[happytown]

I have really come to a conclusion that the Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art is basically an institution that should be considered as another museum for Oklahoma City along with the Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History. The museums are so large and really arent attached to OU. Although they are on university grounds, the support generally comes from Oklahoma City being a major city that is way too close to the university itself. The art department at OU doesnt size up to the museums at all and it is almost silly to think otherwise. They both increase the quality of life in the OKC metro. So by using my opinion I would like to give thanks to the donor for giving this wonderful collection to the citizens of OKC and Tulsa.






Art collection goes to Jones, Philbrook museums

NORMAN, Okla. — The Adkins Foundation Board has named the Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art at the University of Oklahoma and the Philbrook Museum of Art in Tulsa as the recipients of the $50 million Eugene B. Adkins collection of art – a private collection of more than 3,300 pieces.

Ted M. Riseling, chairman of the Adkins Foundation Board, made the announcement Monday.

The Adkins Collection has been described as one of the most important private collections of art in the nation. Among the more than 3,000 objects by Taos artists and Native American works of art are two-dimensional works, pieces of pottery, jewelry, silverwork and other Native arts. The more than 400 paintings feature pieces by such distinguished American artists as Maynard Dixon, Worthington Whittridge, Andrew Dasburg and Alfred Jacob Miller.

As co-custodians of the collection, OU and Philbrook will enter into a rotation of exhibition pieces and develop internship and scholarly research positions. The university will add a new 6,500 square-foot gallery over the original Fred Jones Jr. art gallery. A collection curator; graduate fellowships and an Adkins Presidential Professorship in the history of Western American art also will be established.

Philbrook will create the Adkins Collection and Study Center for the exhibition and study of Native American art and artifacts. The George Kaiser Family Foundation will provide 10,000 to 15,000 square feet of space in the Brady District for the center.

Several leading museums submitted bids for the collection assembled by Oklahoma native Eugene B. Adkins.