Terra Museum of American Art of Chicago

Written by Julie Greiner

The Terra Museum of American Art is located on Chicago's Magnificent Mile at 664 Michigan Avenue in Chicago, between Huron and Erie Streets, three blocks south of the historic Water Tower. This museum houses one of the most comprehensive collections of American art in the world. The museum was founded by Daniel J. Terra, United States ambassador-at-large for cultural affairs during the Reagan Administration. Originally the museum was housed in Evanston and it is now celebrating its fifteenth year on Michigan Avenue. The mission of the museum is to provide an understanding and appreciation of the cultural contributions made by American artists. The present five-story museum was designed by Booth-Hansen and has presented with the American Institute of Architects Award. The museum's permanent collection consists of more than 700 important American works of art including 19th century landscape and seascape paintings, genre, still-life and a collection Edmund Charles Tarbell, Breakfast on the Piazza, 1902, oil on canvas, 36x29 3/4 inches, Private Collection

Edmund Charles Tarbell, Breakfast on the Piazza, 1902, oil on canvas, 36x29 3/4 inches, Private Collection

of works on paper. Artists who are represented are Cole, Church, Bingham, Whistler, Homer, Sargent, Eakins, Cassat and Tanner. 20th century artists represented include Hopper, O'Keeffe, Dove, Harley, Marsh and Avery. Among the American Impressionists works included are Theodore Robinson and Frieseke. The icon of the collection is the early American masterpiece by Samuel . B. Morese, "Gallery of the Lourve."

The Terra Museum's Permanent Collection

Ruth Harriet Louise (1903-1940) was the first woman photographer who was active in Hollywood. She was 22 years old when the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studio hired her to photograph Hollywood's biggest stars such as Chaney, Crawford, Garbo, Gish and Shearer. Hollywood invented most of our notions of glamour and Ruth Harriet Louise played a central role in creating the images.

The Ruth Harriet Louise Hollywood Glamour Exhibit

Edmund C. Tarbell (1862-1938), a founding member of "The Ten American Painters," a group of leading impressionists from Boston and New York, which included Childe Hassam, William Merritt Chase and Frank W. Benson. Beginning in 1892, Edmund Tarbell and his family summered in the coastal village of New Castle, New Hampshire. His wife and four children became his favorite subjects, and he painted them in quiet moments of domestic life and engaged in outdoor activities.

The Edmund C. Tarbell Impressionist Exhibit

The museum is committed to exploring new approaches to the concept of education Ruth Harriet Louise, Greta Garbo (In White Dress, Hand to Chest,

and to developing interdisciplinary, multi-dimensional programs and materials designed to make the collection of American art accessible to everyone. Public tours are scheduled at noon Tuesday through Friday. The museum is open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. on Wednesday through Saturday, noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday and closed on Monday. The museum gift shop offers an extensive collection of exhibition catalogs from Terra and other museums, plus a large variety of children's books,posters, note cards, jewelry, textiles and pottery by regional artists. For further information call: (312) 664-3939 or www.terramuseum.org.