Contents of the Assembly
The Lehigh University Art Galleries (LUAG) boasts a unique and diverse collection, with a focus on artworks from various backgrounds and perspectives. The collection, which represents only 3% of its entire holdings, is housed in a temperature-controlled facility on Lehigh's Mountaintop Campus.
One of the most notable pieces in the collection is the Keith Haring Box, attributed to the artist himself. This piece, along with other paintings, sculptures, and ceramics, occupies entire rooms in the storage facility. The artworks not on display are meticulously organised, with floor-to-ceiling flat file cabinets holding photographs, such as the box of Andy Warhol Polaroids donated by the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts.
The storage facility is a bustling hub, much like a restaurant's "back of house," as Lanie Yaswinski, a collections assistant at LUAG, aptly describes it. A registrar at LUAG processes incoming donations and acquisitions, managing legal paperwork for insurance and compliance with museum policies.
Art history has traditionally been construed from a Western European and American lens, but LUAG aims to broaden this perspective. The gallery has established a committee to review works and discuss their use in programs and education, with a focus on ensuring a diverse and vibrant collection. This includes considering the perspectives of African American and Black artists, Indigenous artists, and women.
Mark Wonsidler, curator of exhibitions and collections at LUAG, emphasises the importance of diversity in the collection. He is joined by William Crow, the director of LUAG, a professor of practice in art, architecture and design, and a recently selected J. Paul Getty Museum guest scholar. Both gentlemen underscore the value of direct encounter with original works of art for Lehigh students.
The LUAG collection also includes pieces with historical significance, such as black and white Associated Press photographs donated by George Stephanopoulos, showing soldiers in the United States Army training in a Korean camp after the Korean War. A pre-Columbian jug, depicting a sea lion deity wearing a polka dot poncho, dates back to 600 to 900 CE and is part of the LUAG collection.
One piece that holds a special place in Lehigh's own history is "Essential Clay," made of colored beeswax on wood board, painted by Richard J. Redd. Another notable addition is the mule sculpture created by Mr. Imagination (Gregory Warmack) for Lehigh as part of the public art project "Miles of Mules."
The storage facility at LUAG is kept at a constant temperature of 68 degrees and humidity no higher than 45%, ensuring the preservation of these valuable works of art for future generations to appreciate. The LUAG continues to grow and evolve, striving to provide a diverse and vibrant collection that serves the university and community.
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