Figge Art Museum

THE FIGGE ART MUSEUM ACTIVELY SERVES THE PUBLIC BY PROMOTING APPRECIATION AND CREATION OF VISUAL ART THROUGH EDUCATION AND BY COLLECTING, CONSERVING, AND EXHIBITING ART. AS A VITAL, RESPONSIVE INSTITUTION, THE MUSEUM BRINGS ART AND PEOPLE TOGETHER, WE ENRICH OUR COMMUNITY WITH THE EXPERIENCE OF ART THROUGH EDUCATION, COLLECTIONS, EXHIBITIONS AND PRESERVATION. WE ENDEAVOR TO TRANSFORM OUR COMMUNITY THROUGH THE POWER OF ART.

EXHIBITION & COLLECTIONS: THE FIGGE'S 2019-2020 EXHIBITION HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDED "MIA FEUER: TOTEMS OF THE ANTHROPOCENE". THE EXHIBITION ENVISIONS WHAT OUR ENVIRONMENT MIGHT BECOME AFTER PROLONGED EXPOSURE TO PETROLEUM. VISITORS ENCOUNTERED THIS REALITY IN THE FORM OF A SYNTHETIC ICE RINK WHERE VISITORS MAY SKATE UNDER A SWIRLING VORTEX OF RAVENS AND UPROOTED TREES WHICH REFERENCE THE ENVIRONMENTAL REALITIES OF THE ALBERTA TAR SANDS IN CANADA. "DIDIER WILLIAM: LAKOU" FEATURED MIXED-MEDIA PAINTINGS AND PRINTS BY ARTIST DIDIER WILLIAM. THE ARTIST DRAWS ON HAITIAN HISTORY, MYTHOLOGY AND PERSONAL EXPERIENCE TO EXPLORE THEMES OF CULTURAL IDENTITY UTILIZING A VARIETY OF TECHNIQUES INCLUDING WOODCARVING, COLLAGE, PRINTMAKING AND PAINTING. "HENRY DREYFUSS: DESIGNS FOR THE MODERN AGE" FEATURED THE WORK OF INFLUENTIAL INDUSTRIAL DESIGNER HENRY DREYFUSS AND HIS FIRM. AMONG THEIR DESIGNS ARE THE JOHN DEERE TRACTOR, WESTERN ELECTRIC MODEL TELEPHONE AND OTHER ICONIC PRODUCTS. ORIGINAL SKETCHES, PROPOSALS AND OBJECTS WERE LOANED FROM THE JOHN DEERE ARCHIVES, THE COOPER HEWITT SMITHSONIAN DESIGN MUSEUM, THE ALBANY INSTITUTE OF HISTORY AND ART AND THE AT&T ARCHIVES AND HISTORY CENTER. "MAGNETIC WEST: THE ENDURING ALLURE OF THE AMERICAN WEST" WAS ORGANIZED BY THE FIGGE ART MUSEUM. THE EXHIBITION FEATURED MORE THAN 150 PHOTOGRAPHS BY SOME OF THE MOST RENOWNED PHOTOGRAPHERS OF THE 19TH AND 20TH CENTURIES, PICTURING THE WEST AS A METAPHOR FOR PROMISE AND PERIL. THE EXHIBITION INCLUDED IMAGES MADE BY ARTIST FROM THE UNITED STATES AND ABROAD, EXPANDING THE DIALOGUE OF HOW OUR VIEW OF THE WEST HAS EVOLVED FROM THE 19TH CENTURY TO TODAY.

EDUCATION: THE FIGGE SERVED STUDENTS FROM LOCAL ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS, COLLEGES, AND UNIVERSITIES, AS WELL AS PRIVATE SCHOOL STUDENTS, SENIOR CITIZENS, COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS AND TOURISTS WITH A BROAD PROGRAM OF ONSITE TOURS, LECTURES, HANDS-ON ACTIVITIES. THE "BIG PICTURE" OUTREACH PROGRAM PROVIDED HANDS-ON ART EXPERIENCES TO OVER 20,000 STUDENTS AND OTHER COMMUNITY MEMBERS THROUGHOUT THE REGION. IN ADDITION, FREE FAMILY DAYS, THURSDAY NIGHT PROGRAMS, AND OTHER ACTIVITIES ATTRACTED THOUSANDS OF VISITORS FOR INNOVATIVE, ART-BASED LEARNING.

AUXILARY ACTIVITIES: THE FIGGE HAS IDENTIFIED THE SUPPLEMENTAL ACTIVITIES RELATED TO OPERATING THE STORE AND ITS CAF/CATERING OPERATIONS INTO A THIRD PROGRAM CALLED AUXILIARY ACTIVITIES. THE MUSEUM OPERATES A STORE OFFERING FOR SALE VARIOUS ART-ORIENTED ITEMS, MANY OF WHICH ARE THEMED AROUND EXHIBITIONS CURRENTLY OR RECENTLY ON DISPLAY. IN ADDITION THE MUSEUM HAS ENGAGED THE SERVICES OF A THIRD PARTY CATERER TO OPERATE A CAFE TO PROVIDE AFTER HOUR CATERING FOR PRIVATE EVENTS. THE MUSEUM IS PAID CERTAIN FEES BY THE CATERER IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE ASSOICATED CONTRACT.