Art Museum of Western Virginia
Encyclopedia
The Taubman Museum of Art, formerly the Art Museum of Western Virginia, is an art museum located in Downtown
Roanoke, Virginia
, U.S.A..
architect Randall Stout
. The new museum is named the Taubman Museum of Art, in honor of Ambassador Nicholas F. Taubman
and his wife Jenny, who have been its largest donors.
, with an emphasis on the artistic expressions of the Western Virginia
and the Appalachian
region. The collection has included works by Thomas Eakins
, Winslow Homer
and Childe Hassam
.
In order to diversify its collection and appeal to a broader audience, the museum decided to showcase some of the works of Mark Cline, a roadside folk artist who is the creator of enormous figures that have been featured at his Virginia tourist attractions: "Prof. Cline's Haunted Monster Museum," "Dinosaur Kingdom" and "Hunt Bigfoot with a Redneck.".
, with an exhibition in the Hotel Roanoke
. In 1951 this "Roanoke Fine Arts Center" was incorporated as an independent organization. Renamed in 1980 as "Roanoke Museum of Fine Arts," the museum moved to downtown Roanoke's Center in the Square in 1983. In 1992, the Museum was renamed as the "Art Museum of Western Virginia".
A new design for the museum was unveiled on March 20, 2005 by architect Randall Stout
with unique design that ignited much debate in the local media. One woman is quoted as saying the design looks like the "wreck of the Flying Nun." The building was initially intended to include space for an IMAX theater but this plan was dropped due to concerns that it might lose money for the museum. Ground was broken on the new museum building in September, 2005. The new art museum president, Heywood Fralin, remarked that the museum would "lead Roanoke and Western Virginia into the future and shape our destiny." Unexpected increases in the cost of building materials led to an increase of the cost of the building from $46 million to $66 million. Looking for other sources of investment to help cover the costs of construction, the museum was renamed the Taubman Museum of Art after receiving a generous donation of $12.5 million from Nicholas Taubman, who is the former chairman and chief executive of Advance Auto Parts
. On November 8, 2008, the Taubman Museum of Art opened for business in the newly completed building.
The initial plan was for the museum to become an international venue for art exhibition. These plans have undergone revision as the museum continues to lose money and struggle financially. Consultants had estimated that the museum would take in at least $745,000 each year. In 2010, the museum received $110,000 from admissions. This falls well short of even the annual maintenance costs of the building which are estimated to be around $871,000. Referring to the change of focus away from being an international art venue, Executive Director David Mickenberg, stated at a press event, “I think what really will change is this no longer perceived as a stand alone museum on the corner of Salem and Norfolk. This is an integrated, collaborative organization that works in close proximity to a lot of other cultural organizations, a lot of higher education, a lot of public education as well and I think is a very different model than what we started with.” In February 2011, the City of Roanoke entered in to an agreement with the museum to teach art classes to city school children. In return for the museum's services, the city will pay them $100,000 annually. In February 2011, the museum also reduced its membership prices across the board. In March 2011, the museum also lowered the general admission price from $10.50 to $7. Maria St. Clair, the Taubman membership manager, explained the reduction in admission fee, "We're trying to make it so that more people come through the doors." The museum hopes that the loss in revenue will be more than recovered in increased volume of visitors.
Downtown Roanoke
Downtown is the central business district of Roanoke, Virginia, United States. Located geographically at the center of the city, Downtown began its development with the completion of the Shenandoah Valley Railroad in 1882...
Roanoke, Virginia
Roanoke, Virginia
Roanoke is an independent city in the Mid-Atlantic U.S. state of Virginia and is the tenth-largest city in the Commonwealth. It is located in the Roanoke Valley of the Roanoke Region of Virginia. The population within the city limits was 97,032 as of 2010...
, U.S.A..
Location
The Museum was formerly located in Roanoke's Center in the Square, but as of November 2008 has relocated to a new $66-million, 81000 square feet (7,525.1 m²) building designed by Los Angeles, CaliforniaLos Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
architect Randall Stout
Randall Stout
-Early life and education:Born and raised in Tennessee, Stout has a Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Tennessee and a Master of Architecture from Rice University.-Career:...
. The new museum is named the Taubman Museum of Art, in honor of Ambassador Nicholas F. Taubman
Nicholas F. Taubman
Nicholas Frank Taubman is a United States businessman, politician, and ambassador. He served as the United States Ambassador to Romania 2005–08.-Early life:Nicholas Taubman was born 1935 in Roanoke, Virginia to parents Arthur and Grace...
and his wife Jenny, who have been its largest donors.
Collection and exhibits
The Museum's permanent collection focuses on American artAmerican Art
American Art is the debut album of the band Weatherbox. It was released on May 8, 2007 on Doghouse Records. The album received critical acclaim from several sources including underground music distribution company Smartpunk, who lauded the band's style:...
