Museum of Contemporary Craft facts for kids
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| Established | 1937 |
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| Dissolved | 28 February 2016 |
| Location | Portland, Oregon, United States |
| Type | private: art |
The Museum of Contemporary Craft was a special place in Portland, Oregon. It was the oldest museum of its kind on the West Coast of the United States. The museum closed its doors in 2016.
It was located in downtown Portland's Pearl District. The museum's main goal was to help people understand and enjoy craft. Craft means making things by hand, like pottery, textiles, or jewelry.
Contents
History of the Museum
How the Museum Started
Lydia Herrick Hodge started the Museum in 1937. She had help from many women volunteers. They also used materials given by the Works Progress Administration (WPA). The WPA was a government program that helped people find jobs during the Great Depression.
The museum building first opened in 1938. It was first called the Oregon Ceramic Studio. Lydia Herrick Hodge was the director until she passed away in 1960.
Name Changes Over Time
In 1964, Ken Shores became the first paid director. He changed the name in 1965 to the Contemporary Crafts Gallery. This new name showed that the museum displayed more than just ceramics.
In 2002, it became known as the Contemporary Crafts Museum & Gallery. Then, in 2007, it changed its name one last time to the Museum of Contemporary Craft.
The museum had a collection of over 1,200 objects. These objects showed how craft changed over 70 years. They also showed the important role of the Pacific Northwest region in this art form.
Working with PNCA
In 2009, the Museum of Contemporary Craft joined with the Pacific Northwest College of Art (PNCA). This made them one of the biggest art organizations in Oregon.
Why the Museum Closed
In February 2016, PNCA announced that the museum would close. The museum's collection was moved to a new art center at PNCA. This new center is called the Center for Contemporary Art and Culture.
Museum Locations
First Home of the Museum
The Museum of Contemporary Craft's first home was at 3934 SW Corbett Avenue. It stayed there for 70 years. The building was designed in the Art Deco style. This style was popular in the 1920s and 1930s.
The architect who designed it was Ellis Lawrence. He was also the first dean of the University of Oregon School of Architecture and Allied Arts. The building was updated several times. In 1998, the Marlene Gable Gallery was added. This new part of the building held the museum's permanent collection.
Moving to a New Spot
In 2005, the museum decided to move. In July 2007, it moved to 724 NW Davis Street. This new spot was in the Historic DeSoto Building. It was also near Portland's North Park Blocks.
For the grand opening at this new location, a local artist named Tom Cramer painted a special car. The new location brought more visitors to the museum. It also hosted many art shows featuring artists from around the world.
