Mary and Leigh Block Museum of Art facts for kids
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| Established | 1980 |
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| Location | 40 Arts Circle Drive Evanston, Illinois United States  |
| Type | Art |
| Architect | Loebl Schlossman & Hackl |
The Block Museum of Art is a cool place to explore art! It's a free public art museum located at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois. The museum first opened in 1980.
It was started thanks to a generous gift from art collectors Mary and Leigh B. Block. They gave money to Northwestern University to build a place to show art. At first, it was called the Mary and Leigh Block Gallery. It was designed to be like a "kunsthalle" from Germany, which means it would only have changing art shows, not a permanent collection.
But soon, the museum started getting its own art pieces. The university even moved some of its art to the museum. Because its art collection grew and it offered more programs, the Gallery became the Mary and Leigh Block Museum of Art in 1998. The museum also got a big makeover in 1999 and reopened in a new building in September 2000.
The Block Museum works closely with other museums around the world. These include the Yale University Art Gallery and the Museum der Moderne Salzburg. They often team up to create art shows that travel across the country and even to other parts of the world.
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Exciting Art Exhibitions at the Block Museum
The Block Museum often features amazing and unique art shows. Here are some past highlights:
Charlotte Moorman: A Feast of Astonishments
This exhibition ran from January 16 to July 17, 2016. It celebrated Charlotte Moorman, a musician and performance artist. She was a big supporter of experimental art. Her festivals in New York City brought new art forms to many people. The show looked at Moorman as a leading artist herself. It showed how she was more than just a partner to other famous artists like Nam June Paik. This exhibition also traveled to other museums.
If You Remember, I’ll Remember: Exploring History Through Art
This show was open from February 4 to June 18, 2017. It featured works by several modern artists, including Kristine Aono and Shan Goshorn. The art explored important themes like love, sadness, war, and civil rights. It looked at how these ideas affected people in North America during the 1800s and 1900s.
William Blake and the Age of Aquarius: Art and Ideas
From September 23, 2017, to March 11, 2018, this exhibition explored William Blake. He was a British poet and artist with a unique vision. The show looked at how his ideas influenced American artists after World War II. Blake's radical art inspired artists from the 1960s counterculture. Famous names like Diane Arbus and Allen Ginsberg were influenced by him. The exhibition also showed how art connected to big events like Woodstock.
Up is Down: Advertising and Film at Goldsholl Studio
This exhibition ran from September 18 to December 9, 2019. It focused on Goldsholl Design Associates, a design company from Chicago. In the 1950s, they created cool "designs-in-film." Morton and Millie Goldsholl led the studio. They made TV commercials, films, and logos for big companies like 7-Up. This show brought their innovative work back into the spotlight.
Caravans of Gold: Art and Culture in Medieval Africa
From January 26 to July 21, 2019, this exhibition was a huge event. It showed over 250 artworks from five centuries. Many pieces came from Mali, Morocco, and Nigeria. Some of these artworks were seen in North America for the very first time! The show explored the rich art and culture of medieval Saharan Africa. It also traveled to the Aga Khan Museum in Toronto.
Museum Building and Outdoor Art
The first museum building was built in 1980. It was designed by a Chicago architecture firm. In 1989, the Block Museum added an outdoor sculpture garden. This garden features 16 sculptures. These artworks were given to Northwestern University by generous donors. You can find them outdoors around the Arts Circle and in the special sculpture garden.
In 1999, the museum started a big renovation project. It reopened in September 2000 with a brand new look. The new design was by Dirk Lohan, a famous Chicago architect. This expansion made the museum three times bigger! It added more space for art galleries.
In 2015, the museum opened "The Block Spot." This is a public lounge in the lobby. It has Wi-Fi, comfy seats, and places to study or meet friends. It was designed with ideas from students at the Segal Design Institute.
Amazing Art Collections
The Block Museum has a growing collection of over 6,000 artworks. This permanent collection includes many prints, drawings, and photographs. These pieces are by modern and contemporary artists from America and Europe.
The museum also has special collections. These include computer-generated art from America. They also have works by Chicago printmakers from the 1930s and 40s. Another collection focuses on documentary photography of the Midwest. There are also South African prints from the early 1990s.
Since 2016, the Block has added even more diverse art. They now have videos, sculptures, and installations. These are by famous international artists like Paul Chan and Carrie Mae Weems. The museum uses these artworks for exhibitions and for teaching students. Scholars and researchers also use the collection.
You can explore the Block Museum's collection online on their website. If you want to see specific artworks in person, you can make an appointment. You can view them in The Eloise W. Martin Study Center.
Highlights from the Collection
- Jasper Johns, Decoy, 1971
- Max Beckmann, On the Streetcar, 1922
- Barbara Hepworth, Two Forms (Divided Circle), 1969
- Jean Arp, Feuille Se Reposant (Resting Leaf), 1959
- Joan Miró, Monument Dresse En Plein Ocean a La Gloire du Vent, 1967 and Constellation, 1971
- Chuck Close, Alex/Reduction Block, 1993
- Carrie Mae Weems, Ritual and Revolution, 1998
