El Paso Museum of Art: a cultural resources for the community
Founded in 1959, the El Paso Museum of Art is home to more than 5,000 works of art including European Art from 12th-18th century, contemporary, Spanish Viceroyal and American art from the early 19th and 20th century. Operating as a major cultural and educational resource, the museum offers a wide range of rotating exhibits, film screenings, lectures, concerts and many other educational programs.
Take a tour through the museum’s permanent and rotating exhibits or schedule a guided tour for your group. The permanent collection of 12th-18th century European art includes paintings and sculptures from Bernardo Bellotto, Canaletto, Giovanni di Paolo and more. Then, the Spanish Viceroyal collection offers a reflection on the Spanish Empire in the new world and includes works on canvas, copper and tin—many of which were used in devotional religious practices.
Other collections include Works on Paper—2,500 pieces of art from prints, drawings, water colors, posters, photographs and books from the 16th-20th centuries. There is also an expansive contemporary collection reflecting through sculptures the importance of southwestern art local regions. Finally, the American art collection is home to early settlement art from the 19th-20th century with an emphasis on art of the southwest including Taos, El Paso and Santa Fe artists.
Hands-on learning abounds at the El Paso Museum of Art—offering the community an opportunity to enjoy and explore the world of art through a year-round schedule of classes for all ages including drawing, painting, pottery, printmaking and more. The classes generally focus on artwork in the museum’s collections and exhibits. There is a summer art camp offered for children with instruction that includes drawing, painting, creative writing, jewelry making, beading, weaving and more. Most classes and camp sessions range from $50-$80 per week, visit the museum website for a complete list of dates, times and pricing for each class.
The shiniest exhibit currently on display at the museum is called Bedazzled: 5,000 years of Jewelry. This exhibit features 150 pieces of jewelry including an ancient Roman snake bracelet, a Chinese headdress and a Tiffany & Co. diamond necklace. Through this exhibit, visitors will learn about the evolution of jewelry making techniques, materials and uses throughout history and across cultures. There is also a wide collection of finger rings—learn the roles that rings have held throughout history including in uses of marriage, death, power and faith. This special exhibit has an admission fee of $10 for adults and $5 for children, ages 12 and under.
For a complete listing of current and future exhibitions on display visit the El Paso Museum of Art website for more details. While admission to the museum is free, some of the special exhibits have separate entrance fees. Before you leave, be sure to stop by the museum store where you’ll find a wide variety of pottery, glass work, books, jewelry and other artistic merchandise.
Posted by Jennifer Pruett
