Mary and Leigh Block Museum of Art facts for kids
 |
|
| Lua error in Module:Location_map at line 420: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). | |
| Established | 1980 |
|---|---|
| Location | 40 Arts Circle Drive Evanston, Illinois United States  |
| Type | Art |
| Architect | Loebl Schlossman & Hackl |
The Block Museum of Art is a free public art museum located at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois. It's a great place to explore different kinds of art!
The museum started in 1980 thanks to a generous gift. Chicago art collectors Mary and Leigh B. Block donated money to Northwestern University. They wanted a special place to show art. Because of their gift, the university named the new art space the Mary and Leigh Block Gallery.
At first, the museum was planned to have only changing art shows. It didn't have its own permanent collection. But soon, the university started moving many of its art pieces to the museum. This helped the Block Museum grow its own collection. In 1998, it became the Mary and Leigh Block Museum of Art. It was recognized by the American Alliance of Museums. The museum then had a big update in 1999 and reopened in a new building in September 2000.
The Block Museum works with many 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 to different cities and countries.
Exciting Art Shows
The Block Museum often features amazing and unique art exhibitions. Here are some past highlights:
Charlotte Moorman: A Feast of Astonishments
This show, from January to July 2016, was about Charlotte Moorman. She was a musician and performance artist. She loved experimental art and helped bring new art forms to people in New York City. Moorman was known for working with artists like Nam June Paik. She was also famous for her bold performances. This exhibition showed Moorman as an important international artist in her own right. The show later traveled to other museums.
If You Remember, I’ll Remember
This exhibition ran from February to June 2017. It featured works by several modern artists. The art explored themes like love, sadness, war, and civil rights. It looked at these ideas in North America during the 1800s and 1900s.
William Blake and the Age of Aquarius
From September 2017 to March 2018, this exhibition explored William Blake. He was a British poet and artist with a unique vision. The show looked at how Blake's ideas influenced American artists. This happened after World War II and into the 1960s. Blake's art inspired many artists, musicians, and writers. These included Diane Arbus, the Doors, and Allen Ginsberg. The exhibition also explored the visual culture of the 1960s, like Woodstock.
Mummy Portraits from Roman Egypt
This exhibition, called Paint the Eyes Softer, was on display from January to April 2018. It featured ancient mummy portraits from Roman Egypt.
Goldsholl Studio: Mid-Century Experiments
Up is Down ran from September to December 2019. It focused on Goldsholl Design Associates, a Chicago design firm from the 1950s. Morton and Millie Goldsholl led the studio. They created innovative TV ads, films, and designs for big companies. This exhibition brought their important work back into the spotlight.
Caravans of Gold: Medieval Saharan Africa
This large exhibition was shown from January to July 2019. It featured 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 first time. The show explored art, culture, and trade across medieval Saharan Africa. After the Block Museum, it traveled to the Aga Khan Museum in Toronto. It then went to the National Museum of African Art in Washington, D.C.
Museum Building and Sculpture Garden
The original museum building was built in 1980. It was designed by a Chicago architecture firm. In 1989, the Block's outdoor sculpture garden was created. It features sixteen sculptures. These were gifts to Northwestern University from the Blocks and other supporters. You can find sculptures outdoors and inside public spaces around Northwestern's Arts Circle. There is also a special sculpture garden designed by John Vinci.
The museum had a big renovation in 1999. It reopened in September 2000 with a new design. This new building was designed by Dirk Lohan. It was much larger than the original. The new glass, steel, and limestone building tripled the size of the museum's galleries.
In 2015, the museum opened "The Block Spot." This is a public lobby lounge. It has Wi-Fi, comfortable seating, and study areas. It's a great place for students and visitors to relax or meet.
Museum Collections
The Block Museum has a growing permanent collection of over 6,000 artworks. This collection is especially strong in prints, drawings, and photographs. These pieces are by American and European modern artists.
The museum also has special collections. These include early computer-generated artworks from America. There are also prints by Chicago artists from the 1930s and 40s. Other collections feature documentary photos of the Midwest. There are also South African prints from the early 1990s.
Since 2016, the Block has added more diverse art forms to its collection. It now includes videos, sculptures, and installations. These are by famous international artists like Paul Chan and Carrie Mae Weems. The museum's collection is used a lot for teaching. Students and teachers from different subjects use the artworks. Scholars and researchers also use them for their studies.
You can look at 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 at The Eloise W. Martin Study Center.
Collection Highlights
- 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
- Joan Miró, Constellation, 1971
- Chuck Close, Alex/Reduction Block, 1993
- Carrie Mae Weems, Ritual and Revolution, 1998
