California African-American Museum
Encyclopedia
The California African American Museum (CAAM) is a museum located in Exposition Park
, Los Angeles
, California
, USA.
). The current facility was built with State and private funds of around $5 million. The museum was designed by the African–American architects Jack Haywood and (the late) Vince Proby. The new museum building opened to the public during the Los Angeles Olympic Games
in July 1984. A major renovation occurred between 2001 and 2003.
The California African American Museum (CAAM) exists to research, collect, preserve and interpret for public enrichment, the history, art and culture of African Americans. The museum conserves more than 3,500 objects of art, historical artifacts and memorabilia, and maintains a research library with more than 20,000 books and other reference materials available for limited public use.
The permanent collection includes paintings, photographs, sculpture and artifacts representing the diverse contributions of African Americans. The collection ranges from African art to 19th-century landscape. Along with its permanent collection, CAAM hosts specially mounted exhibitions curated out of its own collection, as well as traveling exhibitions from other museums. Recent exhibitions include: "The Whole World's Watching: Peace and Social Justice Movements of the 60's and 70's," "Milton Bowens' Writings on the Walls," "National Pastime in Black and White: The Negro Baseball Leagues," "Azucar! The Life and Music of Celia Cruz," "Orphans of the Rwanda Genocide: Portraits of Survival and Hope," "Intersections of South Central: People and Places in Historic and Contemporary Photographs," and "In the Hands of African American Collectors: The Personal Treasures of Bernard and Shirley Kinsey."
In addition, CAAM hosts independent and collaborative educational programs both on and off site of lectures, workshops, innovative programs, and hands-on activities that serve public and private school students, as well as museum patrons and community visitors of all ages.
CAAM is free and open to the public Tuesday-Saturday 10am-5pm, and Sunday 11am-5pm. Photography is not permitted inside the museum.
34.0158061°N 118.2834649°W
Exposition Park (Los Angeles)
Exposition Park is located in University Park, Los Angeles, California, across the street from the University of Southern California. Exposition Park houses the following:* Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum* Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena...
, Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, USA.
History
The museum opened in 1981, in temporary quarters at the California Museum of Science and Industry (now the California Science CenterCalifornia Science Center
The California Science Center is a state agency and museum located in Exposition Park, Los Angeles. Billed as the West Coast's largest hands-on science center, the California ScienCenter is a public-private partnership between the State and the California Science Center Foundation...
). The current facility was built with State and private funds of around $5 million. The museum was designed by the African–American architects Jack Haywood and (the late) Vince Proby. The new museum building opened to the public during the Los Angeles Olympic Games
1984 Summer Olympics
The 1984 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event held in Los Angeles, California, United States in 1984...
in July 1984. A major renovation occurred between 2001 and 2003.
Description
The museum occupies a 44000 square feet (4,087.7 m²) building. It includes three exhibition galleries, a theater gallery, a 14000 square feet (1,300.6 m²) sculpture court, a conference center special events room, an archive and research library. Behind the scenes there are administration offices, exhibit design and artifact storage areas.The California African American Museum (CAAM) exists to research, collect, preserve and interpret for public enrichment, the history, art and culture of African Americans. The museum conserves more than 3,500 objects of art, historical artifacts and memorabilia, and maintains a research library with more than 20,000 books and other reference materials available for limited public use.
The permanent collection includes paintings, photographs, sculpture and artifacts representing the diverse contributions of African Americans. The collection ranges from African art to 19th-century landscape. Along with its permanent collection, CAAM hosts specially mounted exhibitions curated out of its own collection, as well as traveling exhibitions from other museums. Recent exhibitions include: "The Whole World's Watching: Peace and Social Justice Movements of the 60's and 70's," "Milton Bowens' Writings on the Walls," "National Pastime in Black and White: The Negro Baseball Leagues," "Azucar! The Life and Music of Celia Cruz," "Orphans of the Rwanda Genocide: Portraits of Survival and Hope," "Intersections of South Central: People and Places in Historic and Contemporary Photographs," and "In the Hands of African American Collectors: The Personal Treasures of Bernard and Shirley Kinsey."
In addition, CAAM hosts independent and collaborative educational programs both on and off site of lectures, workshops, innovative programs, and hands-on activities that serve public and private school students, as well as museum patrons and community visitors of all ages.
CAAM is free and open to the public Tuesday-Saturday 10am-5pm, and Sunday 11am-5pm. Photography is not permitted inside the museum.
See also
- List of museums focused on African Americans
- California State and Consumer Services AgencyCalifornia State and Consumer Services AgencyThe California State and Consumer Services Agency is a state cabinet-level agency of the executive branch of the U.S. state of California. The current secretary of the SCSA is former Assembly Member Anna Caballero. Caballero, appointed by Governor Jerry Brown, replaced Governor Arnold...
External links
34.0158061°N 118.2834649°W