The James Museum of Western Wildlife Art Essay

Introduction

The James museum of western wildlife art is situated in downtown St. Petersburg and stood opened in April of 2018. The museum was opened by philanthropist and art collectors and businessman Tom and wife, Mary James (The James Museum 1). The museum boost of a rich and diverse collection of art of the wild American west which is beautifully and periodically arrayed to provide visitors and art enthusiasts with a grand tour of the heritage journey (The James Museum 1). The James museum has over 400 artworks which are sure to stir your inner curiosity and arouse your spirit of adventure while giving you a glimpse of the extraordinary history of the natives of the west (Tampa Bay Times 1). The museum is actively involved with the community by supporting different educational programs which enable them to contribute to the culture and history displays through their artwork.

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Type of Art Collection in the Museum

The James museum houses one of the biggest collections of both contemporary and traditional artworks of the Native Americans (The James Museum 1). Tom and Mary collect artwork include traditional paintings, bronze sculptures, jewelry and breathtaking landscapes of Western America and excellent wildlife demonstration (The James Museum 1). These artworks are from the couple's collection which is in its thousands and has been collected progressively for over 50 years.

How Tom and Mary Got Started

In his early age, Tom James had a thing for cowboy movies, and in the subsequent years, it led him to create one of the largest Western and wildlife museums. They began collecting arts together while still at school in Harvard and Wellesley respectively (Tampa Bay Times 1). They started with collecting New England scenes, and later the western art swept them by storm when they traveled to they traveled to ski on holiday.

Museum Design

The building sits on 84000 square foot in St. Petersburg, Florida and is a stunning piece of art by itself. It is made with a combination of sandstone walls and copper finishing's that evoke the western feeling while appealing to its purpose (Tampa Bay Times 1). The building includes a black granite waterfall which stands at 20 feet at the end of the hallway which brings out the western theme.

Billy Schenck. Oh, You Wanted To See My Guns 1991

Billy Schenck celebrates the western culture in his oil on canvas painting which features a cowgirl with reflective sunglasses, a classical Stetson cowboy hat, and a purple bandana. The painter brings out the western theme by choice of colors blue, red and purple on the white robe which brings out the colorful nature of the natives. The colors also symbolize national identity and the culture exhibited by the natives. The clouds are background, and the clouds are brown close to a golden dash which depicts the landscape grandeur of the Wild West with supportive clear blue skies to back it. The painting brings out the creative mind Billy Schenck in displaying the native culture and is a sight to behold at the James Museum.

Z.S Liang. The Cheyenne Burning of Fort Phil Kearny 1868

The Cheyenne Burning of Fort Phil Kearny, oil on canvas painting exhibits the theme of national identity and the demise of native culture and indigenous animals. The art is a depiction of the war that successfully drove the U.S Army to abandon the Powder River region. The native culture is depicted by the men on the horses who are wearing native war attire. The weapons used were simple arrows which were adorned with feathers as a part of the native culture and identity. The fire in the background which is depicted by the yellow color often used to represent flames can be interpreted as an exhibition of the struggle the natives had to go through to safeguard their land and culture. The use of horses symbolizes the strong indigenous animals which had different purposes with the most symbolic being during wars.

Works Cited

The James Museum. St. Petersburg's New Museum Destination.2018. Retrieved from: https://thejamesmuseum.org/about-james-museum/

Tampa Bay Times. Tom James and Wife, Mary, Talk about Their James Museum of Western Wildlife Art. 2018. Retrieved from: https://www.tampabay.com/news/humaninterest/tom-james-and-wife-mary-talk-about-their-james-museum-of-western-and/2330483