It is not uncommon for the LSU Museum of Art to seek an art enthusiast’s personal collections for an exhibition, but they have never before wanted faculty and students to bring in collections of bottle-caps and Pez dispensers — until now.
The museum is looking for everyday collectibles to showcase in the museum’s inaugural exposition at its new home in the Shaw Center for the Arts downtown. They are asking collectors to bring one or two pieces from their collections to the Old President’s House on Dec. 1.
Lara Gautreau, the museum’s education coordinator, said she hopes the exhibit can help bridge the gap between people who collect popular items, such as Matchbox cars, and collectors who acquire traditional art, such as Japanese prints.
Gautreau said some people do not understand how any passionate collector gets the same great feeling when they find an addition to their collection, no matter what they collect.
She said the museum wants to explore what motivates people to collect and help illustrate that through the exhibit.
The museum most likely will select portions from eight to 12 collections, but wants anyone with a collection to come on Dec. 1 because they may create a video or photo exhibit if they have more collections than space permits them to display, Gautreau said.
Eric Monday, assistant vice chancellor of finance and administrative services, who has a Pez dispenser collection of more than 1,000 pieces, said if the museum wants him to share some of his collection, he would be happy to lend it to them.
Monday said he has been collecting Pez dispensers since 1992, and uses e-Bay to purchase and occasionally sell some of his dispensers
“I’ve sold a few, but I buy a lot,” Monday said. “It’s a great market place for old ones, especially.”
Monday said Pez dispensers sell for thousands of dollars on e-Bay, but the most he has ever paid was in the low hundreds.
Monday also helped the University become the first college to have its own University Pez dispenser to promote LSU baseball. He also said in January, the University will be the first business or college in the country to have its own football shaped Pez dispenser.
The Shaw Center for the Arts is set to open in March 2005.
The Old President’s House is located on the corner of Highland Road and Raphael Semmes Drive. Gautreau said collectors can bring pieces from the collection from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.