, with an emphasis on the artistic expressions of the Western Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
and the Appalachian
Appalachia
Appalachia is a term used to describe a cultural region in the eastern United States that stretches from the Southern Tier of New York state to northern Alabama, Mississippi, and Georgia. While the Appalachian Mountains stretch from Belle Isle in Canada to Cheaha Mountain in the U.S...
region. The collection has included works by Thomas Eakins
Thomas Eakins
Thomas Cowperthwait Eakins was an American realist painter, photographer, sculptor, and fine arts educator...
, Winslow Homer
Winslow Homer
Winslow Homer was an American landscape painter and printmaker, best known for his marine subjects. He is considered one of the foremost painters in 19th century America and a preeminent figure in American art....
and Childe Hassam
Childe Hassam
Frederick Childe Hassam was a prolific American Impressionist painter, noted for his urban and coastal scenes. Along with Mary Cassatt and John Henry Twachtman, Hassam was instrumental in promulgating Impressionism to American collectors, dealers, and museums...
.
In order to diversify its collection and appeal to a broader audience, the museum decided to showcase some of the works of Mark Cline, a roadside folk artist who is the creator of enormous figures that have been featured at his Virginia tourist attractions: "Prof. Cline's Haunted Monster Museum," "Dinosaur Kingdom" and "Hunt Bigfoot with a Redneck.".
History
The Art Museum of Western Virginia began in 1947 as an offshoot of the Virginia Museum of Fine ArtsVirginia Museum of Fine Arts
The Virginia Museum of Fine arts, or VMFA, is an art museum in Richmond, Virginia, in the United States, which opened in 1936.The museum is owned and operated by the Commonwealth of Virginia, while private donations, endowments, and funds are used for the support of specific programs and all...
, with an exhibition in the Hotel Roanoke
Hotel Roanoke
The Hotel Roanoke is a luxury hotel located in the Gainsboro neighborhood of Roanoke, Virginia. Originally built in 1882, the hotel has been renovated many times. It is currently owned by Virginia Tech and operated under the Doubletree Hotels brand...
. In 1951 this "Roanoke Fine Arts Center" was incorporated as an independent organization. Renamed in 1980 as "Roanoke Museum of Fine Arts," the museum moved to downtown Roanoke's Center in the Square in 1983. In 1992, the Museum was renamed as the "Art Museum of Western Virginia".
A new design for the museum was unveiled on March 20, 2005 by architect Randall Stout
Randall Stout
-Early life and education:Born and raised in Tennessee, Stout has a Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Tennessee and a Master of Architecture from Rice University.-Career:...
with unique design that ignited much debate in the local media. One woman is quoted as saying the design looks like the "wreck of the Flying Nun." The building was initially intended to include space for an IMAX theater but this plan was dropped due to concerns that it might lose money for the museum. Ground was broken on the new museum building in September, 2005. The new art museum president, Heywood Fralin, remarked that the museum would "lead Roanoke and Western Virginia into the future and shape our destiny." Unexpected increases in the cost of building materials led to an increase of the cost of the building from $46 million to $66 million. Looking for other sources of investment to help cover the costs of construction, the museum was renamed the Taubman Museum of Art after receiving a generous donation of $12.5 million from Nicholas Taubman, who is the former chairman and chief executive of Advance Auto Parts
Advance Auto Parts
Advance Auto Parts , headquartered in Roanoke, Virginia, is the second-largest retailer of automotive replacement parts and accessories in the United States. AAP was founded in 1932 and had 2008 sales of approx. $5.1B...
. On November 8, 2008, the Taubman Museum of Art opened for business in the newly completed building.
The initial plan was for the museum to become an international venue for art exhibition. These plans have undergone revision as the museum continues to lose money and struggle financially. Consultants had estimated that the museum would take in at least $745,000 each year. In 2010, the museum received $110,000 from admissions. This falls well short of even the annual maintenance costs of the building which are estimated to be around $871,000. Referring to the change of focus away from being an international art venue, Executive Director David Mickenberg, stated at a press event, “I think what really will change is this no longer perceived as a stand alone museum on the corner of Salem and Norfolk. This is an integrated, collaborative organization that works in close proximity to a lot of other cultural organizations, a lot of higher education, a lot of public education as well and I think is a very different model than what we started with.” In February 2011, the City of Roanoke entered in to an agreement with the museum to teach art classes to city school children. In return for the museum's services, the city will pay them $100,000 annually. In February 2011, the museum also reduced its membership prices across the board. In March 2011, the museum also lowered the general admission price from $10.50 to $7. Maria St. Clair, the Taubman membership manager, explained the reduction in admission fee, "We're trying to make it so that more people come through the doors." The museum hopes that the loss in revenue will be more than recovered in increased volume of visitors.