The Architecture and Presence of the Appleton
Located in Central Florida, the Appleton Museum of Art occupies an 81,610-square-foot building designed by architect Dwight Holmes. The structure is clad in Italian travertine marble, providing a solid, tactile presence on the College of Central Florida campus. It opened in 1987 and functions as a space for both permanent collections and temporary exhibitions. The grounds include an outdoor sculpture walk and a garden, extending the reach of the institution beyond the interior walls.
The museum's physical environment is designed to facilitate quiet observation. Visitors move through galleries that house a diverse range of objects, from 17th-century European paintings to works by Andy Warhol. The building's design emphasizes a sense of permanence, reflected in the heavy stone exterior and the deliberate arrangement of its various spaces.
The Permanent Collection
The collection contains over 24,000 objects. These works represent various eras and movements, ranging from Pre-Columbian objects to the Art Deco movement. The holdings include specific studies of light and form, such as the following works:
- Young Shepherdess, 1868 - William-Adolphe Bouguereau
- Knitter, 1879 - William-Adolphe Bouguereau
- Daphnis and Chloe, 1882 - Elizabeth Jane Gardner
- Nude - Jean-Léon Gérôme
- Landes Peasants Going to Market, 1866 - Rosa Bonheur
Beyond traditional painting, the museum maintains a significant selection of Art Deco items. This includes vintage garments and accessories by Cartier and Schiaparelli, as well as textiles from Japan. The collection also features metal objects produced by Chase, such as clocks, radios, and doorstops, alongside vintage posters and ephemera.
Exhibitions and Public Engagement
The museum hosts rotating exhibitions that draw from its own holdings. One such exhibition, Skylines to Hemlines: Art Deco Design from the Permanent Collection, examines the influence of the movement on both high fashion and everyday objects. This approach allows the institution to present its collection through specific thematic lenses rather than strictly chronological ones.
The institution also provides space for hands-on engagement through ArtSpace at the Appleton Museum. This makerspace is intended for educational programming and community interaction. On the first Saturday of every month, the museum offers free admission to the permanent collection and special exhibitions, allowing for broader access to the works held within the travertine walls.
