Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art facts for kids
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| Established | 1973 |
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| Location | Central & University Avenues, Ithaca, New York |
| Visitors | 80,000 |
| Ithaca Discovery Trail | |
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The Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art, often called "The Johnson Museum," is a cool place to see art. It's located at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. This museum holds over 35,000 amazing artworks. It even has special windows from a house designed by famous architect Frank Lloyd Wright. The building itself is a work of art, designed by I.M. Pei. It stands out with its unique concrete look.
Contents
History of the Museum
How the Museum Started
The idea for a university art museum began in 1953. Deane Waldo Malott, who was the president of Cornell University, helped create it. The first art collections were kept in the A. D. White House.
Naming the Johnson Museum
The current museum building opened in 1973. It was named after Herbert Fisk Johnson Jr.. He was a Cornell graduate from the class of 1922. Mr. Johnson was also the head of a company called S.C. Johnson & Sons. He was a big supporter of the university.
Architecture and Design
The Museum's Unique Look
The Johnson Museum of Art was designed by the famous architect I.M. Pei. One special part of the building is its fifth floor. This floor hangs out over an outdoor sculpture garden. The design was carefully planned. It makes sure not to block the beautiful view of Cayuga Lake. From the museum's north and west sides, you can see a wide, amazing view of the lake. There is also a meeting room on the sixth floor. Cornell's leaders used this room for many years.
Challenges in Design
Building the museum in this spot was tricky. There wasn't much space available. The design also had to fit in without making the nearby Cayuga Lake view disappear. It also sits on a hill where Ezra Cornell supposedly chose the university's location. The final design included a tall, narrow tower and a bridge. Some people have said it looks like a giant sewing machine.
Awards and Recognition
The building's design won an award in 1975. It received the American Institute of Architects Honor Award. The museum's design was even featured on the cover of Scientific American magazine. This showed how computer graphics were used in its early stages.
Museum Expansion
In 2011, the museum opened new and improved spaces. It added a 16,000-square-foot extension. This new part was inspired by the original plans from Pei Cobb Freed & Partners. The main architect for this project was John L. Sullivan III. The expansion cost $22 million. It also included some updates to the main building. Grants from the National Endowment for the Humanities helped fund this project.
The new addition moved the Asian art storage area. This made more room for public art galleries on the fifth floor. An outdoor Japanese garden was also created next to the new extension. However, there were some problems with the design of the new wing. These issues caused damage and needed repairs.
Art Collections
The museum's permanent collection has more than 35,000 pieces of art.
Asian Art Collection
One of the most important collections is the George and Mary Rockwell Asian Art collection. The fifth floor of the museum is dedicated to this extensive collection.
European and American Art
The European collection includes art from the Middle Ages to the 20th century. You can see works by artists like Albrecht Dürer and Henri Matisse. The museum also has many works by American artists. These include Georgia O'Keeffe and Andy Warhol. There are also pieces from the Hudson River School and American Impressionists.
Prints, Drawings, and Photographs
The collection of prints, drawings, and photographs is very large. It has over 22,000 works. This includes pieces by famous photographers like Berenice Abbott and Alfred Stieglitz.
Other Collections
The museum also features art from Africa, ancient America (before Columbus), and Oceania. These collections show art from many different time periods.
Education and Learning
The Johnson Museum helps students learn about art.
Classes and Tours
While Cornell's departments teach art classes, the museum offers special gallery sessions. These sessions are designed for specific courses. The museum also hosts tours led by professors. They even create exhibitions related to different courses.
School Field Trips
Local school students can visit the museum for field trips. They can take special tours focused on different art themes.
Johnson Museum Club
The Johnson Museum Club is a group of Cornell students. They work to share information about the museum's art and facilities. The club organizes fun events like concerts and scavenger hunts.
Gallery
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Interior view of the Main Lobby.
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Another view of the Main Lobby.
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View of Ithaca from the fifth floor.
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View of the open porch.
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Interior of the Entrance Building.
