columbia museum of art

Always have fun with my friends at CMA events, especially Arts & Drafts! The museum has a nice permanent collection but does a very good job bringing in larger traveling exhibits. If they are in between one of their big exhibits it might be best to visit on a free day, but big exhibits like Rockwell and Turner to Cezanne were well worth the admission price.

Special exhibits are their forte. Otherwise it is a typical small city art museum. Many evening programs of music, lectures, etc.

If you love portraits and traditional art, this is the place for you. Modern exhibits are well done, and traveling exhibits are almost always visible.

We visited between exhibitions so we were able to view only the permanent collection which seemed very limited. We expected much more from an art museum in a state capital. There was no admission fee on the day we visited.

we stopped in on our drive to Florida to break up the drive and we're lucky to catch a touring show of Norman Rockwell titled behind the camera, it was really interesting. We also took a quick tour of the permanent exhibits and liked them. Really pleasant afternoon.

Went to the Norman Rockwell exhibit. Very interesting to see the process he went through for each painting. The Mini tours were very informative. The rest of the museum is the same from years past.

Horrible. Hot and crowded and noisy. Never been in a museum where people were so loud. Twice guard accused me of talking on phone when I was shown how to use it to listen to program since servers were down. Wasn't told to get in line for tour Couldn't hear guide due to noise. I should have been given a refund. Worst museum in world I've ever been to. I assume those giving it a good review don't know what a good museum is. Will never return

My better half selected this museum because it was hosting a Norman Rockwell exhibit and she knows I love Rockwell's work. (Wasn't that awesome of her?)The museum is located on Main Street in downtown Columbia, in easy walking distance of the State House, parking garages, classic hotels (Check out that Marriott!) and trendy restaurants. (TIP: Go on a weekend and you'll find parking free and plentiful!)The walk to the museum is also traveled by a number of Columbia's homeless people; some may approach you for money; one person approached us. Nothing to be frightened of - but be prepared for it. On occasion the walk is traveled by demonstrators going to or from the State House. Mostly they talk about jello recipes when nobody's paying them much attention. We did note a reassuring police presence in the area and were never uncomfortable walking the streets.The museum proper is properly clean and well maintained; it suggests an aire of dignity from its very foundation. An information desk is situated just inside the doorway and we were immediately welcomed by staff members. In a moment we were on our way to visit Rockwell and a host of exhibits from around the world and across the ages. (TIP: Be sure to pick up a museum map at the information desk; it will help ensure you either see it all, or make it back to the exit before closing time! Trust me - get the map.)We found that a handful of docents led included tours every few minutes, but guests are welcome to explore at their own pace and leisure, if preferred. We did a bit of both, sometimes finding the docents difficult to hear. Despite that, the docents do a wonderful job here.From Rockwell, we toured the museum's unexpectedly extensive collection of art! The museum offers a substantial collection of Renaissance, Baroque, later European, and American art, including the only fresco by Botticelli outside of Italy. There is Monet's "View of the Seine" - which I, admittedly, am not sophisticated enough for - Chinese porcelain and ceramic, Remington's "Bronco Buster" sculpture, Roman busts... so very much to see. The museum is appropriately clean, to include its rest rooms, and elevators make movement among floors a breeze. There are also seats positioned throughout the galleries for those who may wish to rest a spell, or simply enjoy the ambiance. There is also a small gift shop packed full of appropriately artsy gifts. The museum is truly a gem of downtown Columbia.

We visited here to see the Norman Rockwell exhibit, which was quite enjoyable. We went upstairs to check out the permanent exhibits. Overall this is a really nice little museum - a good variety of art work - which made the viewing quite enjoyable - We are not serious art museum people although we have visited a number of art museums. Not so stuffy that the average person can't enjoy the museum.

A very nicely arranged smaller museum on Main St. The exhibitions have always been top class. Pleasant staff. Free on Sunday. Worth an afternoon visit.

This is my fourth (or fifth?) visit to the Columbia Museum of Art in the last 7 years. I came to see the exposition of Norman Rockwell works. It is divided into four rooms on the first floor and it shows which was his creative process from photographs and sketches to the paintings of his famous images. I love these timeless images that depicts ordinary life events with realism and humor. The museum's permanent collection is upstairs. It covers art of many centuries from the Egyptian and Roman to contemporary art. Compared to others, it is a small museum, but nonetheless it houses many interesting pieces like a big Chihuly glass sculpture, several examples of Italian art among which a painting by Canaletto, an Italian blown glass chandelier, a religious tryptic, and Asian art.In the past I remember seeing an exposition of works by Ansel Adams, and one by Michael Kenna and unfortunately missing the one on French Impressionists. I really admire the quality of the temporary expositions that bring world class art to this museum and the many interesting pieces in the permanent collection on display.

The exhibit was wonderful and the public tour was a great way to be introduced to the exhibit. We spent a good deal of time with the exhibit and the went upstairs to see their permanent exhibit. Our afternoon there was very enjoyable. If you love Norman Rockwell it is a must and will be there only a few more days.

We went to Columbia just to see the Rockwell exhibit and it was well worth the trip! The exhibit highlighted the way Rockwell created his extraordinary paintings. They included photographs of the models posing for Rockwell, and how he used these to help create the final work of art. Having these hanging next to the final piece gave us new appreciation for the huge amount of work he put in to each painting.

Looking at the covers of the Saturday Evening Post during the 50s and early 60s as well as those of the later 40s brought back such great memories of my childhood and growing up. The times depicted seem simpler and safer than the times of today. It was a great reminder of what life in the United States was all about

We thoroughly enjoyed the Norman Rockwell Exhibit and the guided tour at the museum was outstanding. Very informative. After the tour, took the time to enjoy the permanent displays on the second floor. BTW - the permanent displays are free on Sundays.