U-M's Remodeled Art Museum Opens Tonight

The extensively remodeled University Museum of Art in Alumni Memorial Hall will be opened from 7 to 10 p.m. today, Prof. Charles H. Sawyer, director, announced.

After tonight, open hours will be from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, from 2 to 5 p.m. Sundays and also from 7 to 10 p.m. on Wednesdays, starting March 19.

The main remodeling feature is a steel framework construction which fills the rotunda. This framework, which provides access from the first to the second floor galleries, is of Unistrut construction.

Prof. Sawyer said the purpose of the reconstruction was to increase the area for the Museum of Art exhibits, to modernize the area and to provide a more functional relationship between the first and second floor divisions.

Besides providing direct access between floors, the entire framework includes movable panels to provide more exhibit space. And the entire framework may be removed if ever desired.

Red, yellow and blue have been used on some of the panels, but most are of whites and greys.

The large west gallery, formerly partially given over to fine arts study, is now one unit and is entirely available for exhibitions.

Architects for the alterations were Charles W. Lane & Associates, in co-operation with U-M architects, Lynn Fry and Irving E. Palmquist. General contractor was the Henry deKoning Construction Co.

IMAGE CAPTION #1:

REMODELED MUSEUM: This stairway is part of the new Unistrut steel construction in the University Museum of Art in the rotunda of Alumni Memorial Hall. The stairs provide direct access from the first to the second floor galleries. Other phases of the renovation include movable panels to expand exhibits. There will be a special opening from 7 to 10 p.m. today to display the remodeling project.
 

IMAGE CAPTION #2:

RESTS IN PEACE: This “sleeping beauty,” curled up on a quilt is one of the many exhibits being moved into the newly remodeled University Museum of Art in Alumni Memorial Hall.