Thomas Merton once said, “Art enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time.” This quote is true, but it isn’t the whole story. A more appropriate description is: art gives the one looking at it an extraordinary feeling that is partially described by the quote above, but the only way to really know what that feeling is like is to experience it. In Mason City, we are very lucky to be able to have the chance to experience art in a variety of ways at our art museum, the Charles H. MacNider Art Museum. A part of their mission statement, as written on their website, is to “...sustain a thriving environment in which American art and exceptional collections are collected, stored, and displayed...” This is what they have done since
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The museum annually offers classes to all ages, making everything from fairyland houses to wood chip carvings, which is one of the most loved aspects of the museum, along with the diverse collection of artwork. This collection ranges from Bil Baird’s famous puppets to, yes, a very lifelike wax policeman. The museum also has a pottery studio that people can use to make ceramics and has an annual celebration of the arts, called Art Fest, which encourages the community to come see the museum and embrace the arts. From this, everyone can see that the museum is definitely serving it’s purpose- to provide a place for everyone to enjoy the visual arts, a mission that they have succeeded at since they opened in 1966, like stated before, although their history goes back to 1964, when it all …show more content…
It was built in 1920 and is conveniently located next to the library. It was built in the English Tudor Revival style with four modern additions made to match the style of the house. This house was built by Burr Keeler, President of the Mason City Brick and Tile Company, but sat unoccupied until 1932, when the Duffield family moved in. Next, in 1948, the Presentation Sisters of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church used it as a convent. Finally in 1965, the MacNider family bought it and donated it to the city of Mason City with the stipulation that it would be renovated and used as an art center. In 2008, they redid the shingles, but besides that, the building hasn’t needed any other
The museum annually offers classes to all ages, making everything from fairyland houses to wood chip carvings, which is one of the most loved aspects of the museum, along with the diverse collection of artwork. This collection ranges from Bil Baird’s famous puppets to, yes, a very lifelike wax policeman. The museum also has a pottery studio that people can use to make ceramics and has an annual celebration of the arts, called Art Fest, which encourages the community to come see the museum and embrace the arts. From this, everyone can see that the museum is definitely serving it’s purpose- to provide a place for everyone to enjoy the visual arts, a mission that they have succeeded at since they opened in 1966, like stated before, although their history goes back to 1964, when it all …show more content…
It was built in 1920 and is conveniently located next to the library. It was built in the English Tudor Revival style with four modern additions made to match the style of the house. This house was built by Burr Keeler, President of the Mason City Brick and Tile Company, but sat unoccupied until 1932, when the Duffield family moved in. Next, in 1948, the Presentation Sisters of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church used it as a convent. Finally in 1965, the MacNider family bought it and donated it to the city of Mason City with the stipulation that it would be renovated and used as an art center. In 2008, they redid the shingles, but besides that, the building hasn’t needed any other