Santa Barbara Museum of Art facts for kids
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| Established | 1941 |
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| Location | 1130 State Street Santa Barbara, CA |
| Type | Art museum |
The Santa Barbara Museum of Art (SBMA) is a cool art museum in Santa Barbara, California. It opened in 1941.
The museum has many amazing artworks. These include both permanent collections and special shows. Its permanent collection features Asian, American, and European art. These artworks cover over 4,000 years, from ancient times to today.
Contents
History of the Museum
The Santa Barbara Museum of Art first opened its doors on June 5, 1941. The building was once a post office from 1914 to 1932. The idea for an art museum came from a local artist named Colin Campbell Cooper. He learned the post office building was for sale.
In July 1937, Cooper wrote a letter to the local newspaper. He suggested that the beautiful building should become a museum. Many people in town liked the idea. Local businesses, politicians, and art collectors supported it. Just four years after Cooper's letter, the museum was officially created.
A famous architect, David Adler, helped design the museum. He made the outside of the building simpler. He also created the first art galleries inside. These included Ludington Court and Thayer Gallery.
One of the museum's main founders was Wright S. Ludington. He was very important to its start. He stayed involved with the museum for over 50 years. He even served as its president in the early 1950s. Ludington also gave nearly 400 art pieces to the museum. These included ancient Greek and Roman items. He also donated ancient Chinese sculptures. Plus, he gave works by modern artists like Henri Matisse and Pablo Picasso.
Over the years, the museum has grown bigger. The Stanley B. McCormick Gallery was added in 1942. The Sterling and Preston Morton Galleries joined in 1963. More big additions came later. The Alice Keck Park Wing opened in 1985. The Jean and Austin H. Peck, Jr. Wing opened in 1998.
In 1991, the Ridley-Tree Education Center was created. This center focuses on art education activities. The newly updated Park Wing Entrance opened in 2006.
Starting in summer 2016, the museum began its biggest renovation ever. This project fixed important parts of the building. It made the building safer in earthquakes. It also added new storage and art care spaces. A new roof and updated systems were installed. The renovation also created more gallery space. This big project was designed by Kupiec Architects.
Today, the museum is about 60,000 square feet. It has many exhibition galleries. There is also a museum store and a café. It has a 154-seat auditorium for events. The library holds 50,000 books about art. There is also a Family Resource Center. This center offers fun, hands-on activities for families.
In 2023, Amada Cruz became the new Director and CEO of the museum. She took over from Larry J. Feinberg. Soon after she started, Amada Cruz made some changes. She decided to change the plans for a major art show. This was done to make the museum "more inclusive." This means showing art that reflects the many different people in Santa Barbara County.
What You Can See: Permanent Collection
The SBMA's permanent collection has over 27,000 artworks. These include paintings, sculpture, prints, drawings, photographs, and ceramics. You can also see glass, jades, and textiles. These artworks show the history of art from Asia, Europe, and the Americas. They cover more than 5,000 years of human history.
Some special parts of the collection include:
- Art from 19th-century France. This includes Impressionism and Post-Impressionism.
- American art from the 19th and 20th centuries.
- Art by California artists from the 20th and 21st centuries.
- Contemporary photography from China, Japan, and Korea.
- Buddhist art from China, Japan, Tibet, and India.
Special Art Shows: Exhibitions
The SBMA often has special art shows. These shows feature art from the past. You might see works by famous artists like Degas, Leonardo, Picasso, and Van Gogh. The museum also shows art by living artists. These include artists like Kehinde Wiley and Peter Halley.
Images for kids
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The outside of the Santa Barbara Museum of Art.
See also
In Spanish: Museo de Arte de Santa Bárbara para niños
