Getting Lost in Art and Garden Paths at the Dixon

Dixon Main Gallery Building

The Dixon Gallery and Gardens is an art museum and botanical garden located in East Memphis, Tennessee. It was established in 1976 by its former residents, Hugo and Margaret Dixon. The private residence is now open as multiple galleries, while a separate building houses galleries, a gift shop, and meeting space. I enjoyed my time touring the art galleries, but I especially enjoyed touring the gardens.

When I arrived at the Dixon Museum, they were between exhibitions, so a large portion of the galleries were closed. I was able to see the Lee Littlefield glass sculpture special exhibition in the museum building and gardens, a permanent pewter collection in the reception hall, and selections from the Kattner Collection of American Paintings in the Dixon Residence. This last collection is on long-term loan to the Dixon while the majority of the Dixon’s permanent collection is being shipped to Louisville.

The first collection I viewed was Lee Littlefield’s glass sculptures, specifically the smaller ones, which were on display in the left wing of the main building. Each was mounted to the wall with a label containing the name and date of the piece. The exhibit is called Big Texas Bayous, which is indicative of the inspiration of the bayou in the shape of the sculptures. Each sculpture is also composed of bright colors which reflect the underwater environment.

Lee Littlefield sculptures in an open area of the grounds behind the Residence

I then saw that the reception hall was open to the public. Noticing large glass cases filled with objects on the walls around the room, I wandered in and found a huge collection of pewter dinnerware, figurines, and serving materials. This was one of my favorite aspects of the museum because it connected part of the museum’s permanent collection to history through material culture. Viewers could look at dinnerware sets, ice cream molds, and other household implements, and imagine how people who used them might have lived. More interpretation to educate visitors about how the pewter utensils were used would be beneficial towards this goal. I did, however, appreciate the labels corresponding to the displays, because each features outlines of the items contained within, arranged in the same order as they are in the cases. Each outline contains a name and/or description of the item, as well as its year of creation. Unfortunately, some of the outlines on the labels do not correspond to the arrangement of the case. Some items have been removed, perhaps for cleaning or repair. Presumably, these items will be returned, which is likely why the labels have not been changed to reflect the accurate current arrangement.

            

From there, I stopped by the gift shop, which is well-maintained, but doesn’t necessarily reflect the overall feel of the museum. While the items there are nice, they don’t explicitly correspond to either the collections or theme of the museum, as I have seen in other art museum gift shops. I then walked across the drop-off lot to the Residence, where I viewed a selection of American paintings. I enjoyed the setup of the galleries in the Residence, especially because rooms like the dining room are still easily recognized. Since the museum was getting ready to close, I did not go into the upstairs of the Residence, so I would be interested to see that area of the museum on a later visit.

The Garden Path from the direction of the Residence

Finally, I walked towards the entrance to the gardens, near the parking lot. A small wooded trail leads visitors to the Memphis Garden Club Cutting Garden, past a tented patio covered with bright blue café tables and chairs. The cutting garden, bordered on the back by the greenhouse building, is well-manicured. This is in stark contrast to the beautifully overgrown, but still well-maintained walking trails to the left of the garden. Trees are marked with metal numbered medallions, while both trees and plants are marked nearby with labels that tell visitors of their species. The wooded trails are winding, allowing visitors to get lost and to forget they are in the city. I had the impression that, by the time I needed to leave, I hadn’t yet seen everything in the trails.

Fountain and Pond in the Memphis Garden Club Cutting Garden

My overall impression of the museum is that it is a great place to quietly pass an afternoon. The art on display is interesting and the gardens are beautiful. The Dixon is an important cultural institution in Memphis and a valuable asset to the city. I would love to see some educational programs and special events there to see how the museum engages the general public.