Closed doors are often a symbol of separation, distance and loneliness. The current virus pandemic has closed many doors across our country, state and town.. and our museum is no exception. The weight of closed doors is uniquely and heavily felt in this space.
The original building of our museum was built in 1887 and served as the county jail for many years. Open cell and solitary confinement units housed many prisoners during that time, locked away to spend endless days without contact or freedom. Those heavy iron doors were closed and locked to keep people in.
Now, those same doors are closed and locked to keep people out.It’s a dark moment for our collection and for our staff. The lack of conversations in the galleries, the separation from members and visitors- it creates such a quiet and eerie feeling. It leads me to many thoughts of the history of this building, and what it has evolved to be today.
For forty years this space has been a place of beauty and escape. A place to let your mind wander freely. Our doors have been wide open and welcoming to visitors from rural West Texas and far beyond. And we know that they will be again soon. This unique and trying time will end. New visitors will see the space for the first time, returning visitors will enjoy it with fresh eyes and free hearts. That day is coming and we will look forward to seeing each of you at the Old Jail Art Center again very soon.
-Susan Montgomery, Membership and Development Coordinator