con americ contemporary american marine art - Jill Nichols Graphic ...

The Museum of the Southwest houses over 12,000 works of art in its collection, including sculpture, early and
contemporary Southwestern art, and rare Native American art and artifacts. The museum also hosts up to ten
exhibitions a year that feature the paintings, pottery, and sculpture of well-known national and international
artists as well as many amazing local artists. Additionally, on display outside on the Museum Grounds is a
permanent collection of beautiful stone and bronze sculptures.
The Museum’s rich history begins with the dynamic family which owned the mansion. Fred and Juliette
Turner built their home in 1936. Among the most impressive features of the mansion were the first swimming pool and first
privately owned tennis courts in Midland County. The pool and tennis court were later removed for museum expansion.
After the mansion and stables became the home of the Museum, expansions in 1970 (Thomas Galleries)
and 1987 (Southwing) added much needed exhibition, collection storage, preparation and handling space.
In 1972, a grant from the Blakemore Foundation allowed the Museum to build a Planetarium. The building,
designed by noted architect Frank Welch, won the Texas Society of Architects’ Award for Excellence.
In 1986, after a Junior League community needs assessment determined that a children’s museum would benefit Midland,
Fredda Turner Durham gave a generous donation to assure the development of the new facility. The Children’s Museum was
built on neighboring property given to the museum by a patron.
The Museum was accredited by the AAM in June 1992, and again in 2002.
The Museum is privately governed by a twenty-seven member Board of Trustees and has a full-time staff of eleven.
Brian Lee Whisenhunt
Executive Director
ABOUT THE MUSEUMS
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