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September Construction Update

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Construction of the Columbus Museum of Art’s new wing and the renovation of the Ross Wing, an addition the Museum built in 1974 that housed the Museum’s lobby and temporary exhibition space are moving along and we’re excited to share our progress.

Over the coming months, we will be posting brief monthly updates outlining our progress and letting you know what to look for in the near future.

Behind that beautiful façade…

  • The last few weeks of construction have largely been focused on installing the copper, limestone and granite that will encase the building. And, while the exterior is truly lovely, the really interesting part of this phase of the construction is what is happening behind the scenes.

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  • The Zahner pre-patinated “Star Blue” copper is being deployed on the upper gallery using a proprietary system designed by Keith Panel Systems, Vancouver, BC (keithpanel.com). The reveal system is arranged in a pattern scripted by the architect. Certain panels are perforated and screen a discreet light source that changes the character of the building in the evening. It also creates a barrier that protects the building from rain and wind. The systems are used frequently in Vancouver and were incorporated in the Olympic Village building erected for the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics.
  • The copper panels themselves are works of art. Each panel is like a little Monet. Both are delicate; you use white gloves to handle them, micro-foam to protect them, and specially-designed carts with individual vertical racks to prevent damage when transporting them.

Creative Team Building at CMA

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TeamBuilding

Looking for a reason to visit CMA on work time? Take a cue from Sue Ellen Deiley, Managing Director of Experis Manpower Group, and bring your colleagues to the museum for some creative team-building.

Last week Sue Ellen customized an afternoon of fun for her staff by taking advantage of the many hands-on activities imbedded in our galleries. I first met Sue Ellen the day before the event; she was snapping photos and taking notes. When I learned what she was plotting, I pried her for details. Sue Ellen explained her goals for this somewhat impromptu project – to foster group collaboration within her staff. She also wanted to nudge her colleagues out of their “comfort zone.” The art museum is not a usual haunt for her techie group.

I was inspired by this manager’s resourcefulness and ingenuity.

The next day Sue Ellen equipped her 3 teams with a puzzle and clues to the “secret team-building location,” CMA. Once the teams arrived here, they pulled out a list of specific tasks to achieve; complete her scavenger hunt, take photos, build a cardboard tree, and design a sneaker. Sue Ellen devised the list of tasks based on her discoveries the day before.

After a few hours of frenzied exploration, experimentation, and problem-solving, the group came together to celebrate over food and drink. They were a lively bunch. When I caught up with them for refreshments, they all agreed that a fun time was had by all. They also concurred that Mackenzie, the one art lover in the group, had no advantage over the rest. They all started the challenge on an equal playing field.

Sue Ellen’s creative team building was a success. As she planned, small groups of coworkers navigated new and novel experiences together. But, she noticed that something else happened, something unexpected, but equally worthwhile. To succeed, each team had to pay great attention to detail, a skill that comes in handy on the job.

Colleagues from Experis Manpower Group celebrate together post scavenger hunt at CMA.

Colleagues from Experis Manpower Group celebrate together post scavenger hunt at CMA.

At CMA, we are thrilled that Sue Ellen used our spaces to accomplish her goals. We champion her creative use of our spaces and we extend a hearty welcome and challenge to other organizations to do the same.

If you want to host your own team building at the Columbus Museum of Art, call Events at 614-629-0378.

Global Weekend of Play 2014

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WeekendofPlay

Join CMA’s Center for Creativity for a Global Weekend of Play, October 4 & 5 at the Columbus Museum of Art. After a huge turnout in 2013, the community cardboard challenge is back! Started by the Imagination Foundation, Global Day of Play engages 1 million children and adults around the world in creative play. Together with the PAST Foundation and Mattress Firm Columbus, CMA invites you to take the Community Cardboard Challenge. CMA will provide cardboard and other recycled materials — all you need is your imagination and a friend to help your cardboard creations come to life.

Saturday October 4

Open Studio
10:00 AM -3:00 PM

Join us for playful cardboard challenges in the Center for Creativity Studio. Fans of Doodles or Surprise Supplies Saturdays will love OPEN STUDIO. Every Saturday visitors of all ages are welcome to drop in to CMA’s Center for Creativity Studio to explore ideas, solve creative challenges, and collaborate with friends or family. This program is free with admission, no registration requested.

