The Grace Museum

The Grace Museum Accredited by AAM

2006-05-04T13:52:00.000-05:00

The Grace Museum has achieved the highest recognition for a museum, accreditation by the American Association of Museums (AAM).

AAM Accreditation is a seal of approval from the museum field that recognizes a museum for its commitment to excellence, accountability, high professional standards, and continued institutional improvement. It also signifies that a museum fulfils its obligations to the public as set forth in its mission.

Developed and sustained by museum professionals for 35 years, AAM's museum accreditation program is the field's primary vehicle for quality assurance, self-regulation, and public accountability. It strengthens individual museums and the entire field by promoting ethical and professional practices. Of the nation's nearly 17,500 museums about 775 are currently accredited. The Grace Museum is one of only 39 museums accredited in Texas .
Accreditation is a rigorous but highly rewarding process that examines all aspects of a museum's operations. The museum underwent a comprehensive self-assessment process followed by a site review by peer museum professionals.

"AAM Accreditation represents a process of more than two years that were rigorous ones for The Grace's staff," said Judy Godfrey, President/CEO of the Museum. "Thanks to the Board of Trustees' involvement and the dedication and arduous work by the Museum's team, we have achieved national recognition of The Grace Museum's commitment to the highest professional standards of operation and public service.

"Accreditation places The Grace in the top echelon of museums in the nation. It also gives us accountability and credibility by attaining excellence in ethical and professional museum standards. We rejoice in this accomplishment ? one of my goals for The Grace since July 1997 -- and take pride in and celebrate the benefits it will bring to our community.

"This prestigious accreditation gives the Grace Museum the recognition it deserves as a top museum in the country," said Dr. Mark Phelan, Chair of The Grace Museum Board of Trustees.
"Accreditation positions The Grace for special accredited-museum-only exhibits and acquisitions that will benefit Abilene for years to come," said Dr. Jesse Fletcher, President Emeritus of Hardin-Simmons University , and former Interim Director and Board of Trustees Chair of The Grace. ?Judy Godfrey, her staff, and the Board (of Trustees) deserve great credit for this achievement."

The Grace Museum is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Built in 1909, The Hotel Grace served as a rest stop for railway travelers. The mission-style building was renovated and re-opened in 1992. At 55,000 sq. ft., The Grace is the 10th largest general museum in Texas .
The Museum is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday; and from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. every Thursday. Admission is free Thursday evening after 5 p.m.

As the national service organization representing the American museum community, the American Association of Museums' mission is to enhance the value of museums to their communities through leadership, advocacy and service. For more about AAM and the Accreditation Program please visit www.aam-us.org .

April ArtWalk tonight!

2006-04-13T08:52:00.000-05:00

Come by The Grace this evening from 5pm-8pm and check out the April ArtWalk! In the Main Gallery is your last chance to see the Trees in a Circle: Navajo Weavings of Teec Nos Pos in the Main Gallery. On the 2nd floor, in Gallery A we have the Painted Violin, Early Texas Artists in Gallery B, and Austin-based artist Fidencio Duran in Gallery C. Of course the Children's Museum will be open and there will be activities throughout the building. 5pm-8pm - completely free!

A Reminder

2006-03-24T09:51:00.000-06:00

Just a reminder that Youth Art Month closes next Thursday at 8pm. You have six days to enjoy art by area students canvassing the entire 2nd floor! Hurry on in and check it out!

Star-gazing at The Grace

2006-03-08T10:47:00.000-06:00

Weather permitting, star gazing on the roof of The Grace is scheduled for ArtWalk - tomorrow (Thursday, March 9). Come on by and - if you can see the stars - see them from the roof of The Grace!

Grace MuseCast Blog Launch

2006-02-22T16:18:00.000-06:00

We are pleased to announce the launch of The Grace Museum's MuseCast blog! This blog will deal strictly with news, updates, and thoughts regarding The Grace's MuseCast program, and hosts the feed used to send all podcasts to iTunes and other podcast receivers.

Check it out at
http://gracemusecast.blogspot.com

Join us for Stargazing!

2006-02-21T09:50:00.000-06:00

Come to the rooftop of The Grace Thursday night at 6:30pm for stargazing on the roof. See the stars from the top of The Grace!

