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Gertrude Bass WarnerThe University of Oregon’s art museum opened its doors to the public in 1933. Designed by Ellis F. Lawrence, UO dean of Architecture & Allied Arts at the time, the museum was built to house the Murray Warner Collection of Oriental Art—more than 3,700 works of art given to the University of Oregon by Gertrude Bass Warner.

One of six museums in the state of Oregon accredited by the American Association of Museums, the University of Oregon’s Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art (JSMA) a premier Pacific Northwest visual arts center, features engaging exhibitions, significant collections of historic and contemporary art, and exciting educational programs that support the Virginia Haseltineuniversity’s academic mission and the diverse interests of its off-campus communities.  The JSMA’s collections galleries present selections from its extensive holdings of Chinese, Japanese, Korean and American art.  Special exhibitions galleries display works from the collection and on loan, representing many cultures of the world, past and present. The JSMA continues a long tradition of bridging international cultures and offers a welcoming destination for discovery and education centered on artistic expression that deepens the appreciation and understanding of the human condition.


Letter from the Executive Director Jill Hartz, Executive Director

Welcome to the Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art!  University of Oregon’s art museum just celebrated its 75th anniversary of service to our on-and off-campus communities. We thank the hundreds of members and supporters, whose generosity in countless ways, assures that we fulfill our mission and aspire to be one of the finest university art museums in the nation. Whether you are exploring our new website in preparation for a visit to the museum, or are only able to visit us online, we hope you find the information you are seeking and contact us with your feedback.

The JSMA offers both permanent collections galleries and special exhibitions. You will always find on view selections from our Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Pacific Northwest, American and Orthodox icon collections, as well as new acquisitions and works selected by curators and faculty for courses and research. Our special exhibitions and masterworks-on-loan programs (currently including major works by J. M. W. Turner, Max Pechstein, Mark Rothko, and Claes Oldenburg) expand the reach of the collection, support university and community initiatives, and explore timely themes.  Educational offering—including lectures and symposia, workshops, family days, camps, and more—serve learners of all ages, and the museum’s beautiful reception areas are in high demand for academic, social, and business functions.

We have ambitious plans for the future.  This year, we are completing our self-study for AAM re-accreditation and pursuing a new strategic plan that prioritizes diversifying and building audiences and curricular collaborations. We are in an active search for a chief curator with expertise in Asian art, and beginning a comprehensive evaluation process aimed at using our resources most effectively to assure a strong and vibrant museum.

Our major exhibitions this year focus on twentieth-century and contemporary art. Faster than a Speeding Bullet: The Art of the Superhero, organized by Ben Saunders, associate professor in the Department of English, offers a fresh in-depth appraisal of the importance of this particular comics genre, while Amazonia: Photographs by Sam Abell direct our attention to ecological and sustainability issues.  Opening next May, a provocative exhibition of Polaroids by Andy Warhol and Gus Van Sant, organized by Larry Fong, our curator of American and regional art, explores the creative process. Other changing galleries will feature works by Nam June Paik, book arts, Clinton Hill, and students completing their MFA. 

I hope that these offerings – and our improved website --  whet your appetite and encourage your interest and participation in the museum.  I also hope you will consider becoming a member.  Not only will you receive our newsletter, invitations, and other special benefits, but you will also receive our gratitude for helping us realize all of our dreams for this great museum.

Jill Hartz
Executive Director
 
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