Displays limited by Art Museum facilities
By JEANNETTE HARTMAN
Summer Kansan Reporter
Because the University of Kansas Art Museum has no elevator, pieces of Wendell Castle furniture, currently on display on the lower floor of the museum, had to be carried downstairs by museum director, Bret A. Wallers, the curator, and various workmen.
This was possible because the furniture only weighed up to 200 pounds apiece. Larger exhibits, like sculpture. Wallers reported are ridiculous to even consider because of the greater weight.
"Our program is definitely hurt by not having facilities even equal to those had by small colleges and universities all over the United States," Wallers said.
He mentioned two other problems—storage space and display space.
"Our storage space is so inadequate, it would be laughable if it weren't so sad," he said. Approximately 9,000 pieces are stored in various areas of the building. Often pieces are unavoidably damaged because the storage areas have no climate control.
Wallers gave as an example a 17th century Dutch painting on a wooden panel which now has a crack across it. The painting has been stored, off and on, for 10 years in one of many storage areas between the walls of the building and the display rooms. It would cost the University $500 to restore the painting, not to mention the loss in value accompanying the repairs.
More than 90 per cent of the museum pieces are in storage like this. Damage is difficult to assess as it occurs over several years.
The total value of all museum collections is $2 million. One-million dollars worth of these pieces are displayed in the upper galleries of the museum, which have no climate control. These pieces are no better preserved than if they were in storage, said Wallers.
The problem is complicated by the need for office space for a full time faculty of seven from the department of history of art and
classroom facilities for 700_students.
During the past year, one exhibit gallery was converted into faculty offices. The museum office, intended for two people, now holds four, plus a reference library and storage area for several hundred ceramic pieces.
The lack of display space is another problem.
No more than one-tenth of the pieces are on display. Occasionally for major exhibits, the permanent collection is moved. But, as Wallers said, "We don't even have a place to store the things when we take them down. And besides, if it's always in storage, what good does it do to have a permanent collection?"
During the regular academic year, there are 6-12 temporary exhibits. Some are package exhibits put together by other museums, but the most important ones are put together here from objects the museum has in storage.
The museum is a major educational resource of the University "For People in studio arts (drawing, painting and design), it is vital that they see original works, especially contemporary ones. With our present facilities, we are not able to provide for these students." Wallers said.
David R. Coffin, chairman of the department of art and archeology at Princeton University, said in his report to the Graduate Council of KU, in 1967: "The greatest strength of the Kansas Department of the History of Art, at present, is its Art Museum.
"I believe that the Kansas Museum has one of the most imaginative programs of acquisitions, exhibitions and education of any of the university or college art museums of the country, with
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much less resources or stuff than many of these museums. It is obvious that students of all levels of knowledge and interest are fully involved in the operation of the museum and that the museum is thereby a truly 'teaching museum'."
the art history and visual arts department what the library is to liberal arts students, or the lab is to science students.
"In addition." Wallers continued. "The museum is a resource that is and should be used by all members of the University community." This includes not only the Uniervity's students
and faculty, but also the people of Lawrence and visitors, many of whom are school children.
Wallers made the analogy that the art museum is to students in
These deficiencies in the museum are not new. The University has known for about 10 years that the museum is inadequate, and has been hoping for private funds. "But this just hasn't come about," Wallers said.
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