Jesuit Dallas has a wide variety of art pieces to offer in its museum around the campus. From the Color Rhythm piece facing the stairs in the Terry Center to the Lightning Field piece at the entrance of the school, they present viewers with a spectrum of colors, shapes and feelings, similar to the pieces and exhibits one can find at other museums around the Lone Star state of Texas.
In an interview with Jesuit Dallas Museum Director Mrs. Elizabeth Hunt-Blanc, she brings not only upcoming information about the Jesuit Dallas Museum, but also a review on her top five favorite museums in Texas.
How did you arrive at Jesuit?
“I was first interviewed by Jesuit Dallas and actually recommended by several people I know, then interviewed by President Earsing, and that convinced me. I love students and working with them and I had been in the museum world which led me to this position.”
What are some of the new art pieces being added to the museum?
“Roger Sullivan, class of ’63, and his wife recently donated a collection of 25 photographs of very famous people; Carol Beckwith is one, Peter Turnley is another, as well as several others. We just had those framed and actually there are some in Hughes Hall and the community service area, as well as 3 very important photographs in the new Global Inclusion office. Some are of Carol Beckwith with Angela Fisher on their travels all over Africa, and they’re probably some of the most famous photographers out there.”
What are the top 5 museums in Texas?
Perot Museum of Nature and Science – Dallas
“The Perot Museum is one of the top science museums, but what’s interesting is that the Jesuit Dallas Museum, prior to COVID, had a wonderful exchange program with them, and we sent three major artworks to the Perot Museum. So it’s not only one of the top science museums, but it also contains some art works and we have a great relationship with them, which is all very important.”
Dallas Museum of Art (DMA) – Dallas
“I ran the McKinney Avenue Contemporary before being at Jesuit which had a close relationship with docents and the DMA. Jesuit has a good relationship with them and it’s a top notch museum. We have docents that go to the DMA and participate in the exchange programs as well.”
“Nimitz” National Museum of Pacific War – Fredericksburg
“It is probably one of the top Pacific War and World War II museums out there. A lot of people go to Fredericksburg just to see this museum. It is very interesting because it shows a really great relationship with how united the United States was during World War II. Also, in our art collection, we have the Navajo Code Talker, and when you go to this museum, there’s a whole tribute to R.C. Gorman, who’s father Carl Gorman was one of the original Navajo Code Talkers. If you’re outside of the Information Commons, there are only ten made in all of America, go look at the small head statue of Carl Gorman, one of our top pieces here. What’s also interesting is when I went to the Nimitz Museum, they had a whole display all about Carl Gorman.”
George W. Bush Library – Dallas
“It’s quite a wonderful museum. One of our artists here at Jesuit, Pam Nelson, just donated the Mixed Buffet piece. She’s done a lot of work up at the George Bush Library and is very good friends of Laura Bush since college. Also, the museum and library did an incredible tribute to 9/11, which is really important for us to see.”
L.B.J. Presidential Library – Austin
“It is a very impressive presidential library and museum historically. Of course, I’m very impartial to the art museums so I love the Kimbell in Fort Worth, but this museum is very well done overall.”
Out of 1,300 museums in Texas, these are only a few out of many that one can visit, including the Jesuit Dallas Museum. The pieces in these libraries have helped to shape our state and give some historical background to it for future generations to learn about. Next time you walk through Jesuit, take some time to look at the paintings and other artworks that the Jesuit Dallas Museum has to offer; you will find that you will come back to explore.
Thanks to Mrs. Hunt-Blanc for making this interview possible.
Tune in to The Roundup for more interviews and news about the Jesuit Dallas Museum!
