Museum offers variety

Photo by: Will Gentry

 

For students that get tired with the normal Edmond things to do, a quick visit to the Oklahoma City Museum of Art could resolve that issue.

The Oklahoma City Museum of Art offers visitors a chance to look at American, European, post-war and contemporary art as well as various drawings and prints, photography and the Dale Chihuly Illuminations glass collection, which is the most popular exhibit.

College students can visit the museum at a discounted price of $10 with a valid student ID.

“I just feel like [the museum] is really assessable for multiple demographics,” senior Jessica Williams said. “It’s not exclusive to older rich people or art gurus.”

Upon walking into the museum, guests have their first look at Chihuly’s glass art in the form of the 55-foot Eleanor Blake Kirkpatrick Memorial Tower in the museum’s atrium.

“I remember really liking the glass tower in the entryway of the museum,” junior Elizabeth Elliott said.

Currently the museum is displaying a traveling exhibition entitled “Photorealism Revisited.” The temporary exhibition opened on Jan. 24 and will stay in the museum through April 21.

Photorealism reached its peak as a type of modern art movement in the 1970s.

This American art form typically focuses on cities, roadside restaurants or diners and types of transportation.

“With the photorealism style, you are able to get multiple perceptions throughout the painting, so each piece really stands on its own,” Williams said. “I can’t think of anything I didn’t like about it.”

The museum’s permanent collections include American, European and post-war and contemporary art.

“My favorite part of the museum is the second floor with art from a variety of time periods,” Williams said. “It’s always fun to see what’s new there since they update that floor every so often.”

The American art collection includes 28 pieces donated by the Works Progress Administration in 1942. The European art collection consists of pieces from the Baroque era and the early 20th century.

“My favorite room was the modern art room,” Elliott said. “I like the way it was set up. I really enjoy modern art just because I like bright colors and abstract things. It’s cool to see how people can make all different kinds of art from things that seem so random.”

The room of modern art includes paintings and sculptures created from 1945 to the present.

“I think my favorite part of the museum besides the glass exhibit is probably the modern art,” sophomore Kyle Ashpole said. “They just take really unique things and are able to make it into art.”

According to Williams, the most popular exhibit is the Dale Chihuly Glass collection. The museum purchased the exhibition in 2004.

“I think the Chihuly collection is probably what drives a lot of traffic to the art museum, especially for people that aren’t from Oklahoma,” Williams said.

The museum has displayed works from Dale Chihuly over the past three decades.

“One of the coolest parts of the glass collection is walking underneath a tunnel-like thing with all the glass works above you,” Elliott said. “The glass is so pretty just because of all the colors.”

Williams said that everyone can admire the Chihuly artwork.

“I feel like the Chihuly exhibit can be over-hyped,” Williams said. “However, it does have its appeal in its colors and designs, which are universally appealing. I think it’s a good starting point for people to come see if they aren’t really that into art.”

Ashpole said he really enjoys the Chihuly exhibit.

“It’s really impressive because it looks really difficult to make,” Ashpole said. “I would really like to be able to make a piece of blown art sometime.”

Williams said she would choose going to the Oklahoma City Museum of Art over a trip to the movies.

“It’s something to do besides going to see a movie or going out to eat,” Williams said. “It’s a more interactive experience. You can bring someone there on a date, and it can be more discussion provoking.”

Ashpole said he would recommend college students taking a visit to the museum.

“I would recommend it because it’s not a normal thing to do,” Ashpole said. “The art museum is just something out of the ordinary.”

The Museum of Art is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Thursday from 10 a.m.-9 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m.