With free admission to students and professional art exhibits frequently on display, there’s not very many reasons to not stop by the University of Oregon’s Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art every once in while.
“There’s literally always something new here,” JSMA spokesperson Debbie Williamson Smith said.
The JSMA is one of six museums in the state of Oregon and is the only academic museum accredited by the American Association of Museums.
UO student Heather Jones is a frequent visitor, stopping by at least once a month to see any new exhibits.
“I’ve always loved art, so it’s great to have the JSMA on right on campus,” Jones said.
The JSMA will be starting the school year off by showcasing the exhibit “National Geographic Greatest Photographs of the American West” on September 28. The exhibit will be featuring photographs by Ansel Adams, William Albert Allard and Joel Sartore, among many others.
In conjunction with the exhibition, the JSMA is hosting two lectures from National Geographic photographers Sam Abell and Rich Clarkson. Photographs by both the photographers are included in the exhibit.
Abell has worked with the National Geographic Society since 1970 and has shot more than twenty assignments on various cultural and wilderness subjects. Abell will be speaking at 2 p.m. on the opening day of the exhibit. For Abell, this isn’t his first time speaking at the museum. In March 2010 Smith said Abell premiered the exhibition “Amazonia” with an another photographer.
Local track fans might be familiar with Clarkson’s work from his book “Track Town, USA,” that shows the history of the University of Oregon’s historic Hayward Field through photographs. Clarkson will talk at the JSMA on October 6 at 2 p.m.
Although the exhibits at the JSMA are typically from well known or professional artist, the museum, in a collaboration with the John E. Jaqua Academic Center and the UO Department of Arts and Administration, is currently showcasing works created by UO student athletes. Smith said the exhibition features 46 UO student athletes from various sports including football, track and field, soccer, cheerleading, golf and basketball.
The art is from a class that focused on incorporating art into their lives. According to the exhibit’s page, many of the athletes used their studio time to create paintings depicting Alex Rovello, the UO tennis player who drowned last May.
But if photographs or paintings aren’t your cup of tea, those are just two of the many exhibits that the JSMA will put on throughout the year.
“I’d really like students to know we’re here and we’re here for them and let them come in and explore what piece of art touches them,” Smith said.
The JSMA is located on the UO campus at 1430 Johnson Lane. Museum hours are 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesdays, and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays through Sundays.