The Cedar Rapids Museum of Art is in downtown Cedar Rapids, Iowa, United States. The museum is privately owned and was established in 1905. The museum acquired the old Cedar Rapids Public Library building after the library moved into a new location in 1985. The museum’s current home, designed by post-modern architect Charles Moore, was built adjoining the old library in 1989.
Inspired by the extraordinary art gathered at the 1893 World’s Colombian Exposition in Chicago, community leaders from Cedar Rapids formed an art club in 1895. Ten years later, when they were offered a specially designed gallery in the new Carnegie Library, the club was incorporated as the Cedar Rapids Art Association. The first painting was acquired for the collection in 1906. Local artists were often important members, helping arrange exhibitions, lectures, and special events. In the early 1920s, artists Grant Wood and his close friend Marvin Cone were the most active members. Receiving Federal support from 1930 to 1935, the Association also ran the highly regarded Little Gallery, directed by Ed Rowan, who later helped run the Public Works of Art Project.
Collections
The museum has significant collections from several prominent Iowa artists. The 63,000-square-foot (5,900 m2) museum displays contemporary art exhibitions. It holds the world’s most extensive collection of works by Grant Wood, Marvin Cone, Bertha Jaques, works by Mauricio Lasansky, and the Riley Collection of ancient Roman portrait busts. The Grant Wood collection includes his paintings “Woman with Plants” and “Young Corn.” In 2002, the CRMA was given the building that houses the original studio of Grant Wood. Located just three blocks from the Museum, the loft studio, known by its fictitious address of 5 Turner Alley, was designed and constructed by Wood, who lived and worked there between 1924 and 1935. Here, he painted American Gothic (1930)—now part of the Art Institute of Chicago collection—and many of his most famous paintings. The Grant Wood Studio is open to the public for guided tours Saturdays and Sundays. A1 Bed Bug Exterminator Cedar Rapids
The Marvin Cone collection includes many of his best-known landscapes and abstracts. Cone was a collaborator and friend of Grant Wood. The museum also has Mauricio Lasansky, Ann Royer, and many others.
Exhibitions
We present a rich array of exhibitions throughout the year. Some are drawn exclusively from our permanent collection. Others are comprised of a mixture of works from the collection and works borrowed from public and private collections. Still, other exhibitions organized by the CRMA and other institutions are created entirely by outside groups. These different types of shows, their subject matter, and the covered periods are carefully considered to present a complete and balanced exhibition season every year.
Address: 410 3rd Ave SE, Cedar Rapids, IA
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