Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art

Students at the University of Oregon have a unique resource within walking distance. The Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art not only showcases local and historical art, but it doubles as an event center for the community. The JSMA is the only academic museum accredited by the American Alliance of Museums. University of Oregon houses this art museum on campus that holds itself to two sets of responsibilities: to the school and the community. The JSMA has a wide variety of collections and contributors, including those from around the world and on campus. They serve as an important component of the cultural exploration through art appreciation and community events. The JSMA is always hosting events that cater to many different types of people and levels of art education.

The JSMA serves as a place for discovery and education focused on art expression through dialogue between cultures, time and style. The role they play on campus is a part of the university experience in many ways. Whether it is visiting the Asian collection for deeper understanding, a walk through the European collection assigned for a course, or an evening at a program learning about another culture.

Background

The JSMA is rooted very deeply at the UO beginning with its opening to the public in 1933. The actual building itself was designed by UO dean of architecture at the time, Ellis F. Lawrence. The museum was created to hold and display the Murray Warner Collection of Oriental Art, donated by Gertrude Bass Warner in memory of her late husband. The 3,700 pieces include work from and influenced by Chinese and Japanese art. It has grown since then to include cultures such as Korean, Mongolian, Cambodian, Russian, British and, American.

After renovating in the early 2000’s, the museum reopened in 2005 and renamed itself to recognize its major donor, Jordan Schnitzer.

The galleries today have significantly increased in size and have many educational and technological updates. Other than hanging displays, the facility now includes a hands-on interactive discovery gallery and an art-making studio located at the front of the building. Lecture halls on the lower floors provide a site to host events and educational lectures.

Galleries and Collections

Danielle Knapp, associate curator in charge of the McKash Collection at the JSMA, provides insight into how the museum functions as a learning device for students and community members. She says the JSMA is dedicated to the education and understanding of cultures and time through art. No material is withheld from the publics’ experience, she adds. Art that contains violence or nudity not suitable for children are labeled with sign, but are not edited for its audience. Knapp says they keep these pieces because they are important for the dialogue in that collection.

When the JSMA is introduced with a new project, they discuss how that exhibition can appeal to art students, international students, art scholars and historians, as well as people off campus. The presentation attempts to serve as many people as it can, either with translations or technological devices and expand their viewer reach.

Because the museum is used as a teaching tool for students and community members, it requires diverse collections and galleries. Galleries are created in many ways. The JSMA records the history of art in the Pacific North West simply by accumulating pieces over time. Curators from the museum travel to other gallery shows to stay updated on the current trends and what they want to be involved in the future.

Faculty shows are hosted every three to four years in order to show art from the professors and assistants at the University of Oregon. This opportunity allows students to see art by the people who are teaching them in person, or without having to travel.

The JSMA is currently growing their collections towards Latin American art and new media. The new media art is viewed by videos and sound pieces that can stand alone or accompany work in a gallery. The curators attend to detail and make sure they synthesize well and are not distracting to a viewing of another piece.

The museum builds galleries influenced by upcoming curriculum so students can see what they are learning firsthand. Many Art and History major professors utilize the JSMA by assigning coursework that must be completed by viewing galleries at the museum. One of the UO’s Art History courses, assigned students to find a certain piece and write a reflection on it and how it correlates with the themes they were learning in class.

Community

One of the ways the museum has reached out to the Latin community is by hosting the Dia de los Muertos festival this year. Museum communications manager Debbie William Smith is responsible for planning and coordinating events. The Day of the Dead festival was a huge success this year, according to Knapp, having a full crowd the first two nights and the additional two nights they included this year. The Day of the Dead festival was free for all community members and had many activities to participate in other than admiring the art. The band, Quanta Texos, played for an audience in one of the lecture halls while clay artist, Martin Luna, taught children and other people how to make clay skulls in the studio. Between the band and the gallery, a handmade alter, called an offrenda, was lit with candles in celebration. The gallery contained art from a Mexican political artist, Jose Posada. This festival was a success in engaging in the Latino community, Knapp said.

Participating National Artists/ Faculty

Sylvan Lionni was one of the artists featured in the UO faculty show last year. Lionni, contributed a video to the show and is currently working on a collection for a new exhibit in New York. His distinct style and point of view have been shown around the world. His new pieces feature screen printing and was inspired by images created by human hands across a layer of dust on metal. Layers of scratches and brush-marks from handle on the aluminum create a soft and abstract piece of art. The colors are delicate, the saturation is light, and the image is merely an impression. The theme in his artwork is to have as little an influence on the transition from inspiration to finished product. Lionni said he likes to create paintings of things that are not worthy of being a piece of art.

His art has changed many times over the years because his ideas change. The possibility of what he can do changes and what he is inspired by is always being redefined. There is even diversity within his life collection. Lionni believes being a painter is like being a pioneer of the art world, always searching for something new.

“One of the jobs of painting is to reinvent painting. That’s what every painter is supposed to do, to reinvent what a painting can be,” said Lionni.

Lionni is just one of the participants of the JSMA galleries. Other than artists from around the world, the curators reach out to students to show work. In the past there have been galleries of artwork from student athletes and elementary students in Eugene.

The Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art educates and includes the University of Oregon and Eugene community with its diverse collections. New galleries rotate throughout the year to attract different people and art enthusiasts. Their permanent collection grows and documents the art history of the Pacific Northwest’s evolution. The JSMA engages students and community members with festivals, events, and special programs in order to teach about the importance of art and culture appreciation.

Sources: Online Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art, “Through Her Lens” Exhibition pamphlet, Danielle Knapp interview, Debbie Williamson-Smith interview, Sylvan Lionni interview