USC Pacific Asia Museum facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
|
|
USC Pacific Asia Museum
|
|
USC Pacific Asia Museum, exterior.
|
|
| Location | 46 N. Los Robles Ave Pasadena, California |
|---|---|
| Built | 1924 |
| Architect | Marston, Van Pelt & Maybury |
| NRHP reference No. | 77000300 |
| Added to NRHP | July 21, 1977 |
The USC Pacific Asia Museum is a special place in Pasadena, California. It is a museum dedicated to Asian art and art from the Pacific Islands. You can find it at 46 N. Los Robles Avenue.
The museum first opened in 1971. It was started by the Pacificulture Foundation. They bought a building called "The Grace Nicholson Treasure House of Oriental Art." This building was originally owned by Grace Nicholson. She was a collector who loved art from Native American cultures and later, from Asia. She gave her beautiful building to the city of Pasadena in 1943 for art and cultural events.
Today, the museum holds about 15,000 amazing art pieces. These items come from all over Asia and the Pacific Islands. In 2013, the museum became part of the University of Southern California. The building was closed for a while in 2016 for important updates to make it safer. It reopened in December 2017.
The museum building itself is very interesting. It was built in 1926. The architects, Marston, Van Pelt & Maybury, designed it to look like a traditional Chinese imperial palace. It has a lovely central courtyard with a garden, a small pool, and beautiful carvings. This building is so special that it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Contents
Exploring the Museum's Art Collections
The USC Pacific Asia Museum has many different galleries. Each gallery shows art from a specific region or type.
Art from Across Asia and the Pacific
- The Art of Pacific Asia
- Japanese Art
- Snukal Ceramics
- Journeys: The Silk Road
- South and Southeast Asian Art
- Himalayan Art
- Korean Art
Highlights of the Museum's Exhibits
The museum has a huge collection of over 15,000 items. These pieces come from all over Asia and the Pacific Islands. They show art created over 5,000 years!
One very important part of the collection is the "Harari Collection." This collection features Japanese paintings and drawings. These artworks are from the Edo period (1600-1868) and the Meiji era (1868-1912). It is one of the biggest collections of Japanese folk paintings outside of Japan.
The museum also features unique exhibits that combine different art styles. For example, some exhibits have explored how Chinese calligraphy and American graffiti can mix.
Past Special Exhibitions
- China Modern: Designing Popular Culture 1910-1970 (August 6, 2010 - February 6, 2011)
- Japan in Blue and White (March 25, 2010 - March 6, 2011)
- "Following the box" - This exhibit was inspired by old photographs taken in India during World War II (September 2019 - January 2020).
- In 2024, the museum showed "Another Beautiful Country." This exhibit featured art by Chinese American artists. Dr. Jenny Lin, a professor at the University of Southern California, organized this show.
California Historical Landmark
The USC Pacific Asia Museum is recognized as California Historical Landmark NO. 988. A special marker at the site tells us more about its history:
- NO. 988 PACIFIC ASIA MUSEUM (GRACE NICHOLSON'S TREASURE HOUSE OF ORIENTAL AND WESTERN ART) - Grace Nicholson was a famous collector. She knew a lot about American Indian and Asian Art. She helped design her gallery and museum, which was finished in 1929. People say it's a great example of 1920s architecture. It's also special because it uses Chinese decorations.
See also
- Chinese garden - This relates to the museum's courtyard design.
