Director of the Bowdoin College Museum of Art Katy Kline gave a lecture on November 2 titled "The College Museum: Bowdoin" in the Science Auditorium. Kline highlighted Bowdoin's collection as well as drew attention to the college's recent efforts to renovate and expand its current museum facility.
Kline began by saying that Bowdoin's collection predates the construction of the current museum by nearly 100 years, during which time the artwork was kept in storage across campus. However, the collection itself became sizeable due to the contributions of James Bowdoin III, of the prominent Boston family. He decided to found an institution in honor of his illustrious father, donating old master drawings and paintings for use in the college's curriculum. Kline displayed a number of slides showing Bowdoin's painting collection, including those of the Bowdoin family and portraits of famous American figures such as Madison and Jefferson. She also presented images of the Assyrian reliefs that the college received in the 1850s, one stroke of fortune in what she termed a series of serendipitous events.
The collection finally received a proper venue for display in the 1890s, when Mary and Harriet Walker chose to commemorate the death of their uncle Theophilus Walker by founding a museum at the college. Hey gave specific instructions as to its building—it was to have a Renaissance-inspired appearance that would convey the nature of the activities in the interior. They also donated many works in various media, including a number of Greek vases and Roman heads, which expanded the college's representation of ancient art.
The good fortune continued in the 20th century, Kline said, as on several occasions well-known artists bestowed works to the college. Kline cited contributions by Rockwell Kent, John Sloane, and Pablo Picasso, which helped to elevate the museum's reputation.
Kline then proceeded to discuss Bowdoin's plans to renovate their museum facilities, a project currently underway. She showed a video of the projected schematics ad final appearance of the museum's exterior and interior space, citing as among the college's desires the wish to install proper climate controls and make the building handicapped-accessible. The college plans to consolidate and strategically place storage room so that faculty can easily and quickly take artwork for use in the classroom. It also hopes to create better visitor services, beautify the lower level to properly showcase exhibits, and build a glass and steel pavilion with stairs leading to the lower level directly. Kline further emphasized the college's desire to give the facility a welcoming and open appearance, placing a window in the back wall so as to make the façade more inviting.
This lecture was sponsored by the Collections and Directions Series.
-- by Greg Gencarello '06
Kline began by saying that Bowdoin's collection predates the construction of the current museum by nearly 100 years, during which time the artwork was kept in storage across campus. However, the collection itself became sizeable due to the contributions of James Bowdoin III, of the prominent Boston family. He decided to found an institution in honor of his illustrious father, donating old master drawings and paintings for use in the college's curriculum. Kline displayed a number of slides showing Bowdoin's painting collection, including those of the Bowdoin family and portraits of famous American figures such as Madison and Jefferson. She also presented images of the Assyrian reliefs that the college received in the 1850s, one stroke of fortune in what she termed a series of serendipitous events.
The collection finally received a proper venue for display in the 1890s, when Mary and Harriet Walker chose to commemorate the death of their uncle Theophilus Walker by founding a museum at the college. Hey gave specific instructions as to its building—it was to have a Renaissance-inspired appearance that would convey the nature of the activities in the interior. They also donated many works in various media, including a number of Greek vases and Roman heads, which expanded the college's representation of ancient art.
The good fortune continued in the 20th century, Kline said, as on several occasions well-known artists bestowed works to the college. Kline cited contributions by Rockwell Kent, John Sloane, and Pablo Picasso, which helped to elevate the museum's reputation.
Kline then proceeded to discuss Bowdoin's plans to renovate their museum facilities, a project currently underway. She showed a video of the projected schematics ad final appearance of the museum's exterior and interior space, citing as among the college's desires the wish to install proper climate controls and make the building handicapped-accessible. The college plans to consolidate and strategically place storage room so that faculty can easily and quickly take artwork for use in the classroom. It also hopes to create better visitor services, beautify the lower level to properly showcase exhibits, and build a glass and steel pavilion with stairs leading to the lower level directly. Kline further emphasized the college's desire to give the facility a welcoming and open appearance, placing a window in the back wall so as to make the façade more inviting.
This lecture was sponsored by the Collections and Directions Series.
-- by Greg Gencarello '06
