The Berkeley Art Museum, located at the University of California, Berkeley, was founded in 1963 and features works by famous artists such as Jackson Pollock. The museum also has a large film library and hosts events and special exhibits. The building was constructed by architect Mario Ciampi and collaborators and underwent seismic upgrades in 2001. Plans for a new structure are on hold.
The Berkeley Art Museum is one of the largest visual arts museums in the United States, located at the University of California, Berkeley. Fully known as the University of California, Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive (BAM/PFA), the Berkeley Art Museum was founded in 1963 and officially opened to the public in 1970. Although it initially featured works by Hans Hofmann, the museum now boasts thousands of art exhibitions including those of famous artists such as Jackson Pollock and more than 10,000 films. Additionally, visitors can also participate in many special events and programs.
The museum’s establishment began with a collection of donated works by abstract expressionist artist Hans Hofmann. He is described as one of the most important artists in postwar American art and has been credited with playing an important role in the progression of abstract expressionism. Along with the Berkeley Art Museum, Hofmann’s work is exhibited in various other American art museums including the Baltimore Museum of Art and the Albright-Knox Art Gallery.
The artwork displayed at the Berkeley Art Museum includes previous donations along with more acquired pieces from Hans Hofmann. Other well-known artists on display at the museum include Ad Reinhardt, Mark Rothko, and Jackson Pollock, to name a few. The Film and Video Accumulation comprises collections of a broad spectrum of works with a large representation of classic and international works available. The Pacific Film Archive holds the second largest collection of Japanese cinema in the world, with Japan having the largest.
Along with various art collections and an extensive film library, the museum hosts a variety of events, film programs, and special art exhibits. Complete sets of photographs representing world events are often commonplace for public viewing. A video internship program is also available for Berkeley college students interested in digital media. Students majoring in film studies and digital arts qualify for curatorial internships.
The construction of the Berkeley Art Museum took approximately three years to complete. Although the museum was founded in 1963, construction did not begin until 1967 and was completed in 1970. The building was constructed on the south section of the Berkeley campus by architect Mario Ciampi, along with collaborators Richard L. Jorasch and Ronald E. Wagner. However, a survey conducted in 1997 revealed that the building did not meet seismic standards, and reinforcement upgrades to the structure were completed in 2001. Plans for a new structure are on hold as of 2011.
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