Connector Series
1:00-4:00 PM

Build cardboard props for the Available Light Theater Company. CMA’s Center for Creativity partners with some of the most provocative, creative people in our community to present intriguing, memorable experiences for visitors. Come for unexpected encounters with local artists and performers, creative exploration, and fun. The Connector Series experiences are for visitors of every age and are included with admission.

Sunday October 5

Community Cardboard Challenge
11:00 AM-2:00 PM

Help us build something amazing out of cardboard on the front lawn of the Columbus Museum of Art! CMA will provide cardboard and other recycled materials — all you need is your imagination and a friend to help your cardboard creations come to life.Tag your cardboard creation photos with #cardboardchallenge

The Community Cardboard Challenge promotes creating thinking and collaboration at a time when we need it the most. Come play with us!

Welcome Back College Students

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bkschoolWonderRm

The CMA audience changes with the seasons. Fall is just about here. In central Ohio that means apple-picking, pumpkin festivals, and back-to-school season.

At CMA that means college students.  

It happens every year. The flurry of energetic summer campers comes to a halt. Instead, our galleries are peppered with curious, notebook-donning young adults. Some seniors, many freshmen. Some experienced museum-goers, many first-time visitors.

No matter what institution they attend, the students share a common link – the ubiquitous describe-a-work-of-art essay assignment.

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Students from Columbus College of Art and Design talk about paintings in the American Gallery

 

Paul, a senior at Capital University, made this first-ever trip to CMA for his humanities class. I found Paul mesmerized by a small watercolor by Emile Nolde. Unfortunately, this modernist work did not qualify for his assignment, to describe a Baroque or Classical work. I re-directed him to another gallery.

Paul, a senior at Capital University, hunts for a Baroque painting.

Paul, a senior at Capital University, hunts for a Baroque painting.

 

Neo is one of many freshmen I met last week from Columbus College of Art and Design. Like other CCAD freshman, Neo’s assignment is a 6-page essay about one work of art. It’s an exercise in close observation, paying attention to detail, and harvesting the words to explain a work of art. It’s an assignment that requires time and attention.

Erica, a freshman at Columbus College of Art and Design, gathers information for her 6-page essay.

Erica, a freshman at Columbus College of Art and Design, gathers information for her 6-page essay.

 

I teamed up with a lively band of CCAD students who scoured the museum for the perfect object. Some settled on works by local artists.

When I met Erica, also a freshman from CCAD, she was nestled on a bench in front of Parade, a painting by John Wilde. I asked why she selected this enigmatic, surrealist painting. “I like the contrasting colors.” She started. “Originally, I narrowed it down to 3 works, but to be honest, this one has this bench nearby; that’s why I chose it,” she smiled. It was Erica’s first visit to CMA.

Whether you have an assignment or just want to take a break from campus, we are thrilled to welcome all central Ohio students back to CMA. We have plenty of sofas, chairs, and portable stools to go around!

(Opening image: Freshman from Columbus College of Art and Design play in the Wonder Room)

Ask a Curator Day 2014

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Ask a Curator Day 2014

Columbus Museum of Art joins hundreds of museums from around the world in participating in the 2014 Ask A Curator Day on September 17, 2014.

How do curators decide how artwork should be displayed? How does an exhibition come together? Find out these questions and more. Follow CMA and the conversation on Twitter.

Date: September 17, 2014
Who: CMA’s Chief Curator Dominique Vasseur will be answering questions on Twitter from 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM.
What: Tweet us @columbusmuseum and include the hashtag #AskACurator.

 

August Construction Update

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August, 2014 Construction Update
Construction of the Columbus Museum of Art’s new wing and the renovation of the Ross Wing, an addition the Museum built in 1974 that housed the Museum’s lobby and temporary exhibition space are moving along and we’re excited to share our progress.

Over the coming months, we will be posting brief monthly updates outlining our progress and letting you know what to look for in the near future.

We’re going green (or is that turquoise)…

Going GreenIf you’ve walked by the Museum recently, you may be a little concerned by the current color of the new wing, but don’t worry, that vibrant turquoise hue is the material that helps seal moisture out of the building and will eventually be covered by one of the timeless building materials the architect has selected for the building.

Limestone InstallationSpeaking of which, the limestone and granite that will make up a large part of the Museum façade are being installed. The limestone is from Indiana and beautifully complements the 1931 building.

Grid installation

In just a few short months, both ends of the new wing will be enclosed with fritted glass that will help filter the light entering the space. The grid that will hold those panels in place was installed last week.

In the coming weeks the pre-patinated copper that will encase the new wing will be installed and work will begin on the foundation for the north garden.