Location: 7th floor, Albert B. Alkek Library
Texas State University: 601 University Dr. San Marcos, TX 78666-4604
Hours of Operation:
Mon. – Fri. 8:30am – 4:30pm
Sat 11am – 4:30pm
Sun 12pm – 4:30pm
Phone: 512.245.2313
Price: Free!!!
The Wittliff Collections was founded by Bill and Sally Wittliff in 1986 and included many unique items that can now be viewed on the seventh floor of the Albert B. Alkek Library. Although the museum looks quite small from the outside, The Wittliff Collections takes many people by surprise due to its size. With a wide variety of exhibits and collections, it is almost impossible to not find something that peaks your interest. For additional information about The Wittliff Collections, click here!
With taking 16 hours this semester, it is very rare that am anywhere else but the library or Jones dining hall working on some kind of homework. In fact, I believe that I spend more time between those two places than I do at my own dorm! With that being said, I find it crazy how I have never explored The Wittliff Collections before this project.
When I heard about the exhibit, I assumed that The Wittliff Collections was going to be these two small rooms filled with random stuff that wasn’t really relevant. Then when I got to the seventh floor, my assumptions didn’t change; from the outside, the place looked exactly how I pictured it. However, once I walked in, my expectations were beyond surpassed.
There were more than just “two rooms filled with random stuff “. There were eight exhibitions spread throughout several different rooms. I am typically not a person who gets excited to visit museums, but I will admit that this one was very amusing. I can’t wait to share my experience of The Wittliff Collections and to also bring my friends here!
While I was exploring the rooms for myself, I got the chance to talk with, Giang Pham and Spencer Critendon, two students who work at The Wittliff Collections. Both Pham and Critendon are upperclassmen and share the major of Communication Design. When talking with Critendon, he mentioned that he was introduced to The Wittliff Collections through a tour arranged by his photography class.
One of my questions that I asked Critendon was about what exhibit he liked the most, to that he replied, “I really enjoy photography, my sister is a photographer. So, I really love going around and looking at everything. But, my favorite thing in here is probably the fact that we have Grammies on display… I think that is just so cool.” When talking about the importance of The Wittliff Collections Pham said, “I think there is a lot of art here from around this area that people should see, especially from different perspectives. And it is important to appreciate photography and art in a different way. Because we see Instagram and all the nice photographs, these exhibits display photography of everyday people.”
Giang Pham and Spencer Critendon, along with myself recommend going to The Wittliff Collections. When asked “Why should someone see these exhibits”, Critendon was quick to answer with, “Are you a friend of Willy Nelson, Selena? Do you go to ACL a lot? Because we have stuff from all of those categories. If they are a fan of photography, there are places – there are so much different inclusive photography in this exhibit. I love the fact that we have a Through Her Lens exhibit. Everything in that exhibit is done by female photographers. It is very exclusive and representative and probably one of the best things that Texas State University has”.