KENNEDY MUSEUM OF ART - Ohio University

DIRECTOR’S WELCOME
How much is that object worth? This is a frequent and understandable question
from museum visitors. However, the intrinsic worth of art and other collected objects
cannot be measured by its value in currency but in its importance in the scheme of
things.
Generally speaking, museums are committed to collecting, preserving and
interpreting objects deemed to be of value to the culture. The objects we collect are
prized because of the connection they make to other things or situations. That gives
them context and meaning. Therefore, a primary function is to help us gain a better
perspective of our own existence. However, the experience does not end there.
It isn’t uncommon to learn that a visit to a museum was so inspirational, it
became pivotal in someone’s life. An encounter with an object on view often triggers
creative processes that lead to new concepts and approaches. Those inspired ideas,
when acted on, link the past with the present and the future.
These notions are not in conflict with enjoying a piece simply for its purely
expressive qualities because those experiences do not exist within a vacuum.
Although they may seem intangible and immeasurable, our thoughts and feelings are
influenced. These aesthetic and emotional experiences also connect the past through
the present to the future.
In essence, museums are not merely repositories for objects. They are places
that bring the human and natural experience to life. This is why museums are great
centers of learning. That makes them and their collections, regardless of market
forces, priceless.
Edward E. Pauley
The John B. and Dareth A. Gerlach Director
On the cover:
Howlin’ Wolf, © Stanley Livingston 2009