Questions? Call Trisha at 325.673.4587

Works on Paper: Chapter 2

2006-02-17T08:45:00.000-06:00

Works on Paper: Chapter 2 is live. This chapter is written by sophomore English major Kate Farris. Check it out at the Works on Paper website.

"The News" (the painting in which our Works on Paper project is based) is now hanging on the East Wall of the Loggia on the 1st floor. Come by and view it in person!

Also, do you have an iPod? Have you recently upgraded your iPod? Do you still have your old iPod? Is it acting as a $200 paperweight? Donate it to The Grace so we can make iPods available to our visitors! Call James at 325.673.4587 or e-mail jamesy@thegracemuseum.org.

Saturday = Free Day!

2006-02-15T16:52:00.000-06:00

The Grace Museum will open its doors to the public free of charge on Saturday, February 18.
"We invite the public to come, see and experience all The Grace Museum has to offer, including our current art exhibits, history and children's museums," said Judy Godfrey, President and CEO of The Grace.

Currently on exhibit at The Grace are: Trees in a Circle: Navajo Weavings of Teec Nos Pos, an exhibit of beautiful and colorful Navajo weavings in the Main Gallery; Heart and Soul: The Photographs of Ray Carrington, an exhibit of compelling black-and-white photographs from Houston's Third Ward in Gallery A; Flora, Friends and Facades: The Artwork of Mary Motz Wills, Elsie Motz Lowdon and Mary Eula Sears, a diverse three-artist exhibit in Gallery B; and Hats: Hallelujah! Tradition, Faith and Fashion Mingle at Church, an exhibit of black women's church hats in Gallery C.

The exhibits in Galleries A, B and C will all be taken down beginning Monday, February 20 to make way for Youth Art Month, which opens March 2.
In addition to current art exhibits, The Grace features a Children's Museum filled with hands-on, interactive experiences for youth ages 2 and 12; and a History Museum with period rooms and artifacts that depict life in early Abilene .

The Grace will be open free to the public from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the 18th.
The Museum's regular hours are from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday; and from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. every Thursday. Admission is free Thursday evening after 5 p.m.

For more information, please call Dan Carpenter at 325.673.4587.

Works on Paper: A Creative Writing LitCast

2006-02-09T08:46:00.000-06:00

The Grace Museum is pleased to announce the launch of "Works on Paper: A Creative Writing LitCast" in collaboration with Abilene Christian University's Advanced Creative Writing class.

This collaboration integrates art with English in a new, intriguing way. The 12 students in the class will each write an original chapter to a story based on Jack Bookbinder's "The News," and record the chapter in their own voices. These will then be podcasted on the Works on Paper website and a new chapter released each week.

Chapter 1, written by Senior English major Julie Sosebee is already live on the website.

So head over to the website and check out this exciting collaboration!

Subscribe to our Podcasts!

2006-02-07T09:47:00.000-06:00

Now it's possible to subscribe to The Grace Museum's podcasts on numerous providers!

Check out our podcasts on...
Yahoo
GalleryCast
Podcast Alley

And we'll be coming soon to iTunes!

Lots happening at The Grace this week...

2006-01-30T16:22:00.000-06:00

There is simply no reason to skip The Grace this week, as we have programming for everybody...

Thursday and Friday marks another Tot Spot! Weave your way into the beautiful craft of weavings! Thursday morning at 10am and Friday morning at 9:30 & 11am, for kids ages 2 to 5.

Houston photographer Ray Carrington will be participating in a Gallery Talk for his exhibit "Heart and Soul" at 6:30pm Thursday night, February 2. Meanwhile, you can listen to a podcast with Mr. Carrington here...

And Saturday is Military Appreciation Day at The Grace (and the rest of downtown!) A valid military ID will get you into The Grace and other downtown venues for free!

So come on down to The Grace this week, and be ready for a special announcement regarding our MuseCasting program later this week...

Two New MuseCasts available

2006-01-30T16:17:00.000-06:00

The Grace Museum is pleased to announce two new MuseCasts to our MuseCasting page, accompanying our ongoing exhibits.

Dr. Caroline Streeter, Assistant Professor of English and African-American Studies at UCLA, talks to us regarding the "Hats: Hallelujah" exhibit in Gallery C until February 18...

