Dixon Gallery and Gardens facts for kids
The Dixon Gallery and Gardens
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| Location | 4339 Park Avenue, Memphis, Tennessee |
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| Type | Art museum |
| Public transit access |  MATA |
The Dixon Gallery and Gardens is a special place in Memphis, Tennessee. It's an art museum surrounded by 17 acres of beautiful gardens. This amazing spot first opened its doors in 1976. You can find it at 4339 Park Avenue.
The museum mainly shows art from French and American Impressionism. This style of art uses small, thin brushstrokes to capture how light looks. You can see paintings by famous artists like Monet, Degas, and Renoir. Other artists include Mary Cassatt, Paul Gauguin, and Henri Matisse.
The Dixon also has a huge collection of works by Jean-Louis Forain. He was a French Impressionist artist. Plus, there's the Stout Collection of German porcelain from the 1700s. This collection has almost 600 pieces of fancy dishes and figures. It's one of the best collections like it in the United States!
The Dixon often has new art shows and special garden displays. These shows feature both fine art and beautiful plants.
The museum grounds include four main outdoor sculpture gardens. These gardens feature statues inspired by ancient Greek and Roman art. The land was bought by the Dixon family in 1939. They designed the gardens in the English Garden style. This means there are open grassy areas next to smaller, more private garden spots. The main parts of the gardens are the Cutting Garden, Formal Garden, South Lawn, and Woodland Gardens.
Amazing Art Collection
The Dixon Gallery and Gardens has a fantastic collection of art. Many of these paintings were first displayed in the Dixon family's home. The main focus is on French and American Impressionists. These are artists who painted everyday life and landscapes. They used bright colors and visible brushstrokes.
The museum also has art from Post-Impressionists. These artists came after the Impressionists. They often used bold colors and shapes to show feelings. A famous art expert named John Rewald helped the Dixons choose many of these artworks.
The collection also includes British portraits and landscapes from the 1700s and 1800s. This is because Hugo Dixon, who founded the museum, had English family roots.
Over the years, the museum has added more great works. They look for art by French Impressionists who showed their work in the original Impressionist exhibitions. They also collect art by other talented artists from that time. This includes both Impressionist and Realist painters. Realist artists tried to show life as it truly was.
For example, the Dixon recently got 56 artworks by the French artist Jean-Louis Forain. This makes the Dixon a very important place to see his art.
In 1996, the museum celebrated its 20th birthday. They received 23 paintings and sculptures from the Montgomery H.W. Ritchie family. This gift greatly improved the museum's collection of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist art.
In 2006, the Dixon Gallery and Gardens turned 30! They held a special show to highlight their amazing permanent collection. Today, the Dixon continues to grow its art collection. It also helps teach people about art in Memphis and around the world.
Learning and Fun Programs
The Dixon's Education Department works hard to reach all kinds of people. They want everyone to feel welcome and to enjoy art and nature. They create a space where people can share their own ideas. They also help people think creatively.
The Education Department helps people learn about art and horticulture. Horticulture is the science and art of growing plants. They have special programs for children, adults, and groups.
Some of the Dixon's fun programs include:
- Mini Masters: A program for children to explore art.
- Munch and Learn: A lecture series for adults, often held during lunchtime.
- Art to Grow: A program that brings art education to schools.
The Dixon's educational programs are very good. In fact, the Associate Curator of Education was named Tennessee Art Educator of the Year for 2009-2010. This award came from the Tennessee Art Educators Association.
See also
- List of museums in Tennessee
- Index: Gardens in Tennessee
