Art Museum of South Texas explained

Art Museum of South Texas
Established:1936
Location:1902 N Shoreline
Corpus Christi, TX 78401 United States
Coordinates:27.8104°N -97.393°W
Type:Art Museum
Director:Sara Sells Morgan

The Art Museum of South Texas, located in Corpus Christi, Texas, is an art museum which was established in 1936.

History

In 1936, the Centennial Museum was opened by the city of Corpus Christi. The museum was then given to two art organizations by the city in 1945, who renamed it the Art Museum of South Texas. After the museum ran out of space in the 1960s, a movement began to fund and construct a new building. Designed by American architect Philip Johnson, the new building broke ground in 1970 and opened to the public two years later. In 1995, the state's legislature affiliated the art museum with Texas A&M University Corpus Christi. In October 2006, the museum nearly doubled its space with opening of the William B. and Maureen Miller wing.[1] [2] On July 25, 2020, Hurricane Hanna’s storm surge flooded the museum's barge dock, however, no artwork was damaged.[3]

Collection

The Art Museum of South Texas is currently home to more than 2,022 works of art. Most art originates from the Americas, namely Texas. Most of the Museum's collection lie in the areas of paintings, photographs, sculptures, ceramics, glass, crafts, works of art on paper, and large installation pieces.[4]

Architecture

The main building, which opened in 1972, was designed by renowned architect Philip Johnson, who is regarded as one of the founders of postmodern architecture.[5] In the 1960s, two patrons of the museum, Patsy and Edwin Singer traveled to New York City to meet with Johnson and ask him to design a building for the new museum. After procuring the $1 million that Johnson requested, he agreed to their request. The Art Museum of South Texas is often identified as one of Johnson’s finest small public buildings and is an early example of postmodern architecture in the United States.[6]

In 1997, the museum board contacted the famed Mexican architect Ricardo Legorreta, who had recently designed the new building for the main branch of the San Antonio Public Library. Legorreta was hired in 1998 to design a building that would complement the original Philip Johnson-designed building. In 2006, the new expansion opened, which doubled the size of the museum.[7]

Community events

The museum hosts numerous community outreach programs throughout the year, including:

Camps

Management

The Centennial Museum was operated by the city of Corpus Christi until 1945 when its ownership was given to the South Texas Art League and the Corpus Christi Guild. At an unknown time, William G. Otto became the director of the art museum until he retired in 2006. In October 2007, Joe Schenk took his position. In June 2019, Schenk then retired with Sara Sells Morgan becoming the director in December of that same year.[1]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: HISTORY. Art Museum of South Texas. December 10, 2020.
  2. Web site:
    1. TBT: Art Museum of South Texas became crown jewel on Corpus Christi bayfront in 1972
    . Allison Ehrlich. Caller Times. caller.com. August 19, 2020. December 10, 2020.
  3. Web site: Hanna leaves her mark on art museum. Chelsea Torres. Kris 6 News. kristv.com. July 26, 2020. December 10, 2020.
  4. Web site: Art Museum of South Texas Online Collections Database. Art Museum of South Texas. December 10, 2020.
  5. Web site: The life and Architectural Career of Philip Johnson. archisoup.com. July 12, 2022.
  6. Web site: Architecture. Art Museum of South Texas. July 12, 2022.
  7. Web site: Architecture. Art Museum of South Texas. July 12, 2022.
  8. Web site: Kids and Family Programs. Art Museum of South Texas. December 10, 2020.

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