A Spot of Art

By Brianne Harrison

With the economy the way it is and people losing their homes, now might not seem the best time to give money to the arts instead of, say, charities devoted to homelessness or mortgage relief. But as important as those charities are, it’s also vital to support the arts and their venues, many of which struggle even when the economy is strong.

All things considered, it was both surprising and gratifying to see such a large crowd at Princeton Art Museum’s annual fundraiser last Saturday night. More than 200 art lovers and patrons descended on the jewel of a museum in the middle of campus to meet and greet, enjoy some drinks and hors d’oeuvres, and in some cases, give informal guided tours of the collection that would put many professional guides and docents to shame.

And what a collection they have to work with! Although the museum isn’t large, it boasts works from some of the best-known artists in history (Monet, Manet, Degas, and Goya share wall space with Georgia O’Keefe, John Singleton Copley, and Andy Warhol) along with dozens of little- or unknowns. The museum also has two rooms filled with ancient artifacts, including a fragment from an Egyptian sarcophagus, pieces of Greek and Roman statuary, jewelry, and incense burners.

Perhaps one of the best things about the museum is that it’s free and open to the public, although there is a fee to view certain special exhibitions. If you’re in the Princeton area and hankering for a spot of art, the museum is certainly worth an hour or two of your time.

The museum is open Tuesdays to Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sundays from 1 to 5 p.m. For further information, please call 609.258.3788 or visit artmuseum.princeton.edu