I recently visited the Cincinnati Art Museum. I have been there many times but this is the first time I have gone by myself, allowing myself to wander and linger as I pleased. There are definitely favorite pieces in the museum but one thing I really appreciate is the extensive collection that includes what most people think of as artwork but so much more. I have split this article into several posts, Art Climb, the First floor, the Second Floor and Art Deco Bedroom, as there are so many exciting things to see. Don’t forget to stop at the information desk, they have all kinds of interesting things to help you enjoy your visit! This was my first time experiencing Art Climb, which I really enjoyed especially since the weather was beautiful that day.
A Little Background on the Cincinnati Art Museum
In 1869, before the civil war, the McMicken School of Design was affiliated with the new McMicken University which later became the University of Cincinnati. After recovering from the Civil War, Cincinnati was no longer growing as it had before the war. Midwestern cities had boomed with wartime industries since they were further from the southern border. This fueling of economic and population growth created competition for Cincinnati’s industry and culture.
Cincinnati’s civic leaders began building cultural institutions among them the May Festival Chorus in 1873, Music Hall and the College of Music in 1878, and the Cincinnati Art Museumwhich was established in 1881 and opened in 1886. Industrial Expositions boosted the economy, the city’s ceramic and furniture industries earned international reputations, and Cincinnati was once again known as a center for art education. In 1884, McMicken University transferred the School of Design to the Cincinnati Museum Association and was renamed the Art Academy of Cincinnati. The Art Academy and the Cincinnati Art Museum became the heart of the city’s art world.
The Cincinnati Art Museum was the first art museum west of the Allegheny Mountains to be purposely built as a place to collect, curate and display fine art. Over the years, wings have been added as the collection expanded. One of the best places to experience the meshing of the additions to the museum is the Alice Bimel Courtyard. The courtyard can only be accessed from inside the museum and also houses some outdoor seating for the museum’s cafe. When you are in the courtyard, go to the center and look up at the differing architectural details of the many additions to the building.
General admission to the museum has been free for years, thanks to a large philanthropic donation, but visitors no longer have to pay for parking. Special exhibitions, which are usually paid admission, are now free on Thursdays. Art After Dark, a Friday night get-together of art, music and adult beverages, regularly brings in more than a thousand people.
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