The Muskegon Museum of Art Kicks Off its 100th Year Celebrations

Written by Felix Endercott Sunday, 22 January 2012 21:10

Muskegon, Michigan.- The Muskegon Museum of Art kicked off the celebration of its 100th Year on December 11 with the unveiling of "The First 100 Years", a set of new exhibitions on display throughout the museum that highlights masterworks from the extensive museum collections. Exhibitions of "The First 100 Years" will be open through January 29, 2012. The museum’s history began with a gift from lumber baron Charles Hackley, who made his fortune in during the 1980s Michigan lumbering boom. Hackley believed that the growth of Muskegon—the young city he adopted as home—would benefit from progressive new schools, a library and a hospital, and an art museum. Hackley died in 1905 before realizing his dream of an art gallery. However, he left an expendable trust of $150,000, through a bequest in his will, to the Board of Education of Muskegon Public Schools.

The fund, now known as the Hackley Picture Fund, was to be used to purchase “pictures of the best kind.” By 1910 some of the most treasured and valuable works of art still in the Museum’s present day collection were purchased and then displayed at Hackley Public Library, and the Board of Education determined that the time had come to build a museum-quality facility to house the growing art collection. The new museum, called the Hackley Art Gallery, was built and, in June 1912, opened its doors to the public. The news was broadcast nationally and internationally. The young museum, eventually renamed The Muskegon Museum of Art, was and is still regarded as one of the finest regional art museums in the United States.

The MMA’s 100th Year schedule includes "The First 100 Years", a set of four exhibitions throughout the museum that highlight masterworks from the extensive museum collections. The exhibitions include Pictures of the Best Kind, Portfolios, Series, and Collections; Contemporary Works; and Tiny Treasures. "1934: A New Deal for Artists", a Michigan-exclusive showing of the nationally touring exhibition from the Smithsonian American Art Museum that will open at the MMA on February 16, 2012. "New Art for the New Century". In May, the MMA will unveil a remarkable and not-yet-seen collection of art newly acquired for in honor of its centennial year in this exhibition. The exhibition will open to the public May 4, 2012. The 84th Regional Exhibition. This annual juried show will be open to artists throughout the state of Michigan and will be on display throughout the summer, starting May 31.

The MMA 100th Anniversary Gala will be held June 9. An elegant and special evening is planned for the black-tie event that will include a cocktail party, dinner, music, and silent and live auctions."50 X 50:  A Glass Invitational" is a major exhibition of contemporary studio glass opening August 23, just in time to mark the 50th anniversary of the studio glass movement, will feature 50 glass artists working in the field today. "Songs in Steel and Other Dreams" opens September 6, 2012. This exhibition features work by Caroline Lee, a sculptor renowned for her monumental work in Paris, who is returning to the U.S. for this exhibition. "Festival of Trees", a popular community event, will help to celebrate the 100th Year. It will be open November 23 through December 2, 2012. The 100th Year will then close out with an exhibition organized by the Muskegon Museum of Art featuring some of the very best fiber and textile artists from around the country, called Innovators and Legends: Generations in Textiles. The opening reception is set for December 13, 2012.


Muskegon was a prosperous and booming town during the 1870s and 80s.  Charles H. Hackley and other local leaders were determined to save Muskegon after the sawmills closed by making this town “one of the most distinctive cities of its size in the country.”  In the next eleven years, Hackley invested a good part of his fortune towards meeting that goal. Hackley was convinced that emphasis on such public projects as progressive new schools, a library and a hospital would attract new growth.  The idea of building an art museum for Muskegon was always high on Hackley’s list of priorities.  Hackley died in 1905 before realizing his dream of an art gallery. However, Hackley left to the Muskegon Public Schools Board of Education, through a bequest in his will, an expendable trust of $150,000, to be used to purchase “pictures of the best kind”. By 1910, having begun with Hackley Picture Fund the acquisition of some of the most treasured and valuable works of art still in the Museum’s present day collection, the Board of Education wisely determined that a museum-quality facility should be built. They then proceeded to purchase the lots next to Hackley Public Library and began construction of a facility for their growing and important art collection. Upon completion, the Board of Education chose to honor the inspiration for the project, which, of course, was Charles Hackley, and named their newest building the Hackley Art Gallery. In 1979, ground was broken for a $1.6 million addition to the Hackley Art Gallery, also funded by the L.C. & Margaret Walker Foundation.  Construction was completed in 1980 and with that, the Hackley Art Gallery changed its name to the Muskegon Museum of Art with the Hackley Galleries and the Walker Galleries. The museum's permanent collection is the envy of many and their changing exhibition schedule is rich with opportunities for our community to experience art and artists from around the world. Masterevorks by Mary Cassatt, Edgar Degas, Winslow Homer, Edward Hopper, Frederic Remington, James Abbott McNeill Whistler and others are enhanced by a wide range of educational programs, services and temporary exhbits designed to make art accessible to a variety of audiences. Visit the museum's website at ... http://www.muskegonartmuseum.org

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