Fred Jones Jr Museum of Art

It all began in 1936, when the University of Oklahoma acquired a large collection of East Asian art was incorporated with an existing university collection of 2,500 works. Then, the Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art was officially founded and the museum's first galleries began in what is now Jacobson Hall. In 1948, the permanent collection grew to include the State Department Collection—thirty-six paintings including major works by artists such as Stuart Davis, Georgia O'Keeffe, and Edward Hopper.

Over the years, the Museum's permanent collection has grown exponentially. In 1996, as a result of several large donor gifts, the museum acquired an important collection of the late Richard H. and Adeline J. Fleischaker, which is composed primarily of Native American and Southwestern art.

Today, the Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art boasts more than 12,300-objects in the permanent collection of French Impressionism, twentieth-century American painting and sculpture, traditional and contemporary Native American art, art of the Southwest, ceramics, photography, contemporary art, Asian art and graphics from the sixteenth century to the present.

There are several ways to explore the museum including self-guided tours, guided tours and ipod tours. The ipod tours allow visitors to learn about the museum offerings while listening to an audio guide. To schedule a guided tour, the museum staff recommends that you call ahead and make a reservation.

In addition to the collections, the Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art offers a wide range of educational programs for visitors of all ages. All of the programs are offered free of charge with paid admission or membership. A popular program is the Art Adventures program promotes creativity through stories and art activities for ages 3 -5, accompanied by an adult. Other educational offerings include the Art After Hours—45 min museum tours with refreshments served, or the Art "à la CART"—hands-on art activities, live music and independent films. There is also a lecture series and a Tuesday noon concert series to enjoy. Admission is always free to anyone that visits on Tuesday.

Be sure to check out the Museum Store for an expansive collection of books, prints and other art treasures that you can take home to remember your visit to the Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art. For information on current events at the Museum visit the website and become a fan on Facebook.
 

- by Jennifer Pruett, Oklahoma City Reporter for HelloMetro  (Click to leave a message)

Jennifer Pruett

A self proclaimed “queen of everything," Jennifer is a writer, planner and passionate lover of making exciting events extra special. As a creative mother of two she loves art, music, family, friends, exotic cuisine and exploring new areas of self improvement. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in liberal studies from the University of Oklahoma and has been writing restaurant and attraction reviews in the Phoenix Metro area since January, 2009.