What if art could connect you to the past and present? Right here in Seattle, the Seattle Art Museum or SAM, invites you on such a journey. SAM isn’t just one place. It’s a trio of locations including the Olympic Sculpture Park, SAM downtown, and the Seattle Asian Art Museum in Volunteer Park.
Established in 1933, SAM has grown immensely. The collection started with 1926 pieces. It has expanded to nearly 25000 items by 2008. The original museum was relatively small. Now, the facilities cover 312000 square feet, plus a 9-acre park.
SAM traces its roots back to the Seattle Fine Arts Society and the Washington Arts Association. These groups merged and eventually became the Art Institute of Seattle. Richard E. Fuller, with his mother Margaret MacTavish Fuller, played a vital role. They donated $250000 during the Great Depression to build the museum in Volunteer Park.
Carl F. Gould designed the original Art Deco building. It opened in June 1933. Over time, SAM expanded. In 1991, a new downtown facility opened. Robert Venturi designed it. Later, in 2007, the Olympic Sculpture Park opened. It connects art with nature on the waterfront.
SAM’s collection spans 140 cultures. You can see everything from East Asian art to contemporary Northwest pieces. The museum boasts works like Alexander Calder’s Eagle and Richard Serra’s Wake.
The Seattle Art Museum also houses libraries. The Dorothy Stimson Bullitt Library has a focus on European and modern art. The McCaw Foundation Library for Asian Art specializes in Asian art.
SAM has faced challenges too. In 1997, the museum returned a Matisse painting looted by Nazis. It was a landmark case. It highlighted the importance of ethical collecting.
In 2006, the Seattle Art Museum started expanding its downtown location. This expansion increased gallery space by 70 percent. Many new art pieces were donated to the museum. The museum also closed for a while during construction.
Today, the Seattle Art Museum continues to evolve. It offers free admission on the first Thursday and Saturday of each month. SAM connects art and life. It engages visitors with diverse exhibitions and educational programs. The Seattle Art Museum makes art accessible to everyone.