The museum commences its 25th anniversary celebration with an exhibit culled
from the Museum's Permanent Collection, A Gift for the Generations.
From the beginning the founders of the art museum wanted the museum to have
a permanent collection. Working with the director, the founders also realized
that the museum has limited resources and thus a Collections Policy was developed,
which in effect permits the museum to collect anything of quality, but which
limited purchases to certain very focused areas. These focus areas include
the work of Texas artists, with emphasis on works created since 1945; contemporary
American crafts, specifically ceramics, and to a lesser extent fiber; Mexican
and Mexican-American Art; and American painting and sculpture of all eras.
Even with limited resources the museum's collection has grown very rapidly,
especially the ceramics, which is regarded as a distinguished collection and
has been borrowed by eight other museums. The museum's developing collection
already bears witness to the rich diversity and the dynamic nature of American
art created in clay. By inaugurating and hosting the San Angelo National
Ceramic Competition the museum has been able to develop an outstanding
collection of North American ceramic art form the late twentieth century forward.
In 1992 a Museum Collectors Society was formed to help the museum in making
its purchases and over 60 acquisitions have been made with this assistance.
The ceramic competition also enabled the museum to gain recognition nationwide
and paved the way for some outstanding gifts to the museum. Garth Clark, who
operates one of the most important galleries in the nation, donated seventeen
works to the museum in 1999. This past December he contacted the museum again
with the offer of another gift, an incredible cup collection, which is now
on display for the first time in our museum. Because of another wonderful
gift, the museum's interest in the ceramic arts has broadened into the work
of other cultures. In 2000, George Weldon Sheffield, bequeathed his Oriental
ceramic collection to the museum.
The museum's collection has been growing rapidly in other directions as well. Through the gift of a generous donor, in 1999 we were able to purchase a number of very important works by distinguished Texas artists from a private collection. In 2003 our collection of contemporary Texas art expanded again with the gift of 17 works from Dallas collectors Nona and Richard Barrett via the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. Other gifts of work by Texas artists have been coming into the museum as well, including the fiber art of Lloyd Walton Blanks, the paintings of Norma Preston, works by San Angelo artist Margaret Stites, and drawings and paintings of Houston artist Charles Schorre. Most recently the museum was given an incredible gift of over 100 objects of Mexican colonial religious art from San Antonio art dealer Fred Pottinger.
The San Angelo Museum of Fine Arts now has a permanent collection of 303 objects and a study collection of 95 objects. Though still a small collection compared to older and larger institutions, it is a collection that continues to expand in number and scope each year. It remains a growing cultural treasure that belongs to all the people of Texas --- it is indeed a gift for the generations.
All exhibitions will be on display at the museum through April 9, 2006. The
museum's regular operating hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday
and 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $2 for adults and $1 for senior citizens.
ASU and SAISD students are admitted free as well as museum members and active
military personnel.
Top left, Ruth Wilson, Natasha F. Whittage, Raku clay, handbuilt.
Museum purchase with funds provided by the SAMFA Collector's Society. 2003.7
San Angelo Museum
of Fine Arts
One Love Street
San Angelo, Texas 76903
Fax: (325) 658 - 6800
Phone: (325) 653 -
3333
e-mail:
museum@samfa.org