February 25 – April 03, 2021
Downtown Gallery
About:
This exhibition presents two recent gifts to the Samek Art Museum; artifacts from the ancient world donated by retired Bucknell professor, James Turnure, and modern artworks from Bucknell president emeritus, Dennis O’Brien. Turnure and O’Brien led the formation of the art gallery at Bucknell that became the Samek Art Museum.
Related Events:
James Turnure Sit Down Interview
Friday, March 05, 12 p.m.
Former Acting Director of the Samek Art Museum and Samuel H. Kress Professor of Art History Emeritus for over 40 years at Bucknell University, James Turnure, and Bucknell alum Julia Carita explore Turnure’s recent donation to the Samek Art Museum of his Greek, Roman, and Egyptian antiquities, his 40-year tenure at Bucknell, and his love of art history.
Curatorial Text:
Making Histories
This exhibition presents two collections that are recent gifts to the Samek Art Museum. The collection of modern artworks on the gallery walls are a gift of Judith and Dennis O’Brien. Dennis O’Brien was the president of Bucknell University from 1976-1984. The collection of artifacts from the ancient Mediterranean in the cases on the gallery floor are a gift of Dr. James H. Turnure, Samuel H. Kress Professor of the History of Art Emeritus, Bucknell University.
These two gifts came coincidentally in the same year from respective donors O’Brien and Turnure who served at Bucknell in the same years during which they collaborated. In addition to the histories represented in these collections, Turnure and O’Brien led the formation of the first art gallery at Bucknell that became the Samek Art Museum. The fortuitous folding and layering of these histories suggested that we showcase these collections together in this exhibition.
There is a separate history and delight to be savored in each artwork and object here and you are encouraged to linger with each of them. This exhibition celebrates another history; that of the dynamic and growing collection of the Samek Art Museum, an academic resource for Bucknell University and a cultural asset woven into the history of central PA.
Installation Images:
