Newcomb Art Museum facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Newcomb Art Museum
of Tulane University

Established	1996 (1996)
Location	Tulane University, New Orleans
Type	Art Museum
Public transit access	Tulane University/Audubon Park and Zoo stop

The Newcomb Art Museum of Tulane University is a cool art museum found at Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana. It's famous for its amazing collection of Newcomb Pottery and other beautiful crafts. These items were made at Newcomb College a long time ago. The museum also takes care of the university's art collections. Since 2014, the museum has focused on shows and programs that explore art connected to society. They also encourage talking about community ideas and making positive changes.

History of the Museum

How Newcomb College Started

In 1886, H. Sophie Newcomb Memorial College was created by Josephine Louise Newcomb. She started it to honor her daughter, Sophie. Newcomb College was the first college in the country just for women. It taught design skills for making decorative arts.

Protecting the College's Future

Mrs. Newcomb set up a special fund, called an endowment, for the college. This fund was meant to help the women's college forever. In the 1970s, Tulane University faced tough times and wanted to use this money for the whole university. Later, in the 1980s, there was a plan to close Newcomb College and make it part of Tulane.

A Museum is Born

During the college's 100-year celebration in 1986, some graduates worked to protect the original purpose of the fund. They wanted to keep Newcomb College strong. The leaders of Tulane University agreed to keep Newcomb College open. They also set up a group to manage the Newcomb fund.

Around this time, Mignon Faget, a jewelry artist from New Orleans, had a great idea. She suggested creating an art museum. This museum would keep the history of Newcomb's art program alive. It would also help make sure Newcomb College would last. In the early 1990s, a grant from Joyce Frank Menschel, another Newcomb graduate, helped make this museum possible.

Opening the Gallery

In 1996, the Newcomb Art Gallery officially opened. The Newcomb Art Department added a new space for art shows. This space was about 3,600 square feet. It was made to show modern and historical art to the Tulane and New Orleans communities. The gallery became its own part of the School of Liberal Arts.

After Hurricane Katrina

In 2005, Hurricane Katrina caused four feet of water to flood the gallery's offices. Luckily, most of the art was not badly damaged. After the hurricane, Tulane closed Newcomb College. The school's special fund was then used for other things. In 2010, the gallery received an award from the Arts Council of New Orleans.

Becoming a Museum

In 2012, the gallery's management changed. It moved under the Office of the Provost at Tulane University. In July 2014, Mónica Ramírez-Montagut became the new director. She led a big change for the institution over the next year.

In July 2015, the Newcomb Art Gallery officially changed its name. It became the Newcomb Art Museum of Tulane University. This change helped people know it was a place that held art collections. It also showed it was different from a store that sells art. Miriam Taylor Fair was the interim director from July 2020 to August 2021. She helped the museum close and reopen during the COVID-19 pandemic. Maurita N. Poole became the director in August 2021.

Exhibitions and Programs

The museum usually has about four art shows each year. These shows encourage new ideas and teamwork between different subjects. The museum has shown art by famous artists like Mickalene Thomas, Pat Steir, KAWS, and Joan Mitchell. They also feature artists connected to Newcomb, such as Mark Rothko and Ida Kohlmeyer. The museum often shows art by women artists, honoring Newcomb College's history. In 2003, the museum asked artist Carrie Mae Weems to create a new work. This became known as her "Louisiana Project."

The exhibitions also include fun learning programs. These can be talks, movie nights, family art days led by artists, and public tours. They also have live performances and art demonstrations. The museum often works with other groups too.

Art Collections

The Newcomb Pottery Building around 1905.

Newcomb Arts and Crafts

The museum has the world's largest collection of Newcomb arts and crafts. These were made at Newcomb College from 1895 to 1940. The collection includes many beautiful pieces of Newcomb pottery. It also has other items from the Arts & Crafts Movement. These include embroidery, bound books, and metalwork. Important pieces by artists like Sadie Irvine, Harriet Coulter Joor, and Marie de Hoa LeBlanc are in the museum.

Tiffany Glass Windows

A beautiful stained-glass window called "Resurrection" by Tiffany and Company, made around 1895.

The Tulane University campus has several special stained-glass windows. These were designed by Louis Comfort Tiffany. Josephine Louise Newcomb, who started Newcomb College, and her friend Frank Walter Callender ordered most of these windows. They were made between 1894 and 1896 for a chapel at Newcomb's old campus. Later, two large stained-glass sets were moved to the museum's entrance. Other Tiffany windows are in the Myra Clare Rogers Memorial Chapel and Tilton Memorial Hall.

Other Artworks

Hippolyte Sebron's painting "Steamboats in New Orleans," from 1853.

The museum also manages a collection of drawings, watercolors, paintings, and sculptures. These are by artists connected to Newcomb College, like Angela Gregory and Ida Kohlmeyer. The university's teaching collection also has art from Louisiana. This includes portraits, classical sculptures, and modern photos. Some famous artists in this collection are Hippolyte Sebron, John James Audubon, Andy Warhol, and Garry Winogrand.

See also