The Chazen Museum of Art, located at 750 University Ave. on the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus, is home to the second-largest art collection in Wisconsin, with more than 20,000 artworks. A 2011 expansion nearly doubled the museum’s size to 176,000 square feet, so there’s plenty to see and do.
What to See
The Chazen’s collection of paintings comes from several time periods, starting with European works from the 1300s. Paintings from American and Latin American artists up to the post-World War II era are also on display, including those of Wisconsin’s John Wilde, considered a master of magic realism. The museum’s sculpture collection includes ancient Egyptian and Roman artifacts; the museum’s oldest item is a relief fragment from Egypt’s Fifth Dynasty. The collection encompasses Europe, Southeast Asia, India, Pakistan, and 20th-century America.
Drawings and watercolors range from preparatory drawings done by European masters in the 1500s to American, Japanese, and Chinese works from the 1900s. The Chazen has a large collection of 18th-century British watercolors and drawings done by Russian sculptor Antoine Pevsner in the first half of the 20th century. Examples of printmaking, showing the progression of woodcuts, engraving, and etching, extend from the 1400s through the present day. The Chazen hosts the archive of the university’s publishing print shop.
The photographic collection, mostly from the 1950s through the 1980s, includes examples from journalistic photographers and snapshots of street scenes, as well as photos as part of a mixed-media process. The applied and decorative arts collection runs the gamut, from fifth-century Byzantine floor mosaics and other architectural embellishments to ancient coins, Native American baskets to African jewelry, Greek and Etruscan vases to Chinese porcelain, and furniture from the 18th to the 20th century.
Sunday Cinematheque at the Chazen
The Chazen offers a variety of programs that go beyond the artwork. Sunday Cinematheque at the Chazen presents an occasional series of feature films and archival videos presented in the 160-seat auditorium. Educational videos are also shown on selected Thursdays. Sunday Afternoon Live at the Chazen is a monthly concert series held the first Sunday of each month (except January) in the Brittingham Gallery III, with about 100 seats available on a first-come basis. The concerts are also streamed on the internet.
Bridge Poetry Series Events
Twice a year, the Bridge Poetry Series brings about a dozen Wisconsin poets together to write and recite ekphrastic poems, bringing to words images of the painted artwork in the galleries.
Activities for Children
The Chazen holds a number of events aimed at children, helping them to learn about art, culture, and history. These include storytelling, poetry reading, dramatic re-enactments, dancing, music, drawing, bead-making, and stenciling.
Special Events
University faculty, curators, artists, and visiting scholars often take part in lectures or panel discussions that are open to the public. Artists sometimes provide demonstrations of specific techniques. Galas, receptions, and other events are also regularly scheduled, some focused on specific occasions or exhibits. Special university events are often arranged to expose U-W students to the museum’s artworks.
Perhaps the best thing about the Chazen Museum? It’s free to the public. It’s open Tuesday through Sunday. Drop-in guided tours are available on Sundays at 2 p.m. and Thursdays at 12:30 p.m.
“Mom Chazen Museum of Art 2016 Spring Break TripApril 03, 2016 6” via Flickr by stevendepolo. Used with permission via CC BY 2.0 / cropped from original
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