Idabel, OK (February 15, 2020) — A new exhibit is now on display at the Museum! From now until January 5th, 2020, the Mary Bratton Curtis Gallery will house our Recent Acquisitions Showcase! Guests can see some of the best pieces the Museum has purchased or been gifted over the last year.
The Museum of the Red River opened in 1975 with a focus on the region’s archeology. In the mid 1980’s, the Museum expanded its exhibition program to include native arts from throughout the Americas (North, Central, and South). Over 30,000 have since been acquired, with over 80% received as generous donations from individuals and families. The museum also applies designated purchase funds to buy appropriate works as they become available. Exchanges with other institutions is another means of acquiring objects.
The Museum’s collecting interests now include materials representing cultural groups outside of the Americas. As the largest exhibiting facility in the region, it recognizes both a responsibility and an opportunity to provide as broad an aesthetic experience to its audience as possible. With more diverse collections, the Museum can offer new and better programs. It can draw aesthetic comparisons across a broader range of cultures, highlight unique artistic devices and local traditions, and feature new innovative craft technologies.
On display in the Showcase are objects from North, Central, and South America, as well as items from Asia, Africa, and the Pacific Islands. Also included are prehistoric artifacts and contemporary art objects, all of which are testament to the Museum’s broad collecting focus.