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April 2023 by Doug Tucker
Very nice and interests for all ages.
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August 2021 by Penny Weaver
Montgonery is fortunate to have an excellent art collection housed in a spectacular building in a beautiful park. And it’s free to all visitors.
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July 2021 by Marcus Bell
It’s just a unique place for ones who adore Art.
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July 2021 by Christina Z.
Someone from the museum reached out to me and apologized for my unpleasant experience and are looking into fostering a more welcoming atmosphere for all patrons. This museum truly is a gem and worth a visit if you're in the area!
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May 2021 by Debbie Mills Redden
We spent a hour in the Sculpture Garden. We even had a picnic lunch there. It’s a beautiful place and I recommend it!
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January 2021 by Tom B.
This is to review "Roger Brown," which was written by personnel at Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts. This is one of my ten most favorite art books. "Roger Brown" is a 95-page book (8 1/2 inches x 10 inches) with 32 pages of text, and small reproductions of 17 paintings (in black and white) in the margins. Most of these small reproductions are of Roger Brown's paintings, but there are also reproductions of art by Joseph Yoakum (Imagist), Giovanni di Paolo, Pablo Picasso, Grant Wood, and Art Green (Imagist). Larger reproductions, as well as color reproductions, occur on pages 40-81. Pages 82-93 include Roger Brown's Chronology as well as a list of his exhibitions (years 1967 to 1980). Mitchell Kahan, Curator of Painting and Sculpture at the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts, is the author of "Roger Brown." Philip Klopfenstein is the director of Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts, and he wrote the Introduction for the book, "Roger Brown." I lived in Madison, WI from 1980-1984 and, during that time, visited Chicago on a few occasions. While in Chicago, I saw paintings by Chicago Imagist Ed Paschke, and then began to collect books about the Chicago Imagists. Off all of these books, "Roger Brown" by Mitchell Kahan has the best selection of colored reproductions of Roger Brown's paintings. The reproductions of paintings in this book, in terms of having details that are crisp and precise, and in terms of accuracy of color reproduction, is absolutely first rate. I bought "Roger Brown" the year it was published (1980) and, in the past 40 years, the book became a little bit worn. And so, I was delighted to discover that Montgomery Museum continues to sell new copies of this book, and so I bought another copy. On two occasions, I spent a week touring Louisiana, and so I have a strong affinity for Roger Brown's painting, BAYOU LE BATRE (page 67). I lived in Wisconsin in 1980-1984, and so I am also highly attracted to Roger Brown's paintings showing lightning, tornados, thunderclouds, trucks motoring at night along remote country highways, and other scenes from the countryside - - - and as a consequence, I especially love these paintings from this book: TWISTER (p. 46), OKLAHOMA IS O.K. (p. 52), AUTOBIOGRAPHY IN THE SHAPE OF ALABAMA (p. 54), JACKNIFE (p. 57), MISTY MORNING (p. 59), INTERMITTENT SHOWERS (p. 63), THUNDERHEAD (p. 66). Page 80 provides photos of four of Roger Brown's painted irons. About 15 years ago, I went to a second hand store and bought two chrome-plated irons, and then using enamel paints I created my own Roger Brown-style painted irons. To date, my library of books by the Chicago Imagists consists of: (1) Roger Brown (1980) by Mitchell Kahan. (2) Human Concern/Personal Torment by Robert Doty (I saw this exhibition on the U.C. Berkeley campus in the year 1970, when I was an undergrad). (3) Jim Nutt: Coming into Character by Lynne Warren. (4) The Chicago Imagists by Lynne Warren, Rosie Cooper, and Sarah McCrory (5) Roger Brown (1987) by Sidney Lawrence. (6) Roger Brown Southern Exposure (2007) by Sidney Lawrence. (7) Roger Brown A Different Dimension (2004) by Pascucci and Adrian. (8) Sources of Light Contemporary American Luminism (1985) by Harvey West. (9) Who Chicago? An Exhibition of Contemporary Imagists by Dennis Adrian, Russell Bowman, Roger Brown, James Falconer, Art Green. (10) Ed Paschke: Selected Works 1967 - 1981. (11) Robert Lostutter Show (2006) Indiana University. (12) Uncommon Accumulation (2020) by Mel Solomon. (13) Hairy Who & The Chicago Imagists (DVD) directed by Leslie Buchbinder (I recommend this DVD. You need to buy it. Has interviews with artists belonging to the Chicago Imagists, and interviews with art collectors and gallery curators.)
