Fall proves itself a productive time for the Friends of the Museum, a group that raises money to support the Museum and serves as a liaison between the university and statewide community that the Museum and Historic Houses serve.
Last April’s trip to Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art was such a success that Laura Antonow organized a second one for late September, with a few detours to study architecture on the way to and from Bentonville, Arkansas. Before marveling at the architecture of Crystal Bridges itself, participants toured the headquarters of Heifer International in Little Rock, a platinum LEED certified green building. After visiting the Moshe Safdie-designed museum, they were able to see two open-air chapels by renowned architect Fay Jones on the way back to Oxford.
A highlight of the fall, Dr. John Wilmerding’s visit as part of the Conversations series drew crowds to the Lyric to hear him speak on developing the art collection for the CrystalBridges museum.
The talk, entitled Building a New Museum: Collecting American Art for the Crystal Bridges Museum, focused on his contributions as acquisitions and programming advisor to Alice Walton. Dr. Wilmerding is the Sarofim Professor of American Art, emeritus, at Princeton University and serves as trustee on many prestigious museum boards.
During the summer and fall, members of the Friends Board were busy fundraising and planning our 2nd Annual Harvest Supper, staged October 10 on the grounds of Rowan Oak. On the heels of the Annual Membership Party at the Museum, guests gathered beneath the stars, lights strung between trees, and falling leaves for divine food by Woodson Ridge Farms, music by Shannon McNally, and revelry by all who attended. All money generated by the event supports educational programs, outreach, exhibitions and new acquisitions for the Museum and Historic Houses.
Tom Corbin founded Corbin Bronze in 1986 when he left the advertising industry to pursue a career in art. The University Museum will display recent works by Corbin beginning Spring 2014 through Summer 2014. While the female figure is Corbin’s primary subject of expression, intriguing visual elements will include a tricycle, cupcake and diving board. A playful approach to the tradition of bronze sculpture will unveil “the unexpected” in this show featuring a selection of his signature elongated bronze sculptures and furniture as well as paintings.
he Museum’s 2,000-piece David M. Robinson Collection of Greek and Roman artifacts—the largest collection of its kind held by a university museum in the South—stands out for its significance.
A museum visit can have a truly profound impact on a young learner’s view of the world,art, and history.At the University Museum, our educational programming is designed to transport audiences to ancient civilizations, introduce viewers of all ages to art, and create memorable experiences. In the past year, the Museum’s programs have expanded and developed, offering new creative opportunities for children as young as the age of two exploring the galleries with their parents or grandparents in our Mini Masters program.
A native of Tennessee, Hamlett Dobbins has spent most of his life in Memphis. He received his BFA from the University of Memphis in 1993 and went on to receive his MA and MFA from the University of Iowa. After completing his graduate studies, Dobbins moved to Memphis where he worked as a curator for Delta Axis @ Marshall Arts while teaching at the University of Memphis, University of Mississippi, and at Memphis College of Art. In 2000, he received a fellowship for a residency at the Vermont Studio Center in Johnson, Vermont, as well as a three-month residency at the Bemis Center for Contemporary Art in Omaha, Nebraska. Since 2001, Dobbins has worked at Rhodes College as an instructor and as the director for the Clough-Hanson Gallery where he has curated shows with Thomas Nozkowski, Roe Ethridge, Jon Haddock, Radcliffe Bailey, and Nikki S. Lee. This year Dobbins is a fellow at the American Academy in Rome.
“The University Museum is extraordinarily pleased and proud to be the presenting venue for Recollecting 1980 – 2013,” said Museum Director Robert Saarnio. “With every passing day we watched in a state of growing awe as Ron has installed these intelligent, playful, and dramatic works. We encourage our entire community to help us celebrate the career of this leading figure in contemporary American ceramic arts.”
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