University of Michigan - Museum of Art
Introduction
Text-to-speech Audio
Images
Outside the Alumni Memorial Hall, the original home to UMMA, with its new modern addition in the background
The original home of UMMA, the Alumni Memorial Hall is to the right while the new, modern facility addition is to the left
The painted steel sculpture "Orion" stands on the front lawn of UMMA
The Beaux-Arts style Alumni Memorial Hall, not long after it was completed in 1910
Inside the UMMA gallery space long ago
Collections storage in 1966 at UMMA as preparations are made for moving some works of art
The atrium in the hall holds performing arts events
View of the "Vertical Gallery" in the new Frankel wing
Inside the new Frankel wing
Open storage cases with a study table
UMMA has a significant collection of African art, especially from the Congo/Zaire
Arial view of the museum
Backstory and Context
Text-to-speech Audio
UMMA has about 19,000 objects in its collection, with an especially strong collection of Asian and Central African art. The Asian art collection is made up of over 4,500 items, making it the largest in the state of Michigan. The majority of the collection consists of Chinese, Japanese, and Korean paintings and ceramics although other cultures and artistic mediums are also well represented. The African art collection includes personal adornment, masks, sculpture, textiles, ceramics, and even architectural elements. American and European classical and contemporary art by Picasso, Monet, and Whistler are some of the UMMA’s most famous pieces.2 About 20 exhibits on contemporary art and from other institutions rotate throughout the year. Throughout the museum, there are opportunities for visitors to view into the collection storage facilities, with glass-fronted “open storage galleries.” The art continues outside with sculptures placed around the perimeter of the museum, including the painted steel “Orion” display on the front lawn. 3
UMMA offers guided and self-guided tours, particularly for students and teachers. In addition, themed guided tours are regularly scheduled for the public. The new building provides classrooms for professors to request up-close object study visits, and museum staff can assist in research at the Marvin and Phyllis Dolinko Curatorial Research Center.4 Programs and events that are regularly offered include art lectures, “Nights at the Museum” and “After Hours” evening programs, and music, dance, and poetry reading performances. Family-friendly activities are also a regular occurrence, with movie nights, story-time readings, and art studio workshops. 5