After years of planning, giving and building, the Art Museum of West Virginia University is scheduled to open to the public in the fall semester with a number of programs and activities planned for the campus and community to celebrate the new museum.

The museum will be home to WVU’s collection of nearly 3,000 works of art as well as visiting exhibits. Designed by Stanley, Beaman & Sears of Atlanta, the building is next to the Creative Arts Center facing Patteson Drive.

When visitors arrive at the museum, which does not require admission, they will be able to view two exhibition galleries totaling 5,400 square feet. The two-story building has a total of 24,640 square feet of space that also includes a classroom seating 25 students, collection storage and a collection research room.

“The Art Museum is a beautiful place for people to see and experience art,” said Joyce Ice, director of the Art Museum of WVU. “I think many people will be surprised and impressed with the range of the collection from Korean pottery of the Silla Dynasty to 19th- and early 20th-century landscapes and prints, African masks and sculpture, to works of art created just recently by contemporary artists.

Click below to hear the WVUToday radio spot about the art museum.

“We are looking forward to sharing the collection with the campus and the public, and offering educational programs designed to enhance appreciation of art and artists while increasing awareness of how art enriches our lives as individuals, families and communities.”

The WVU art collection has been assembled for more than 40 years from generous gifts from alumni and friends as well as acquisitions purchased from funds donated for the collection. The collection has strong Appalachian roots with works by West Virginians such as woodblock artist Blanche Lazzell and Grace Martin Taylor, and gifts from the Appalachian collection of Ramona Lampell, which highlights self-taught artists throughout the region.

But the collection also houses works by names almost everyone is familiar with, including Pablo Picasso, Andy Warhol and Ansel Adams. And there is a substantial collection of African art of more than 300 pieces.

The museum will move forward with its art education for students, teachers and community members through workshops, research and programs like Art Up Close!

The museum dedication will be held Tuesday, Aug. 25, at 1 p.m. with President Gordon Gee, Provost Joyce McConnell, faculty, students, donors and other officials in attendance.

Tuesday, Aug. 25, 1 p.m. – Dedication ceremony at the Museum Education Center. Reception following.

Tuesday, Aug. 25 – The inaugural exhibition opens. Titled “Visual Conversations: Looking and Listening,” it highlights connections among the works of art in the WVU collection and presents the work of dozens of different artists.

Tuesday, Aug. 25, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., “WVU Student Evening at the Art Museum,” with music, food, games and tours for WVU students.

Wednesday, Aug. 26, 5 p.m., Bloch Hall (Room 200A), Creative Arts Center – Dan & Betsy Brown Lecture by Sean O’Harrow, Director of the University of Iowa Museum of Art: “What does an Art Museum have to do with University Education?”

Thursday, Aug. 27, 7 p.m., Bloch Hall (Room 200A), Creative Arts Center – J. Bernard Schultz Lecture by Roger J. Crum, Professor of Art History at the University of Dayton: “Renaissance Florence as Prequel to the Art Museum of West Virginia University.”

Friday, Aug. 28, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., Opening Party with tours, live music and DJ, food, door prizes and art activities.

Saturday, Aug. 29, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., “Family & Community Day at the Art Museum” with hands-on art activities, tours, music and refreshments.

Members of the Friends of the Art Museum will have a preview tour and special event before the dedication. To become a friend of the Art Museum, contact the museum at: 304-293-2141 ext. 1 or FriendsOfTheArtMuseum@mail.wvu.edu.

Like the Art Museum of WVU on Facebook.

-WVU-

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CONTACT: Joyce Ice, director, Art Museum of WVU
304-293-6825, Joyce.Ice@mail.wvu.edu

Follow @WVUToday on Twitter.