After several years of planning and preparing, construction of the new Art Museum of West Virginia University is scheduled to begin very soon, with the official groundbreaking set for Sept. 10 at 1:30 p.m. at the Museum Education Center.
The new building, designed by Stanley, Beaman, and Sears, will be located near the Creative Arts Center on Patteson Drive in a lovely setting that will offer space for an outdoor sculpture garden.
It will be connected to the Museum Education Center, the colorful post-modern building that was designed by artist and architect Michael Graves and constructed in the 1980s as the original Erickson Alumni Center.
Approximately 3,000 pieces of artwork that are currently in storage at the WVU Wise Library on the downtown campus will also soon have a new home in the Art Museum’s two art galleries, totaling approximately 5,300 square feet. The building is designed to be energy efficient while controlling light, humidity, and temperature within the appropriate ranges required to protect vulnerable works of art.
In addition to galleries and large collection storage, the new building will also include a university classroom and areas for research and study of art from the collection.
Construction will begin by September and the museum is expected to open in early 2015.
Director Joyce Ice said the Art Museum has become a reality through a combination of public and private funding. Many people have contributed generously in support of the construction of the building and eventually, a sculpture garden.
The final cost of the project is approximately $9.4 million.
When the building is complete the museum will enhance WVU students’ opportunities to learn about art locally. It will be a place for students from all fields of study to enjoy.
“We want to have students coming to the Art Museum from areas such as engineering, agriculture, history and math—as well as art, music and theater students and faculty—to see art from various perspectives, and understand that creativity isn’t confined to one field of study,” Ice said.
“Right now, students and members of the community have to go to 75 miles away to Pittsburgh, or to Washington, D.C., or Cleveland to see major museum collections. It’s important to have the presence of art here on campus, not only for the University, but for Morgantown and the surrounding region.
“This is something that will contribute to the quality of life and the vitality of the Morgantown area for generations to come.”
The groundbreaking ceremony will include remarks by WVU President James Clements, College of Creative Arts Dean Paul Kreider, Art Museum Director Joyce Ice, WVU Foundation Senior Vice President Lyn Dotson and Art History student Mandie Guggenbiller.
Members of the WVU Marching Band will perform and there will be a reception in the Grand Hall of the Museum Education Center, along with a hands-on art project to make wish flags for the construction fence.
An “Art Up Close!” program, titled “William Kentridge: Through the Lens of Art Historians,” by Dr. Cindy Persinger, will follow the groundbreaking at 5:30 p.m. at the Museum Education Center.
All events are free and open to the public and free parking is also available. For more information contact the Art Museum of WVU at (304) 293-7790 or visit the website at http://artmuseum.wvu.edu/
-WVU-
cl/09/04/13
CONTACT: Charlene Lattea, College of Creative Arts
304-293-4359, Charlene.Lattea@mail.wvu.edu
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