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Spring 2005, the LSU Museum of Art is opening its doors on the fifth floor of the new Shaw Center for the Arts in downtown Baton Rouge. Boasting a collection of nearly 4,000 objects of fine and decorative art, the museum moved each piece from its former home in the base of the Memorial Tower to the new facility downtown. Only minutes from the LSU campus, the new museum promises to enhance Baton Rouge's cultural and artistic development. "With its move to the Shaw Center for the Arts, the LSU Museum of Art has become an active community partner in the downtown Baton Rouge renaissance," said Maia Jalenak, associate director of the museum. The Drawing Board
Faculty and students from the LSU School of Architecture, the School of Art, and the Department of Interior Design helped in the planning and development of the new museum. Architecture students made a model of the entire fifth floor, depicting the various galleries in the museum. Design students created virtual tours of the museum galleries, while interior design faculty and students assumed the task of devising a decorative plan for the museum gift shop. These projects challenged imaginations, highlighting the enormous talent of LSU faculty and students as well as the museum's potential. "Our project in the interior design department at LSU was to take the existing floor plan of the gallery space in the Shaw Center for the Arts and design it to accommodate both artwork and visitors," said senior Michelle Fogleman. "The space I designed was made to remain open, while also being interesting to walk through. I believe we all really enjoyed this project because it was actually an existing building in our area. It's very exciting as a student to work on a project that you can actually visit after completion." A Center of Possibilities
Jennifer Dobrowolski, a student worker at the LSU Museum of Art, said she loves her position and the experience it awards her. "I am able to work with great people who have really helped me as a student at LSU, but more importantly, as a student of the arts," Dobrowolski said. "I have the opportunity to help the museum on so many levels, including development, research, and fundraising, and I have a new appreciation for all the work that goes into running the museum." The Shaw Center for the Arts is an exciting and important development for the Baton Rouge community. The new facility includes a 325-seat theatre, black box theatres, music and dance rehearsal spaces, community art galleries, digital art classrooms, sculpture gardens, and a restaurant. Students, community members, and visitors will experience both visual and performing arts in this dynamic arts center, and can then enjoy a unique dining experience at the rooftop restaurant. Building Community Partnerships
Interim Executive Director Laura Lindsay credits arts centers as places where ideas happen. "They attract and retain an educated, culturally diverse, and enriched work force," Lindsay said. "They are integral to the economic mix that grows and develops strong communities." The move and expansion was part of the museum's seven-year plan, which complements LSU's National Flagship Agenda. With a vision of lifting the permanent collection and its use to a new level of excellence, the plan details important actions to improve the collection's quality and accessibility for the purposes of study, research, and community engagement. "The museum and its collection provide a rich resource for faculty, professional staff, and students to study and interpret great art," Lindsay said. "The LSU Museum of Art joins with its partners in the Shaw Center for the Arts to provide a catalyst for the arts in downtown Baton Rouge," Lindsay said. "In its new home at the Shaw Center, the museum will capitalize on the special environment created through its partnership with the Baton Rouge Area Foundation, the Manship Theatre, the State of Louisiana and the Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge, and the City of Baton Rouge. Artists, art organizations, and art patrons in and around the Southern region through their talents, skills, and creative capacities, are and will continue to be part of this exciting endeavor." Fogleman added that the new museum will foster greater interaction among art enthusiasts on campus and throughout the local community. "Some of the community is not as comfortable attending events at LSU when they are not students, so this museum will become a place where the community and the students can interact together while learning and displaying work." The Experience With 13,000 square feet of elegant gallery space and stately 16-foot ceilings, the LSU Museum of Art plans to bring world-famous exhibitions, educational programming for all ages, and art classes and workshops to the Baton Rouge community. "As visitors step off the elevator into the museum, they will be greeted in the lobby with a spectacular view of the Mississippi River then proceed through both expansive and intimate galleries to view a collection that has been contributed by passionate collectors for more than 40 years," Lindsay said. "Every person who enters will be moved by the experience." With the opening of the LSU Museum of Art in the Shaw Center for the Arts, LSU is improving the quality of life in Baton Rouge, offering its residents and visitors a chance to engage in the culture and history that is uniquely Louisiana. The Collection
Among the museum's collection of fine art are 19th and 20th century Louisiana landscapes, British and American portrait paintings from the 18th and 19th centuries, and works by Clementine Hunter and Caroline Durieux. Collecting Passions, the opening exhibition, illuminates the LSU Museum of Art's permanent collection, its origins, and the many private collectors who have shaped the museum. The museum staff is excited to share its exquisite permanent collection in a facility where patrons can enjoy the experience as much as the art. The museum will continue to present extraordinary traveling exhibitions, beginning with African Gold: Selections from the Alfred C. Glassell, Jr., Collection, from The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. Glassell, an LSU graduate, amassed this stunning collection, which includes special objects such as gold scepters and tribal cloths. Beginning March 5, the LSU Museum of Art will be open Tuesday–Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., staying open until 8 p.m. on Thursday, and on Sunday from 1 to 5 p.m. The museum will be closed on Monday. For more information, call the museum at 225/389-7200. Written by
Mary Schoen
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University Relations Related Links Links within this story LSU Museum of Art |
LSU Museum of Art's New Location Means New Possibilities for Baton Rouge 
Upon its opening, the museum will provide additional opportunities for students interested in internships and docent positions. Students will investigate all facets of art, questioning and developing new perceptions. As tour guides, students will also be able to showcase their artistic expertise. 
The LSU Museum of Art's diverse and intriguing permanent collection of decorative arts includes early Louisiana furniture, 17th to 19th century pre-electric lighting devices, and New Orleans silver. 
