Plains Art Museum
Encyclopedia
The Plains Art Museum is a fine arts museum
located in downtown Fargo, North Dakota
, United States
.
, post office
. The name of the museum was changed when it was incorporated with the Rourke Art Gallery to form the "Plains Art Museum" in 1975. After a 1987 schism resulting the departure of founding director James O'Rourke, the Plains Art Museum and the Rourke Art Museum and Gallery became separate institutions. The Museum remained in the downtown Moorhead location until 1996. In October of 1997, the Museum relocated to a renovated turn-of-the-century International Harvester
warehouse
in downtown Fargo, North Dakota
. The American Association of Museums
granted accreditation to Plains Art Museum in 2003. This made the Plains Art Museum one of two museums in North Dakota which has received this distinction.
art, and traditional folk art. Artists whose work is represented include Andy Warhol
, James Rosenquist
, Salvador Dalí
, Ellsworth Kelly
, and Sol LeWitt
.
Museum
A museum is an institution that cares for a collection of artifacts and other objects of scientific, artistic, cultural, or historical importance and makes them available for public viewing through exhibits that may be permanent or temporary. Most large museums are located in major cities...
located in downtown Fargo, North Dakota
Fargo, North Dakota
Fargo is the largest city in the U.S. state of North Dakota and the county seat of Cass County. In 2010, its population was 105,549, and it had an estimated metropolitan population of 208,777...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
History
The history of the museum dates back to 1965 when the "Red River Art Center" opened in the former Moorhead, MinnesotaMoorhead, Minnesota
Moorhead is a city in Clay County, Minnesota, United States, and the largest city in northwest Minnesota. The population was 38,065 at the 2010 Census. It is the county seat of Clay County....
, post office
Post office
A post office is a facility forming part of a postal system for the posting, receipt, sorting, handling, transmission or delivery of mail.Post offices offer mail-related services such as post office boxes, postage and packaging supplies...
. The name of the museum was changed when it was incorporated with the Rourke Art Gallery to form the "Plains Art Museum" in 1975. After a 1987 schism resulting the departure of founding director James O'Rourke, the Plains Art Museum and the Rourke Art Museum and Gallery became separate institutions. The Museum remained in the downtown Moorhead location until 1996. In October of 1997, the Museum relocated to a renovated turn-of-the-century International Harvester
International Harvester
International Harvester Company was a United States agricultural machinery, construction equipment, vehicle, commercial truck, and household and commercial products manufacturer. In 1902, J.P...
warehouse
Warehouse
A warehouse is a commercial building for storage of goods. Warehouses are used by manufacturers, importers, exporters, wholesalers, transport businesses, customs, etc. They are usually large plain buildings in industrial areas of cities and towns. They usually have loading docks to load and unload...
in downtown Fargo, North Dakota
Fargo, North Dakota
Fargo is the largest city in the U.S. state of North Dakota and the county seat of Cass County. In 2010, its population was 105,549, and it had an estimated metropolitan population of 208,777...
. The American Association of Museums
American Association of Museums
The American Association of Museums is a non-profit association that has brought museums together since its founding in 1906, helping develop standards and best practices, gathering and sharing knowledge, and advocating on issues of concern to the museum community...
granted accreditation to Plains Art Museum in 2003. This made the Plains Art Museum one of two museums in North Dakota which has received this distinction.
Location
The Plains Art Museum acquired the old International Harvester warehouse building in 1994. The architecture firm of Hammel, Green and Abrahamson (HGA) of Minneapolis redesigned the space, and the end result is a mix of old and new styles.Permanent collection
The museum's permanent collection contains approximately three thousand works including national and regional contemporary art, traditional American IndianNative Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
art, and traditional folk art. Artists whose work is represented include Andy Warhol
Andy Warhol
Andrew Warhola , known as Andy Warhol, was an American painter, printmaker, and filmmaker who was a leading figure in the visual art movement known as pop art...
, James Rosenquist
James Rosenquist
James Rosenquist is an American artist and one of the protagonists in the pop-art movement.-Background and education:...
, Salvador Dalí
Salvador Dalí
Salvador Domènec Felip Jacint Dalí i Domènech, Marquis de Púbol , commonly known as Salvador Dalí , was a prominent Spanish Catalan surrealist painter born in Figueres,Spain....
, Ellsworth Kelly
Ellsworth Kelly
Ellsworth Kelly is an American painter and sculptor associated with Hard-edge painting, Color Field painting and the Minimalist school. His works demonstrate unassuming techniques emphasizing the simplicity of form found similar to the work of John McLaughlin. Kelly often employs bright colors to...
, and Sol LeWitt
Sol LeWitt
Solomon "Sol" LeWitt was an American artist linked to various movements, including Conceptual art and Minimalism....
.