Lancaster Museum of Art and History facts for kids
| Established | 1986 |
|---|---|
| Location | 665 W. Lancaster Blvd Lancaster, California |
| Type | Art Museum |
The Lancaster Museum of Art and History (MOAH) is a cool place in Lancaster, California. It's like a treasure chest for art and history! The museum mainly shows American art made after World War II. They especially focus on art from California.
MOAH also keeps and displays old items from the Antelope Valley. These items help us learn about the past. Plus, the museum often shows art made by local artists. MOAH is a big part of the BLVD, which is a special area in downtown Lancaster. The museum opened in 2012. It has three floors and lots of space for different activities. They love to connect art with the region's history. This includes stories from Native Americans, pioneers, and even aerospace!
History of MOAH
The museum first opened in 1986. Back then, it was called the Lancaster Museum/Art Gallery (LMAG). Its main goal was to give local people a place to enjoy art. It also wanted to show the history of the Antelope Valley. They did this through old items and records.
At first, the museum collected early California landscape paintings. They also gathered historical items. These included Native American tools and rocks. The museum had two locations for its two main jobs. For 24 years, the art part was on Sierra Highway. The history part was at the old Western Hotel Museum.
Later, the City of Lancaster worked with a company to build a new museum. This new building became a key part of the downtown area. In 2010, they started building the new site. In 2011, the city council voted to change the name. LMAG became the Lancaster Museum of Art and History (MOAH).
The Western Hotel still holds many historical items. But the new MOAH building focuses on art from after World War II. It especially highlights California art. MOAH still helps local artists. It also hosts two big art shows every year. These are the All-Media Juried Art Exhibition and the High School Art Exhibition.
Art and History Collections
MOAH has some amazing art collections. One special collection is the Eglash Collection. It has modern artworks given by Steven Eglash and artist Gisela Colon. This collection includes pieces by artists like Lisa Bartleson and Brad Howe.
Between 2012 and 2015, MOAH also got works from other artists. These include Clayton Brothers and Joshua Dildine. They also have art from street artists who live or work in Southern California. Some of these artists are Cryptik and David Flores.
When MOAH first opened, it had cool exhibitions. One show focused on the Antelope Valley. Another displayed historical items from the museum's own collection. There was also a show by local artist Stevie Love. A main show was "Smooth Operations." It looked at how artists used new materials. Many of these materials came from the aerospace industry! This show helped set the tone for future exhibitions. It focused on art from the Los Angeles area after the war. Artists experimented with new ways to create art. This led to movements like "Light and Space." Famous artists like Larry Bell and Judy Chicago were featured.
Other exhibitions have shown works by artists like Gary Lang. They also have group shows with many different artists.
Being Green at MOAH
MOAH cares about the environment! In 2013, they started the Green MOAH program. This program helps the museum work towards being eco-friendly. The City of Lancaster wants to use 100% renewable energy by 2020. Green MOAH helps with this big goal.
The Green MOAH program has several cool projects. One is the award-winning Wasteland Project. Another is the STEAM-inspired Crosswinds Project. They also have a Green Revolution Traveling Trunk. In 2016, they had a Green Revolution exhibition. MOAH also hosts a summer "think tank" for young people. This is done with the Land Art Generator Initiative (LAGI).
MOAH:CEDAR Art Space
In 2014, the Cedar Center for the Arts reopened. It now has a new gallery space called MOAH:CEDAR. The Cedar Center has always been a place for local artists and performers. In 2015, MOAH:CEDAR opened the Andrew Frieder Creative Space. This is an open art studio that anyone can use for free! It's also where the museum holds its monthly Young Artist Workshops. They also have talks for artists and programs for adults.
In 2016, MOAH:CEDAR hosted its first artist-in-residence. Artist Jane Ingram Allen worked with the community. Together, they made the Eco-Quilt. You can now see this special quilt at Forrest E. Hull Park.