And Navajo Nation President Joe Shirley discusses the Navajo people and their weavings to accompany "Trees in a Circle: The Navajo Weavings of Teec Nos Pos," in our Main Gallery until April 15.

UCLA professor to speak at The Grace

2006-01-24T11:34:00.000-06:00

A noted professor from the University of California , Los Angeles will present a special lecture, Thursday, January 26 at The Grace Museum.

Dr. Caroline Streeter, Assistant Professor, Department of English and Ralph J. Bunche Center for African American Studies at UCLA, will present a lecture titled, "Crowning Glories: The Tradition of Black Women's Church Hats" beginning at 6:30 p.m.

The lecture is being presented in conjunction with Hats: Hallelujah! Tradition, Faith and Fashion Mingle at Church, an exhibit of black women's church hats currently on display in The Grace's 2nd Floor Gallery C. Streeter will focus on the hats as expressions of individuality, community and faith.

Streeter, who has a joint appointment in the Department of English and the Center for African American Studies, was born Alsace ( France ), and while growing up, lived in Germany , California , New York , Saudi Arabia , Salzburg , and Paris .

Her research and writing have prepared her to teach courses not only in African American literature, comparative American ethnic literature, and feminist criticism, but also in the visual arts and popular culture.

Streeter has lectured at The Grace on Folk Art (March 2001); African American Quilts (January 2003); and, in February 2004, presented a lecture on actress Halle Berry and the Politics of Race in Contemporary Hollywood.

Streeter's lecture is funded by a grant from Humanities Texas, a state partner of the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Hats: Hallelujah! is sponsored by the Dian Graves Owen Foundation, Humanities Texas, First Financial Bank, N.A., Dr. Angela Nicolini, Neomia M. Banks, State Farm Insurance, Gonzales Tile, Greater Abilene Ministers Alliance , ICAN, Southwest Home Health Care, Rose and Carl Turner, and West Texas Women on the Move.

The Grace Museum is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday; and from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. every Thursday. Admission is free Thursday evening after 5 p.m.

For more information, please call Dan Carpenter at 325.673.4587

Gallery Talk Tonight!

2006-01-19T10:34:00.000-06:00

Tonight at 6:30 The Grace will host a Gallery Talk with 4th Generation Navajo Weaver Roy Kady from Teec Nos Pos, Arizona. Mr. Kady will present a lecture on the weavings and then answer questions from the audience, so be sure to stop by The Grace tonight to hear Mr. Kady - admission is free (as it is every Thursday night from 5pm-8pm).

And remember, you can download a podcast with Mr. Kady here!

Two New MuseCasts!

2006-01-17T15:15:00.000-06:00

We have two new podcasts available for your listening pleasure!

We have a podcast with 4th-generation Master Weaver Roy Kady to accompany "Teec Nos Pos: Trees in a Circle" now showing in the Main Gallery until April 15!

We have another podcast available with botanist/author Howard Irwin of Massachusetts. Dr. Irwin wrote the text to Mary Motz Wills' "Wildflowers of Texas" book.

Check it out on our MuseCasting page!

1000 Podcast Downloads

2006-01-13T09:26:00.000-06:00

The Grace's Podcasting Program is pleased to announce that we have gone over 1,000 downloads! Since we began at the end of June 2005, we are at 1009 downloads...and counting. Stay tuned, two more podcasts will be available for download today.

Go to our Musecast page and keep our numbers rolling!

Lots happening this weekend at The Grace!

2006-01-12T09:12:00.000-06:00

Don't forget that tonight is ARTWALK!

Tonight's Make-and-Take Activity is "Ringing in the New Year" in the Diner and there will be choirs singing all over the building!

Also, Saturday morning marks the opening of the exhibit "Trees in a Circle: Navajo Weavings of Teec Nos Pos" in the Main Gallery, through April 15.

So come on by every day this week and find something new.

And if you're interested in renting The Grace for your event, give Nancy a call at 673-4587...

Tot Spot today and tomorrow!

2006-01-05T09:04:00.000-06:00

Don't forget that Tot Spot is on for today and tomorrow! Tot Spot is for kids ages 2-5 and the cost $5 for non-members and $3 for members. This month we'll be making Hats in conjunction with our Gallery C exhibit "Hats: Hallelujah!"

