International Museum of Art facts for kids
El Paso International Museum of Art
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| Established | 1924 |
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| Location | El Paso, Texas, United States |
| Type | Art museum |
| Collection size | 475 |
| Founder | Kate Moore Brown |
The International Museum of Art is a cool museum in El Paso, Texas. It is located inside a historic house designed by a famous architect named Henry C. Trost. This beautiful home was built in 1908 for William Ward Turney, who was a state legislator, lawyer, and rancher.
The International Museum of Art shares some history with the El Paso Museum of Art. The El Paso Museum of Art used to be in the Turney building until 1998. After that museum moved to a new spot, the International Museum of Art opened its doors in 1999.
Contents
Discover the International Museum of Art
The International Museum of Art is quite large, covering about 14,000 square feet. That's a lot of space for art! The museum also has a big auditorium with 168 seats. This is a great place for events or talks. Plus, there's a special area where people can take art classes and learn new skills.
A Look Back: The Museum's History
How the Museum Began
The idea for the museum started way back in 1924. A group called the El Paso International Museum Association began collecting art very quickly. A leader named Kate Moore Brown was very important in helping to create the museum. They started by buying display cases for a collection of art from Percival Henderson.
The museum group planned to open a building in 1929. However, their plans were put on hold because of the Great Depression. This was a time when the economy was very bad. In 1930, the group officially became a state-recognized organization in Texas. The Women's Club of El Paso also helped promote the idea of having a museum.
Finding a Home
In 1941, the museum moved into the old home of former State Senator William Ward Turney. The City of El Paso owned the property at 1205 Montana Street, and the museum rented the house. By 1944, the museum's board started raising money to pay for the taxes on the house. The International Museum of Art officially opened to the public on May 2, 1947.
Growing and Changing
In the late 1950s, there were plans to make the museum even bigger. This expansion would cost about $725,000, which came from a special type of loan called a bond issue. The plans included adding two new art wings, an auditorium, and a section just for kids. The renovations happened in 1960 with help from architects Carrol and Daeuble and Associates.
A very important collection of art, called the Kress collection, was given to the museum by the Samuel H. Kress Foundation. It was put on display in May 1961. Around this time, the museum became known as the El Paso Museum of Art. The El Paso Museum of Art eventually moved out of the Turney home in 1998 to a new location in Downtown El Paso.
A New Chapter
In 1999, a new group of forty-two people formed the new El Paso International Museum of Art. These volunteers created an International Association for the Visual Arts and decided to stay in the historic Turney building. They began to rent the building from the City of El Paso. They also started an El Paso Artists Hall of Fame, which honors two artists each year.
Art Collection
The museum has a wonderful collection of art for you to see. It includes more than 450 paintings and 25 sculptures. These artworks show different styles and periods.
In 2000, the International Museum of Art received a special donation. Deane Miller gave the museum a collection of kachina dolls. These dolls are important figures in Native American cultures. This collection was valued at $40,000.
Website
- International Museum of Art website
