Okay.

Obviously art has been around for centuries, but here at Notre Dame, we are celebrating our 150 years at the Raclin Murphy Museum of Art.

And I have with me my friend Joe.

It's so good to see you again.

Welcome back.

This is a tremendous milestone for art here at Notre Dame.

Talk to us about the significance of 150 years.

Sure.

A lot of people don't know this, but there was a museum at Notre Dame going back to 1875.

We are one of the oldest and one of the largest university art museums in the country.

I think we're the fifth of the six.

And that's what I was going to ask you.

How many other, you know, universities.

Well, there's more than 400 now, but we were in that first, initial group in the 19th century, typical of Notre Dame.

Right?

Right, right.

Right.

Right.

Right.

Right, right.

And I think it had a lot to do with sort of the, European sensibilities of the CSC coming here, setting things up.

And it was really, initiated by Luigi Gori, who's the individual that painted the, stations of the cross and the ceilings in the basilica.

So there's a long, long, long connection.

That's incredible.

Now we are standing in front of just one beautiful piece, but the collection is quite vast.

Talk to us about how you, Because as everything here that we're seeing new to the collection.

Are you pulling some things out?

Everything that's in the galleries right now is a recent gift to the collection.

That's the purpose of this exhibition.

So maybe some things that people haven't seen if they haven't been here.

Yeah, I think that most things people would not have, seen.

So lots of, lots of new treasures, lots of new surprises.

Oh, I like that word.

Yeah.

And so talk to us about because I know there's, like, 150 gifts that were given to you guys, but the collection is even more vast than that.

So we began this campaign, in the spring of 2022, when we realized that we had this major milestone on the horizon.

And the concept was, let's seek 150 gifts, for 150 years now, a gift could be one work of art, or it could be an entire collection.

And, we ended the campaign in December, this December, and we ended up with 168 gifts.

But the number of works of art is about 1300, so.

Oh, my God, it was an incredibly successful, campaign for many, many, many donors, across the country, around the world, and even here in the South Bend region.

That's amazing.

And so how many are you displayed?

I mean, are all 1300 here?

No, no no, no, this is this is just, a little sampling.

About 100 works are in the galleries.

However, there are some pieces that are downstairs in the teaching gallery, which, faculty have already requested.

There are also pieces throughout the galleries with a special little sticker on them designating 150.

And then there's a complete list that's available online through the QR code.

And yeah, and that's what I was going to add to when I walked through, I noticed there was a QR code on the door.

So what does that take me to?

That takes you to the, whole list.

So, for example, one collector may have given us a 100, individual prints, but we only showing three, here as a part of this exhibition.

So this is really a sampling of some of the great, generosity that we've experienced.

Absolutely.

And what would you say is the range of arts?

Sure, sure.

So you have things that are centuries and centuries and centuries old.

You have some things that are, more recent.

I think that one of the highlights for this exhibition are probably the things that came to us from Mrs.

Ragland.

Okay.

We received the Ernie Raclin bequest, including this great, impressionist, painting.

She, I think, always had it in her mind that she would give her collection, which is superb, to the university.

And, she's certainly, here, present in this exhibition.

Absolutely.

Let's talk about this piece.

This is a beautiful.

Sure, sure.

So this is, Armand Diamond, and he was one of the, Impressionists.

He participated, I believe, in five of the Impressionist, exhibitions.

And, these are his wheat stacks.

Not haystacks like Monet, but these are his wheat stacks, which he actually did before Monet started doing his, haystacks.

And one of the great things about, this painting is that the Impressionists believed that there was no such thing as a black shadow or a dark shadow, that it was just the absence of light.

And if you really look in some of these shadow areas, you can see that there are some fantastic purples and browns and grays.

It really is quite a lovely painting.

Impressionism is my favorite form of right, I have to tell you that.

Right?

Right.

So can we go walk and see more Absolutely.

Lets go head on down And this just continues.

