The new Collette Ethnographic Gallery at SUArt Galleries
The Syracuse University Art Galleries has announced the grand opening of newly renovated and expanded galleries that includes the Permanent Collection Gallery and the Collette Ethnographic Gallery. The creation of these newly constructed spaces will help the Syracuse University Art Galleries better serve the needs of Syracuse University students and visitors for years to come.
The SUArt Galleries will host a dedication ceremony, free and open to the public, on Thursday, Feb. 12, from 5-7 p.m. In addition to the grand opening, SUArt will also be celebrating the installation of numerous special exhibitions, including “Minna Citron: The Uncharted Course from Realism to Abstraction,” “Pushing the Line: American Women Printmakers from the Syracuse University Art Collection” and “Shadow of Industry: The Prints of Carol Wax.”
The Collette Ethnographic Gallery, named in honor of the late Director Emeritus and donor Alfred T. Collette, will include long-term display of African, Chinese, Japanese, Korean and Indian three-dimensional objects from the gallery’s permanent collection as well as European, American and Southeast Asian paintings, prints and sculpture. The installations will reflect groupings of important works from the collection that rarely are seen on display, which will directly benefit students studying art history, museum studies or studio art programs, as well as visitors interested in the breadth of the encyclopedic permanent collection.
15th and 16th Century Art in the Permanent Collection Galleries
The Permanent Collection Gallery will present long-term installations of important works of art, such as Hyacinthe Rigaud’s “Portrait of Louis XIV,” 1701, John Steuart Curry’ s “The Gospel Train,” 1929, and Robert Cottingham’s “Hi-Fi,” 1971, that will figuratively walk visitors through the history of art from late 15th century until contemporary times. Reflecting the strength of the collection in European and American art, this installation of works is an important aspect of the renovation that SUArt has never been able to do before this time.
Extended displays in both galleries will not only present an enjoyable and educational experience for the visitors, but also allow academic departments and local schools to utilize the collections for their students and class planning. The new galleries will also provide a gathering space for University and school group presentations, gallery tours and in-depth discussions about the artwork installed. Hopefully, active discussions will take place adjacent to the original artwork, which will impact not just the Syracuse University community but the Central New York and art history community as a whole.
Long-term care and preservation of the objects, well-researched curatorial selections and didactic labels have been created that will educate the visitors as to the mission of the University Art Collection and about the artists presented, as well as the history of art and the artists displayed. Most importantly, the new space allows the SUArt Galleries the opportunity to visualize the mission and vision of the founders, important donors, researchers and museum staff throughout the 140+ year history of SUArt.
