Tuesday, October 5, 2010

Remodeled museum to reopen on 10*10*10

New museum is family friendly, community rooted

A museum to be proud of

The renovated and expanded Crocker Art Museum and Gallery is the city’s newest pride and joy.

By Adrian Perez, for the SacLatino, September 29, 2010

SACRAMENTO - It has been several years since a concept was floated around for renovating and expanding Sacramento’s Crocker Art Museum.  Finally, on October 10, 2010 (10-10-10) the public will get to enjoy one of northern California’s most modern and finest museums.

When looking at it from the outside, it is clear that there are two distinct buildings that now house the Crocker Art, but once inside, there is almost a completely seamless transition from one building to the other.  The $100 million addition compliments the old building by adding 125,000 square feet for art displays, classrooms and even a modern theater auditorium.

As the public enters the first floor of the new building, they are greeted at a round kiosk that serves as an information and admission booth.  However, anyone wanting to attend a class, visit the souvenir shop, or just have lunch in the Café can do so at no cost.  But, once inside, the feel and knowledge that you are in a museum will entice you to pay admission and enjoy hours of art displays that include paintings, sculptures, pottery, and rare exhibits.  Well worth the price of admission.

The new extension houses the art galleries on the second and third floors, which are reached by very large elevators and stairwells.  Once inside, museum goers will notice glass windows in virtually each gallery that serve an aesthetic value and as a navigation tool to let people know where they are located.  (Unlike many windowless museums that emit a claustrophobic feeling of being lost.)

The layout on the third floor is designed to create a reenactment of history of paintings and sculptures collected by the Crockers over the last 140 years.  It also includes contemporary art loaned or donated by world-renowned artists and private collectors.  In addition, the colors and sizes of each room were designed to accommodate the size and era of the paintings. 

For pottery and ceramic art lovers, the second floor provides a trip back in time to the 18th and 19th Centuries that include “meissen” porcelain dishware.  This floor also features an Asian and African art exhibit.

Finally, there’s the Museum Café, operated by local chef and restaurateur Patrick Mulvaney, from “Mulvaney’s” on the corner of 19th and L Streets.  According to his wife Bobbin Mulvaney, the Café will offer a range of salads, snacks (including health children snacks), sandwiches, daily hot-lunch specials and their own freshly baked pastries.  In addition to soft drink refreshments, beer and wine will also be served, but not until January 2011.  The Café is the museum’s official caterer as well, offering small and large private groups an extensive menu.

There is no question that Sacramento should be proud of the new Crocker Art Museum as a destination point for locals and vacationers alike.  Its grand opening is a free community celebration featuring art, music, food, dance and magic.

For more information about the Crocker Art Museum visit their website at www.crockerartmuseum.org or call them at (916) 808-7000.

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