Written by Carol Weaver Monday, 17 October 2011 21:50

The Weisman Art Museum Reopens After Major Expansion

Minneapolis, MN.- The Weisman Art Miuseum (WAM) reopened to the public following a major expansion designed by Frank Gehry. In anticipation of this fall opening, WAM has begun placing  works of art from its permanent collection — many of which have never been on public view before — into the new space. Four new galleries will be devoted to the permanent collection and will include American art, ceramics, and works on paper. A fifth space, the Target Studio for Creative Collaboration, will bring together cross-disciplinary teams for intense periods of collaboration to generate new ideas.  Bohemian Press, a University of Minnesota student group and run by professor Jenny Schmid,  provided printmaking and screen printing on T-shirts, Gorilla Yogis will hold a yoga session with architecture-inspired poses. The event will also feature a concert by Chris Koza and Rogue Valley. “We are thrilled to be able to invite the public to experience firsthand these exciting new spaces,” said Lyndel King, Director of WAM. “They provide an opportunity for the community to engage with art in new ways and see so much more of WAM’s collection.”

The museum reopened with other expanded programming through Weekends and Wednesdays at WAM. Weekends with the Weisguides will provide Sunday afternoon opportunities for the community to engage on a deeper level with art through an art-making activity and tour. Ultimate Wednesday’s will be held on the last Wednesday of the month with extended hours at the museum. Visitors will gain a deeper understanding of the exhibitions through such programs as artist talks, panel discussions, and interactive forums. The museum has commissioned two artists to create gallery installations that are inspired by, or “in sympathy with,” the permanent collection. Sharon Louden is a longtime admirer of Frank Gehry’s drawings and has chosen the museum architecture as inspiration. Eun-Kyung Suh is a textile artist that focuses on “. . . vessels as a metaphor for human emotion, memory, and experience.” She has chosen the collection of Korean furniture as her inspiration for the installation. "Cartography of a Collection" from October 2nd through August 3rd 2014 will take the viewer on a journey of how the museum’s collection came to be. Key moments and developments are revealed through the museum’s key leaders, patrons, and donors. WAM’s most beloved and popular works are displayed, giving a peek into how artworks came into the collection. "Conversations about Ceramics: Curated by Warren MacKenzie in Conversation with Lyndel King" from October 2nd through March 24th, 2013, shows the important role that MacKenzie has played in the development of the museum’s extensive collection of ceramics.


Selections illuminate his more personal thoughts on the entire and diverse collection. "An Immigrant’s Tale: Korean Furniture Collection" from October 2nd through March 24th 2013 is a three-year installation of works from its collection of Korean furniture and cultural artifacts given by Dr. Edward Reynolds Wright Jr., who bequeathed it to the museum in 1988. "Who’s Afraid of Edith Carlson?: Edith Carlson Works on Paper" from October 2nd through February 19th 2012 shows how a self-described “little farm girl from Minnesota,” went on to become an accomplished artist. Her estate endows the Edith Carlson Gallery. Carlson chose the Weisman for the bequest because she admired the museum’s collection of art by women. During WAM’s yearlong closure, another “building” project has been underway – the construction of the WAM Archives. WAM exhibition staff and archivists from the University Archives have collaborated to process 180 boxes of archival material. Archival records will be on display in the Dolly Fiterman Riverview gallery, featuring highlights of the museum’s history, including artifacts, photographs of the evolution of the museum, and exhibition posters dating back to the 1930s. These unique finds have also been chronicled on a blog, WAM Files, over the past year.

The Weisman Art Museum (WAM) has completed construction of an 8,100 square foot expansion designed by internationally renowned architect Frank Gehry. This visionary architect is also responsible for the original design of this landmark facility. Opening to the public on October 2, 2011, the expansion will nearly doubles the size of the galleries for collections and exhibitions and enhance its role as a cultural resource for Minnesota and the state’s many visitors. Since its origin in 1934, the Weisman Art Museum has been a teaching museum for the University of Minnesota. Today, education remains central to the museum’s mission to create art experiences that spark discovery, critical thinking, and transformation, linking the University and the community. The Weisman completed a capital campaign for the expansion project in August 2008. Building materials — predominantly stainless steel and brick—echo the exterior surfaces of the original Weisman structure. The Weisman Art Museum is located at 333 East River Road, Minneapolis, on the University of Minnesota campus. Admission to exhibition galleries is always free. Visit the museum's website at ... http://www.weisman.umn.edu

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