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January 2020 by Rachel G.
One of my favorite places to visit in MGM. Great for kids and adults! I never seem to have enough time to spend here. My family enjoys the children's area and the outside sculptures the most!
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November 2019 by Angelica B.
One of the best spots in Montgomery to admire art and culture, exhibits circulate and a lot of local artists are displayed here too. Wonderful place to learn, be visually stimulated, or enjoy nature by strolling the park grounds and feeding some ducks
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September 2019 by Brenda D.
We take our kids here very often and it's of no charge. This place is beautiful has an indoor and out door fun playful activities. I believe they also have a summer camp sign up program. For all ages & a nice art gallery. Beautiful murals and very clean facility. Security is definitely awesome to have around. All staff members are great! Must visit!
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August 2019 by Don B.
After a great trip to the Old South with our group from Dietert Senior Center in Kerrville, Texas, it was time to head home. The last stop was at the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts, a stop that almost didn't happen. En route, one of our guides told us that we had the choice of going to the museum or bypassing it but if only one person wanted to stop, they would as it was on the official itinerary. Immediately it seemed as if the vast majority of people on the bus were saying, "Boring--keep going!" When the ruckus had calmed down and no one stated they wanted to stop, Peg and I said we wanted to see the museum. There was grumbling and dirty looks all around but stop we did. The museum was founded in 1930 by a group of artists known as the "Morning View Painters," and is one of the oldest art museums in the state. The group was headed by artist John Kelly Fitzpatrick and Mrs. Harry S. Houghton. Its first home was in an abandoned high school which the city leased to the museum for one dollar a year. The museum has always had American Art at the forefront of its collections. And those collections were eclectic to say the least. Besides paintings there were furniture, silverware, glassware, china, historic relics and photographs and this approach continues to the present day. As the collection grew, so did the need for new quarters and on September 18, 1988 the current building had its grand opening. During their first year, the museum hosted over 270,000 visitors. But its growth didn't stop there. In 2006, and additional 23,000 square feet of space was added and new works by such famed American artists as Mary Cassatt, William Sidney Mount and Severin Roesen were acquired. Now, Peg and I have visited many art museums; it's a passion with us. And we both agree that the Montgomery Museum of Fine Art is one of the finest collections it's been our privilege to see. First, the interior space itself is beautiful--expansive with tons of natural light, it invites the visitors to slow down and enjoy themselves. The exterior is equally impressive. The building is located in a pristine setting on the shores of a man-made lake; a huge glass "picture window" brings this beauty indoors. The collections are thoughtfully displayed with excellent lighting. Of particular interest to us were the studio glass, African folk art, student art and the ArtWorks gallery. This latter space is an interactive experience designed to introduce students--and adults--to the wonders of art. Visitors can touch works of art, learn about materials and techniques (including printmaking, bronze casting, and art glass) and race cars on "a work of art." But our favorite was the giant kaleidoscope which can be entered and the patterns manipulated (I've included a few photos). Remember all those angry folks on the bus? Well, after visiting the museum at least half came up to either Peg or myself and thanked us for speaking up. Now, if a tired, grumpy group of senior citizens, hell-bent on not stopping can say that, this museum must really be something--and it is! If you find yourself travelling through Alabama, are within a hundred miles of Montgomery and appreciate art, make a detour and visit the Montgomery Museum of Fine Art. You'll be very glad you did! And did I mention that admission is free?
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March 2019 by James W.
What a great find! The museum is a fantastic and free gem just outside Montgomery. The collect tidbit extensive but still there's plenty to see. The sculpture garden outside is great and a nice place to read or just enjoy the day while taking in sculpture. Also a very cool kids section. What makes it even better is the surrounding Blount Cultural Park which houses the Shakespeare festival and tons of walking/running paths. Well worth it!