- July 6th, 2008
- Filed under Art
Welcome our newest addition to the IMA Blogger list, Harriet Warkel, Curator of American Art.
The American galleries are changing. At least a part of these spaces will look different after July 14. We are always rotating works in the galleries, sometimes reinstalling the entire galleries incorporating different pieces, and even renovating galleries by changing the position of walls and painting them different colors or repainting them the same color when they look like they need it. We are rotating, reinstalling and renovating part of the American galleries on July 14.
A work in the American Modernist section of the galleries is going out on loan and another painting is going up to replace it – this is a rotation.
The American Scene, Urban Realism and Art of the American West are changing places in the galleries, so we are going to reinstall those three galleries to make more room for American Scene and Urban Realism art. Those galleries will also be renovated because the walls will be repositioned and repainted. The repositioning of the walls will allow viewers a more unobstructed view of the American galleries. We are also renovating the Early American Gallery by changing the paint color of the archway and repositioning the wall to again offer a more open view into the space.
We hope that these adjustments will make the experience of viewing the American galleries easier and more enjoyable. We think that enlarging the American Scene and Urban Realism galleries will allow us to bring out of storage some exciting paintings and offer a broader understanding of these important trends in American art.
We are not abandoning our Art of the American West galleries just making them more intimate and placing them more in context with the development of American art.
The IMA website shows a variety of American art that is currently in the galleries, but seeing the art in person will explain why it is difficult to appreciate a work of art by viewing a reproduction. The experience of viewing art in person is so much more satisfying and can even be an awesome encounter.