Tot Spot is today at 10am and tomorrow at 9:30 and 11am.

Call The Grace at 673-4587 to sign up for Tot Spot!

And speaking of members, if you're an avid reader of the blog you're either already a member - or you should be. Call Trisha at 673-4587 and ask about membership.

Last Week of ACU!

2005-12-26T21:44:00.000-06:00

This is the last week that the ACU Centennial Exhibit will be open in the Main Gallery. The exhibit closes at 5pm on Saturday, December 31st - so hustle on in to The Grace to check out the last Main Gallery exhibit of the year. Open Tuesday-Saturday, 10am-5pm!

Podcast Link Fixed

2005-12-22T11:09:00.000-06:00

It has come to my attention that Preston Gardner's podcast link was broken. It is now fixed, and you can access it in the "Other Podcasts" section of our Musecast website...

Thanks for your attention, and thanks for listening!

Christmas Hours!

2005-12-22T08:33:00.000-06:00

Ladies and Gents,

The Grace Museum will be open on Christmas Eve from 10am to 3pm and will reopen Tuesday, December 27 at 10am.

And for your information, also, we will maintain regular hours New Year's weekend, closing at 5pm on December 31 and reopening at 10am on January 3, 2006.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from The Grace Museum.

Podcast Recording Today!

2005-12-14T08:45:00.000-06:00

Today we will be recording a podcast with Barney Lipscomb, Leonhardt Chair of Texas Botany at the Botanical Research Institute of Texas in Fort Worth. Mr. Lipscomb will be discussing three pieces in our Gallery B exhibit "Flora, Friends, and Facades" by Mary Motz Wills of the Texas Wildflowers from a botanical standpoint.

This afternoon, let's say at 4pm, you can go to The Grace's MuseCast page and listen to Mr. Lipscomb's podcast.

ArtWalk Tonight

2005-12-08T11:13:00.000-06:00

If you feel brave tonight, and want to brave the cold weather - stop by The Grace for tonight's ArtWalk!

Santa will be roaming around trying to stay warm! (This weather rivals the North Pole!)
Make & Take It in the Diner will feature Holiday Stockings
There will be pefromances by the Heavenly Rest Handbell Choir and the Cooper High School Theater Troupe.

So come on down to The Grace from 5pm-8pm. It's free!

New Podcast Available

2005-12-07T14:41:00.000-06:00

The Grace Museum is pleased to announce a new podcast available on our website.

Dr. Don Frazier, Chairman/CEO of the McWhiney Foundation, Executive Director of the Buffalo Gap Historic Village, and Professor of History at McMurry University (as well as author, NPR segment producer, etc...) stopped by to discuss Mary Eula Sears' painting Abilene, South 1st Street, 1881.

Check out the MuseCast page at The Grace and listen to the 4:25 interview!

Exhibits Opening This Week

2005-11-28T14:54:00.000-06:00

The Grace Museum will be proud to open two new exhibits on our Second Floor this week. Opening on November 29 will be Friends, Fauna and Facades in Gallery B, featuring artwork from Mary Motz Wills, Mary Eula Sears, and Elsie Motz Lowdon. And opening in Gallery C on December 3 is Hats: Hallelujah!

Come by The Grace and check out these great new exhibits.

Thanksgiving Hours

2005-11-22T11:08:00.000-06:00

The Grace Museum will close on Wednesday, November 23 at 5pm and reopen at 10am Friday, November 25. The Grace will maintain normal hours (10am-5pm) on Saturday, November 26.

Have a safe and happy Thanksgiving from The Grace Museum staff.

Podcast Recording Today

2005-11-17T09:38:00.000-06:00

Today we will record a podcast with Houston photographer Ray Carrington to accompany his exhibit "Heart and Soul: The Photographs of Ray Carrington, III." The exhibit, currently in Gallery A, focuses on life in Houston's 3rd Ward district. Check out the MuseCast with Mr. Carrington this afternoon on the MuseCast page of The Grace's website.

DL Programs today

2005-11-15T08:20:00.000-06:00

The Distance Learning team will be pretty busy today as we have two virtual field trips scheduled for the 5th Grade Reading Roundup program to Region 14 schools DeLeon and Aspermont. We offer six programs via virtual field trip and videoconferencing. Check out what we offer on our Education Dept's website. And download the promo, it's pretty good.

