Riverside Art Museum

Riverside Art Museum is an art museum in the historic Mission Inn District of Riverside, California. The museum is a non-profit organization.[3]

Riverside Art Museum
Built 1929, originally the YWCA
Location within California
Established1967
Location3425 Mission Inn Avenue, Riverside, California
Coordinates33°58′54″N 117°22′14″W
TypeArt museum
DirectorDrew Oberjuerge
CuratorLindsey Rossi and Carolyn Schutten
Websiteriversideartmuseum.org
Old YWCA Building
Built1929[1]
ArchitectJulia Morgan,[1] Nethery Construction Company
Architectural styleLate 19th and 20th Century Revivals: Mediterranean Revival, Classical Revival
NRHP reference No.82002227[2]
RIVL No.18
Added to NRHPJanuary 28, 1982

The building originally served the Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA), and it was placed on the National Register of Historic Places on March 13, 2009.

History

In 1929, the Riverside YWCA selected the corner of 7th (now Mission Inn Avenue) and Lime Streets as the site for its new building. The association's directors hired architect Julia Morgan to design the building over the objections of Frank Miller of the Mission Inn, who wanted an architect who would design the building in the Mission Revival Style architecture. Morgan used the Mediterranean Revival and Classical Revival styles in composing the design.

In 1960, the Riverside Art Center began fundraising to purchase the YWCA building, which had recently come onto the market. On July 5, 1967, the YWCA officially sold the building to the Riverside Arts Center for $250,000.

In 1982, the building was designated a Registered Historic Place and a city historic landmark.

In 1992, a three-phase renovation of the building was undertaken with the financial assistance of the City of Riverside.

Architecture

The building combines elements of Mediterranean and Classical architecture in an "innovative tri-block design".[4] The first floor originally housed a swimming pool, an open-air atrium, and a gymnasium. The second floor featured bedrooms, offices, and meeting rooms with a small stage. On the roof was a badminton court. A garden, and an outdoor fireplace were added in the late 1930s as a memorial to Ruth Muir, former Secretary (Executive Director), after she was brutally assaulted and murdered at the age of 48, while vacationing in La Jolla.

Exhibitions

The Riverside Art Museum mounts an average of 20 exhibitions per year, some of which are travelling exhibitions, of "art that addresses social issues, diverse themes and a range of media techniques".[3]

Programs

The Riverside Art Museum hosts educational programs for both children and adults.

See also

References
  1. Riverside Cultural Heritage Board (January 2002). "Landmarks of the City of Riverside" (PDF). City of Riverside. Retrieved March 3, 2013.
  2. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. March 13, 2009.
  3. "Home". Riverside Art Museum website. Riverside Art Museum. October 11, 2007. Retrieved October 13, 2007.
  4. "History". Riverside Art Museum website. Riverside Art Museum. October 11, 2007. Retrieved October 13, 2007.
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