Highlights
Alma Mater, 2003 by artist William Baggett (Montgomery, AL, 1946)
More than two years of conceptualization and design preceded the four months that reknowned muralist and Auburn alumnus William Baggett '68 spent painting the monumental mural Alma Mater, 2003 in situ in the Museum's beautiful Auditorium. Commissioned by The Lethander Foundation, the medium is oil on canvas and measures 36' long and 18' tall at the highest point. A cubist evocation of daily life of Auburn University and the surrounding community, the mural subtly juxtaposes old and new; past, present and future; tradition and innovation. Each rich scene melds into the next, prompting the viewer to question the interrelatedness of the varied facets of the mural.
Dale Chihuly, Amber Luster Chandelier, 2003
A gift of the John H. Hughes Family, the three-tiered glass chandelier created by the internationally-known glass artist Dale Chihuly was designed especially for the Rotunda of the museum. Working in their Seattle studios, Chihuly and his team created more than 600 pieces of hand-blown glass in six shapes and a unique coloration including amber, olive, gold leaf and lavender to produce the organic, mesmerizing effect of the chandelier. In April, a team of three Chihuly Studio technicians spent four days atop scissor lifts installing the sculpture, piece by piece. The brilliant 17' x 7' sculpture, weighing more than 1,000 pounds makes the Rotunda come alive.
Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre Tickets
Trans Siberian Orchestra Tickets
Spinoff by artist Jean Woodham
Jean Woodham, '46, an Auburn alumna and noted sculptor, has donated her 11 1⁄2 foot brass sculpture entitled Spinoff. Composed of striking geometric forms, the sculpture complements the sleek modern lines of the museum design. Woodham is one of the first artist to apply methods developed from industry to create monumental outdoor sculpture. Instead of creating a model and then entrusting the final development of a piece to industrial fabricators, Woodham translates her models in her own Westport, Connecticut studio.
The Helen and Dwight Carlisle Collection of Irish Belleek Porcelain
Donated to the museum in 2003 by Auburn alumnus Dwight Carlisle and his wife Helen, the collection of Irish Belleek porcelain is one of the most comprehensive in existence. Comprised of 354 pieces from each period of production, the collection features a rare spider plate, woven baskets, vases, busts, tea sets, place settings and decorative pieces.
The Nelson and Joan Cousins Hartman Collection of Tibetan Bronzes
In 1997, a collection of more than 40 rare Tibetan bronzes was donated to Auburn University by alumnus Joan Cousins Hartman of St. Louis, Missouri. Although the majority of the bronzes in the museum's collection are Tibetan in origin, several were executed in India and China. The bronzes date from the 14th-20th century.