As we open our newest exhibition on the Museum's permanent collection- Looking Forward: New Works and New Directions for the Permanent Collection, I cannot help but think about the Art of Collecting. We all collect things in our own way- whether it is photographs of loved ones, coffee cups, stamps, shoes, furniture, etc. I collected erasers when I was a child and then postcards when a teenager. Today, I collect recipes, jam bands, indie movies, and Buffy comics.
Tell us about what you collect by commenting below....
I am struck by all of the great programs that the Museum has to offer in an effort to share its expertise about art collecting with the public. The Museum's permanent collection is its greatest asset. It gives the Museum boundaries; it guides its focus in not only acquiring works of art so that it can be a responsible art steward to the community, but also to provide guidance in its educational, programming, research, development, etc. endeavors (pretty much everything). In this way, the Museum can become (and is) a very important, interesting, and enlightening resource for all of us to use.
Explore all that the Museum has to give in order to educate you about its collection and collecting in general! Now is a great time to do so.
1. Two great exhibitions that traverse the Museum's Permanent Collection and make it digestible for you!
Looking Back: Celebrating 60 Years of Collecting at the Asheville Art Museum
Looking Forward: New Works and New Directions for the Permanent Collection
2. Learn about these exhibitions with personal tours with our Curatorial or Education Staff!
Art Break, Looking Forward: New Works and New Directions for the Permanent Collection- 12-1pm- September 25th
Art Break, Looking Forward and Looking Back — Together- 12-1pm- November 6th
3. Join our NEW monthly book discussions as we read and discuss books that relate to artwork in our galleries. Fall is all about collecting!
I Bought Andy Warhol, Richard Polsky- October 13th
Bluebeard: A Novel, Kurt Vonnegut- November 10th
Collections of Nothing, William Davies King- December 8th
4. Watch a film!
Who the #$%! is Jackson Pollock? 2pm September 26 &27 Herb and Dorothy-7pm October 29- Fine Arts Theatre, Downtown Asheville
The Collector: Allan Stone's Life in Art- February 2010
5. Join one of the Collectors Groups
The Collectors Circle
Art NouVeaux
Image- Art NouVeaux at Tim Barnwell's studio- look at the rest on myspace http://www.myspace.com/ashevilleartmuseum
WHAT DO YOU COLLECT? COMMENT BELOW.
8 comments:
I collect Mexican chess sets. I only have two but I'm always looking for more.
It's interesting what some people call collecting others might call hoarding... I think I might be a "hoarder" but i try to keep it contained. I have small bug collection, butterflies, beetles and a perfectly untouched dragonfly. I have a cobalt blue bottle collection and when I lived in Indiana, I had a mirror collection (big ones) but i ran out of space... I keep a scrap book of pictures/clipping/quotes or anything that catches my eye and that can be glued down.
My Grandma collects elephants. She has over 1000 and they all point east cause it's lucky...
I collect books, photos from travels, art (one piece at a time), and jewelry...
In addition to, of course, NC mountain art I collect aluminum. No, not my empty beer cans. Hand forged housewares which became popular during World War II when silver was too precious to waste in bowls, trays, etc. I have about 60 pieces ranging from a 30s plate which was a gift to my grandmother to a 2006 tray from Wendall August, one of the few forges still producing. I was attracted to it for 3 reasons: (1) the personal connection - both grandmothers had several pieces and used them regularly (2) the workmanship can be wonderful (3) I can "feel" the hands which crafted them when I touch the pieces.
I believe everyone should collect something handmade.It keeps us connected and learning about the wonderful things people can create.
I collect ceramics- hardly unique in Asheville, but certainly a good place to start! Back in England I was a big fan of Hans Coper and Lucy Rie. I have a few european pieces, but the majority of my collection belongs to this region. I have a preference for non-functional, sculptural stone-fired work.
I collect art, gemstones and marbles. I also collect volunteers and great friends!
For me "collect" is a verb to be used in past tense. I recently moved to Asheville and am enjoying the spacious, uncluttered feel of an empty house. What did I collect? Amber and lapis lazuli jewelry. Turkish (and some other) carpets. I prefer geometric tribal designs to the courtly floral patterns. I started collecting masks after a trip to Guatemala. I collect language books from Turkish to Mayan. And plays. Oh yes, one collection that is on going: CDs, mostly classical and nearly all used. I'm really fond of discovering beautiful music by obscure composers:
Hamilton Harty's Irish Symphony, Finsi's Echolog, Hummel Piano Trios, Kuhlau's Elf King overture, and of course, beautiful works by 19th century women: Amy Beach, Clara Schumann, and Fanny Mendelsohn.
I collect small objects and paper ephemera to be used in assemblages and collages. These items are tucked away here and there, waiting for the right moment to make their star appearance in a work of art. For a interesting visual directory to this sort of collecting, see _Art Making, Collections and Obsessions_ by Lynne Perrella.
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