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Monday, January 19, 2009

That's My World Tuesday: Construction on new NC Museum of Art


I still think of the 1983 North Carolina Museum of Art as the new museum, although a new 127,000 square foot museum is being built ( construction started 2006 and should end in 2010). The old museum was located downtown and the 1983 one was built on what used to house a youth prison amongst other things. Growing up in Raleigh, I went to the downtown museum for many years so it's hard to think of the 1983 one already becoming the old museum. I guess it will be the old new museum to those of us who are from Raleigh, NC, U.S.

One of the good things about the new site is that it included enough acreage for a large museum park which has been evolving for decades. The shot below shows one of the pieces in the Art Park as well as the 1983 museum. The site is also large enough to keep the 1983 museum while adding the additional 127,000 sq. ft. new museum.

The 1983 museum is soon to become the old museum, although it will continue to house temporary exhibits and educational facilities. In 2010 when the newest museum opens, there will be a special Rodin study center which will house the two dozen sculptures by Auguste Rodin which were a 2005 gift to the museum. I am excited about that.

The museum has had to be creative to make a buffer between the major construction project and the current museum. One way they have done this is by installing a mural which contains drawings of their permanent collection.

It has been interesting to watch the construction from the ground up during visits to the museum and the art park. The shot above was take in October 2007.

Then in March of 2008, I photographed the newest museum's framework in progress.

The last shot is from September 2008. I will have to plan on going back soon because I imagine that quite a lot of progress has been made. Even the art park has had some work being done on it lately so I may focus on a walk on the trails there.

To visit other parts of the world, please go to the home of That's My World Tuesday.

30 comments:

Louise said...

Looks like an incredible place being built. (The old one isn't so bad, either!) The Rodin exhibit sounds wonderful!

Jane Hards Photography said...

Good to see construction of something for beauty and art in the world for a change. Very comprehensive round up. You will be able to show us the before and after.

Anonymous said...

Its nice to know that they will preserve and integrate the old one....that is very interesting! Thanks for showing this set! Enjoy your week!

david mcmahon said...

Great post, especially the first shot, Carver.

EG CameraGirl said...

It's wonderful the people of Raleigh recognize the value of art.

The Good Life in Virginia said...

have to agree with you i don't see 1983 as old...lol.
i have to say i am happy that the new museum is being built on an expansive site...rather than crammed into a small spot in downtown like our new art museum in roanoke.
thanks for sharing with us and i will definitely have to stop by when it is completed.
have a wonderful week.

imac said...

Hi Carver, interesting post, look forward to seeing the completion.

SandyCarlson said...

Most excellent. Very cool. Thanks for the tour!

Anonymous said...

You'll have two museums then, isn't that more fun. Can't wait for you to show the new one when it opens.

Anonymous said...

Great My World post, Carver. I like the idea of an Art Park, and I'm looking forward to more pictures when construction is complete and the building opens.

Rural Writer said...

What a big project! Interesting post and nice pictures.

mannanan said...

Brilliant images. Capturing pieces of history as it is created. Thanks for sharing your world with us all.

Guy D said...

Very cool, I love art museums. Thanks for sharing.

Cheers!
Regina In Pictures

Indrani said...

Massive project! You have shown a lovely series of shots tracking the changes.

Chat with Kathleen said...

I love museums and yours being built looks like it will be exciting to tour when it is finished.
I practically lived in the School of Design Museum, as I was an art major. I loved to get inspired by all the fine art and sculptures. Rodin is one of my favorites. Thanks for sharing such vivid photos and the groundbreaking of this new museum.

Lew said...

Interesting post on your art world! I seem to remember that there was an art museum near the capitol building back in the late 40's. I would have been 9 or 10 when we visited it.

Reader Wil said...

It'll sure will be a very beautiful building! Your post is very interesting and informative. I wonder if the sculptures by Rodin were given from the collection I saw in Paris in 1959.

Arija said...

Museums are great places. I spent a lot of Sundays in the museum in Melbourne when I was in my teens. Later when we had a new gallery built, I was a guide until we moved to Adelaide.
Sometime in the 70s we had a magnificent touring exhibition of Rodin's work. We also have a large bronze of Balsac by Rodin.
Glad you are a museum buff.

Dirkjogt said...

Great quality pictures and a lot of information.

This Is My Blog - fishing guy said...

Carver: What a great post with all you have captured through the constuction. Really neat all you have shared.

Barb said...

Hard to believe it will take so long to build. Everything seems to go up so quickly nowadays.

Catherine said...

A new museum under construction is always a good news in wahtever part of the World.
First picture is excellent.
Carver, if you're really interested in Rodin's work, come here and visit his museum. Astonishing !

maryt/theteach said...

Carver, I will have to come down and visit the new museum. A gift of Rodin sculptures is incredible! :)

SaraG said...

Awesome photo's and post.
Thanks so much for sharing!!
Take care.

Pat - Arkansas said...

Great photos and very interesting 'progress report' on the museum construction. Well done.

Mojo said...

Heh. I had no idea. But is the current NCMA actually on the old Polk youth Center campus, or just right next door? I was thinking PYC was further south... though not by enough to really matter much.

Strange Thought Warning: If they keep expanding the NCMA and the vet school they'll eventually meet in the middle. Wouldn't that make for some interesting exhibits!

Mojo said...

Duh!
I forgot to say congratulations on taking POTD!

Sandi McBride said...

Congrats on Post of the Day...great shots here and such an interesting article on the museums...I agree with you by the way...
Sandi

Susan English Mason said...

Gratz on POTD. I found this inspiring. I especially like the photo of the mural. I like how you can see through the clear strip that runs horizontally.

Marites said...

1983 is not old but i guess, they want a bigger place. I like the pictures with big rings. Are they wood? It's interesting to see the progress of the museum's construction. Am curious how the end product will look. my world is here

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