The Grace receives Conservation Assessment Program grant

2005-11-09T08:07:00.000-06:00

The Grace Museum is excited to announce that it recent received funds from Heritage Preservation to participate in the Conservation Assessment Program! Heritage Preservation describes the program best as:

CAP provides a general conservation survey of your museum's collection, environmental conditions, and site. Conservation priorities are identified by professional conservators who spend two days on-site and three days writing a report. The report can help your museum develop strategies for improved collections care and provide a tool for long-range planning and fund-raising.

Since the Grace Museum is housed in a registered historic building, one of the two conservators to visit will be a preservation architect. The other conservator will carefully review the museum's are and history collections, with total over 8,500 tangible objects and over 10,000 pieces of archive material. With such a huge collection and a 95 year old building, it gets to be a daunting task for the small curatorial and maintenance staff of three. Participation in CAP is an essential step in the continual care and maintenance of Abilene's art and historic treasures. It will be a year long process to complete, but well worth the time and effort as The Grace Museum continues to uphold and excel in standard museum practices. Since a museum holds its collection in fiduciary trust, (that is, on behalf of the public) it is the museum's responsibility to care for the collections in its possession for the public.

It is our goal to use the culminating reports from the conservators to help develop a conservation plan for the items we hold, as well as for the building. The 1909 structure is nearing its 100th birthday, and we are so blessed to work in such a grand building. Those of us who work at The Grace Museum truly believe the Hotel Grace is the jewel of downtown. (Some would say we are a bit partial.) With an active conservation plan, the Curatorial and Operations staff can set in motion and solidify preservation measures that we expect to maintain the life of Abilene's history for generations to come so that these treasures can be enjoyed then just as much as they are now.
If you have any question about collections care at The Grace Museum, please post questions or contact me at any time.

Holly B. North
Curator of Collections/ IT Director
Distance Learning

Sound Wall Repaired!

2005-11-08T14:42:00.000-06:00

Those of you who have been to The Grace in the last 10 days may have noticed that our Sound Wall has been closed - well, never fear, because the Sound Wall is back up and running.

Due to the efforts of our fearless Children's Museum Manager, Preston Gardner, the Sound Wall is open and ready for visitors. Thanks, Preston!

ArtWalk this Thursday!

2005-11-08T11:19:00.000-06:00

Remember that this Thursday, November 10, is the monthly ArtWalk night. Admission is free from 5pm-8pm. Showing in the Main Gallery is the ACU Centennial Alumni Art Exhibition, Gallery A shows Heart and Soul: The Photography of Ray Carrington, Gallery B features Bhutan: Land of Shangri-La by Alice Wright, and in Gallery C we have Following Brightness, paintings by Juanita Tittle-Pollard.

And don't forget the kids! In the Diner on the 2nd floor (outside the Children's Museum), kids can make Tom Turkeys for the Make and Take.

Hope to see you there!

Welcome to The Grace Museum's Blog

2005-11-07T13:20:00.000-06:00

Welcome to the official blog of The Grace Museum.

The Grace houses three museums in the historic Grace Hotel -- The Art Museum, The History Museum and The Children's Museum. It is located on the corner of North First and Cypress Streets in downtown Abilene, Texas. Across the street is the restored Abilene Texas & Pacific Railroad Station, which is now the Convention and Visitors Bureau. Built in 1909, The Grace is on the National Historic Register. It is a four-story, 55,000 square foot, missions-revival style building, representing the hopes of the western frontier. The first floor of The Grace Museum includes an elegant, historic marble ballroom, a glass loggia, a large enclosed brick courtyard, and a restored lobby. The rooftop has a large, open-air terrace. Many weddings and other parties and functions are booked into the museum spaces. The Grace Museum enriches and enhances the cultural life of Abilene and the West Texas region through its permanent collections, special exhibits, classes, seminars and special events. In the heart of Abilene's beautifully restored downtown, The Grace serves as a cornerstone for cultural arts and education in West Texas.

The Blog will serve as an online mouthpiece for The Grace. Updates on exhibits, educational programming, MuseCasts, and special events at The Grace can be found in a quick and user-friendly format on The Blog. Bookmark us and check back often for updates!