The Indianapolis Museum of Art

Information Outlook, Oct, 1997 by Ursula Kolmstetter, Sarah A. Kelly

In 1883, May Wright Sewall, an educator, suffragist, feminist, peace advocate, and significant contributor to the social and civic life of Indianapolis, held a meeting in her home to discuss the organization of a society for the study and promotion of art. As a result of this and other meetings, the Art Association of Indianapolis was incorporated with the goal of establishing a permanent art museum and art school in Indianapolis. In 1895, John Herron bequeathed approximately $250,000 to the association to build a museum and art school bearing his name. The John Herron Art Institute opened in 1902 at 16th and Pennsylvania Streets. In 1966, the children of Mr. and Mrs. Josiah K. Lilly, Jr. donated their parents' estate, Oldfields, to the Art Association. In 1969, when the John Herron Art Museum moved into new quarters on the estate at 1200 West 38th Street, it assumed a new name - the Indianapolis Museum of Art. At the same time, the Herron School of Art became affiliated with the Indiana University-Purdue University at Indianapolis and was no longer associated with the museum.

Surrounded by woods and beautiful gardens, the museum enjoys a unique setting overlooking the White River. Twenty-six acres of the grounds were landscaped by the Olmsted Brothers, from the firm of Frederick Law Olmsted, who designed New York's Central Park. Many of the original gardens are being restored.

The IMA houses some of the finest art treasures in the United States and its three main art pavilions are stunning examples of modern architecture. Contemporary sculpture, including Robert Indiana's famous LOVE sculpture, can be found on the grounds, as well as the magnificent Sutphin Fountain which adds grace to the east facade. To the west is the Concert Terrace, an outdoor theater used during summer months for a variety of film, concert, and dance programs for the enjoyment of the Indianapolis community. Showaltar Pavilion, which opened in 1973, is home of the Indianapolis Civic Theater and adjoins the main museum building.

Opened in 1970, The Krannert Pavilion consists of three floors of galleries and houses the museum's Old Master paintings including works by Rubens, Rembrandt, Goya, El Greco, and Van Dyck.

The Mary Fendrich Hulman Pavilion, completed in 1990, houses the museum's European painting and sculpture collections and African and South Pacific collections.

Over the years, the IMA has built one of the finest collections of art in the country and has become a showcase for national and international exhibitions. Among its priceless and impressive individual collections are the Eli Lilly Collection of Chinese Art, the Clowes Fund Collection of Old Masters, the Kurt F. Pantzer Sr. Collection of watercolors and drawings by J.M.W. Turner (one of the largest collections of works by the artist outside Great Britain), the W.J. Holliday Collection of Neo-Impressionist Art, the Eiteljorg Collection of African and South Pacific Art, and the Joseph Cantor Collection of contemporary European art.

North of the main complex and surrounded by magnificent gardens is the Lilly Pavilion. This mansion, built in the style of an 18th-century French chateau, provides an excellent setting for the museum's collections of European and American decorative arts, furniture, ceramics, and metalwork.

To the north of the Lilly Pavilion is the Madeline F. Elder Greenhouse, which offers a wide range of distinctive outdoor and indoor plants as well as garden supplies, gardening books, cards, and gifts.

The Indianapolis Museum of Art is located at 1200 West 38th Street. For more information, call 1-317-923-1331 or visit their Web site at http://web.ima-art.org/ima/.

Please note that information about the history of the Indianapolis Museum of Art was obtained from Bodenhamer, David J., and Robert G. Barrows, 1994. The Encyclopedia of Indianapolis, Bloomington: Indiana University Press.

Ursula Kolmstetter, head librarian, Indianapolis Museum of Art and Sarah A. Kelly, life sciences librarian, Purdue University. For more information about the conference, visit SLA's Web site at: www.sla.org/conf_meet/index.html.