection that covers art from all over the world and different time periods.
Contents
History of the Museum
In 1892, a group of women in Muncie started the Art Students' League. They wanted more people to be interested in art. This group held many successful art shows.
Later, in 1905, they formed the Muncie Art Association. This new group wanted to have an art show every year. They also planned to buy one piece of art each year. This helped them start a permanent art collection.
At first, these artworks were kept in the hallways of Muncie schools. Then, the Ball Brothers founded the Indiana State Normal School. The art collection was moved there.
In 1931, plans were made to build a special place for the art. The museum opened in 1936. Architect George F. Schreiber designed the building. It was built in the Collegiate Gothic style and cost $420,000.
The Fine Arts Building and Museum
Before the Great Depression, there was a big need for an Art Center. More and more students needed classrooms for art and music. There was also a need for a proper art gallery on campus.
George F. Schreiber was chosen to design the building. However, construction was paused in 1932. This happened because the state of Indiana stopped all spending.
It took until 1935 to raise enough money to start building. In 1936, the Fine Arts Building and Museum of Art finally opened. This happened under President L.A. Pittenger.
The Fine Arts Building also had classrooms for foreign languages, English, and social sciences. It also included an auditorium for concerts and performances.
Museum Directors
Past Directors
Francis F. Brown was the first person in charge of the gallery. After him, Alice Nichols became director in 1949. She retired in 1972.
William Story took over from Nichols and worked from 1972 to 1983. After him, Alain Joyaux and Peter Blume were directors.
Current Director
After Peter Blume, Robert G. La France became the director in 2014. He is the current director of the David Owsley Museum of Art.
Fine Arts Terrace
Each May, the university holds its graduation ceremonies on the Fine Arts Terrace. This is a grassy area in the middle of the Quad. It is located between the David Owsley Museum of Art and the statue of Beneficence. The statue was created by Daniel Chester French.
Museum Events
The museum holds many events throughout the year. Some events happen regularly. For example, Meditation in the Museum and Sketching in the Museum happen every Friday afternoon. These events take place 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. You can also find updates on the museum's Facebook page (David Owsley Museum of Art Ball State University) and Twitter page (@DOMAatBSU). Some of these events include:
- Final Fridays: These evenings feature talks, art demonstrations, and chances to meet other art lovers.
- Expert Art: Professionals and experts come together to talk about and study artworks in the museum.
- Docent's Choice: Museum guides (docents) lead tours. They discuss a specific gallery or theme.
- First Person: An artist talks about their ideas and the meaning behind a work of art in the museum.
Art Collections
The museum's collection can be searched online through the DIDO (Digital Images Delivered Online) Database. You can also find the Ball Family Collection.
The museum has art from many different times and places:
- Indiana Painters, including the Hoosier Group
- 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
Here are some of the well-known artworks you can see at the museum:
- 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
- Statues 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