It does continue I love this and I can't imagine these pieces where they came from.

You know was this in someone's front living room?

No.

This was actually in a plaza in, in New York City.

And it was quiet for the museum.

It will eventually go into the sculpture park.

We thought it would be fun to see something this big in this dramatic in the in the galleries.

Absolutely.

Now there's a variety of different correct artwork.

Correct textile work as well.

Correct.

You know, literally every aspect of the collection, from ancient Mesoamerica to contemporary, indigenous, North American artists, you know, 18th century prints, 19th century paintings, they're all a part of this gift.

So it's not just that it went in one direction.

It went in, multiple directions, which I love, because when I've been to other galleries, they're kind of condensed into those periods or timeframes or stylistics and coming in here, it gives you just a wide variety.

Thank you.

And, it's very perceptive here because, you know, we want people to, reflect on just how broad and how diverse this collection is and basically how lucky we are.

Absolutely.

I know you guys have already had your opening reception.

Yes, but this is a limited time opportunity.

Sure.

How long will these be on display?

This, exhibition is open through early June, so we've got a couple of months, ahead of us.

I'd encourage everybody to check out our website about programs that we have scheduled.

We've got some really significant things happening over the course of the next few months.

And, you know, there is so much to see here and there is so much diversity among the objects.

I think the reality is coming back again and again and again.

It's going to be very rewarding.

It's going to be rewarding.

Can we talk about this piece?

Sure, sure, sure.

I mean, obviously it's large and it catches your eye, but there I see a lot with it in my in my opinion.

Right.

So this is a, really significant gift, of a painting by Jim Dine, the famous, American pop artist.

And for a very brief period of time, in the 2000 teens, about two, three years, he stopped painting recognizable images, and he just started using color and texture and brushwork as the subject, itself.

So it's a very, very rare, painting.

And what's great is that it's got so much scale, it's got so much mass.

And it really, calls attention to just what a wonderful gallery space this is.

And I know I always come in, but your gallery space is just incredible.

You guys move some stuff around, though.

We move walls, we paint walls, we change it up, and, it makes it exciting for us.

A little tiring, but it's exciting for us.

I see a piece over there.

Can we go?

Absolutely.

Absolutely.

Catching my eye to make sure the piece over here is, recent, work that we're thrilled to have by David Martin, who's a member of the, pagan Potawatomi and David.

So this is kind of like local art.

Absolutely, absolutely.

And there are many, indigenous objects.

And we really wanted to make this, quite significant.

It's actually a kind of landscape map.

So the design that is, on the front is actually about this region.

And this blue squiggle coming down and around is the Saint Joe River.

So, this work is unique among all the works in this, exhibition because this was actually made to be played and it will be played into existence, this, coming week.

We'll use it for ceremonial events here.

But, you know, we have a long, commitment to the again, to the Potawatomi, to celebrating indigenous art of North America.

This is a great addition.

And I see that this is actually half pine, which I know him as a all, but he's also tremendous artist.

How cool to have that here.

Yeah, we're we're thrilled.

He's been a great friend of the museum.

And I'm glad that he is, sharing in this space with us.

Now in this space, I want to remind people that it is free to come and visit.

Absolutely.

Public space.

Absolutely.

You know, I think that one of the great things that we do is we offer all of the galleries, for free.

You know, we're here for everyone.

And so, you know, if you want to come and spend an hour or if you want to come and spend a half an hour, if you want to come and spend five hours, it doesn't matter.

Yeah.

You can just come in and you can enjoy.

And this new location, you know, we've been here for about two years is fantastic because, you know, we are sort of welcoming the community in we're very easy to access.

We've got drop off areas in the front.

We've got parking in the back.

So you know, come enjoy I hope you do.

And again, this exhibit is going to be available until the beginning of June.

All right.

So do come and see all the tremendous art that's available.

Thank you for being here.

Thank you Joe.

Come back soon.

Yeah.

Well.