Public invited to view new collection of Southwestern art at OU's Fred
Jones Jr. Museum of Art
The Thams Collection of Southwestern art by members of the famous Taos
Society of Artists, also known as the Taos Colony, is on public display
at the Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art on the University of Oklahoma's Norman
campus.
The collection, one of the most important single gifts of art to a public university in Oklahoma history, came to the University from OU alumnus William H. Thams of Midland, Texas, in memory of his wife, Roxanne P. Thams, who also was an OU graduate. It includes 32 works by such artists as Ernest L. Blumenschein, E. Irving Couse, Nicolai Fechin, Leon Gaspard, Bert G. Phillips, E. Martin Hennings, and Joseph Henry Sharp.
"We deeply appreciate the generosity of Bill Thams and the late Roxanne Thams in giving to the university one of the most important collections of art ever given to the university's art museum," said OU President David L. Boren. "It will enhance the educational experience of generations of students. This collection also establishes the Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art as one of the top museums in the nation in terms of works by Taos Colony artists."
The Thams collection will be on public display in the museum's lower gallery and will remain on view through May 18. It will not be seen again until spring 2005 when the museum is reopened after completion of its new Howard and Mary Lester Wing.
The collection, which consists of mostly oils - many in their original frames - has an estimated value of $5 million. The Thams Collection joins the museum's Richard H. and Adeline J. Fleischaker Collection, acquired by OU in 1996, which contains works by many of the same Taos Colony artists. The combined collection will make the museum's holdings of Taos artists one of the most important in the nation.
"The collection is magnificent and will inspire and educate generations of students, Oklahomans and visitors to the museum," said museum director Eric M. Lee.
In addition to the Thams Collection itself, the museum's exhibition also will feature excerpts from William Thams' personal account of how the works were collected.
Museum hours are 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday,
and Friday; 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday; and noon to 4:30 p.m. Saturday
and Sunday. The museum is closed on Mondays. Admission is free.
Parking is available on OU's north oval with a museum parking permit (available
at the security desk) or in the visitor parking lot on the north side
of Boyd Street across from the museum. Additional parking is available
on the first level of the Elm Avenue Parking Facility adjacent to Catlett
Music Center, 500 W. Boyd St., and the Asp Avenue Parking Facility adjacent
to Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, 180 W. Brooks St.
For information or accommodations on the basis of disability, contact the museum at (405) 325-3272 or visit its Web site at www.ou.edu/fjjma.