New York City already known as the museum capital of the world has, in recent years, witnessed a surge in museum expansions, renovations and relocations. The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) set the pattern in motion back in 2002 by shutting its doors for nearly three years to allow for a massive expansion, that has now been completed. The successful expansion provides much needed gallery space to display a larger portion of the museum's permanent collection that was heretofore kept in storage.



The Whitney Museum of American Art, to the delight of its patrons but at the dismay of neighborhood activists who for several years have tried to block construction plans, has prevailed in gaining clearance from the Upper East Side Community Board to proceed with its plans for expansion. Over the years several designs had been submitted and discarded.

In 2005, however, Italian architect Renzo Piano was selected to design a series of interconnecting buildings that will provide added exhibit space needed to install works from the museum's growing permanent collection, an auditorium, a library and administrative offices. As part of the expansion plans, the Whitney will also undertake renovation of existing galleries and the addition of a sculpture garden
and restaurant space.

On April 29th the Pierpont Morgan Library, a museum dedicated to paintings, period furnishings and manuscripts is scheduled to reopen following a three year expansion project. The project's mission was to expand both exhibit
space and storage space, to integrate the new elements into the existing structure and surrounding buildings and, to maintain the elegance and intimacy that typify the Morgan. To accomplish this feat the museum chose none other than Italian architect Renzo Piano whose expertise in museum design is unsurpassed and who continues to maintain an impressive roster of architectural projects both in the United States and abroad. His spectacular design, now nearly completed, almost doubles the exhibit space, creates a state-of-the-art performance auditorium, connects the various arteries of the new and existing structures via a central glass-enclosed courtyard and introduces a new and welcoming main entrance facing Madison Avenue. Visitors will also benefit from a new reading room enhanced with electronic resources. Not in keeping with the controversy that often surrounds architectural projects involving landmarked properties, the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission and the public in general have embraced
the accomplishment of the Morgan and the genius of Mr. Renzo Piano.


Further uptown at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, museum director, Philippe de Montebello announced to the press back in 2004 that the "Met" would embark upon a series of internal construction projects collectively known as 21st Century Met. Among these projects is the construction of the Roman and Hellenistic Art Galleries in what will be known as the Leon Levy and Shelby White Court. Completion of this portion of the Museum that will include what was for years the main dining hall, is scheduled for 2007. It will allow the public to view the museum's massive classical art collections, considered to be among the finest in the world. Former administrative offices above the Roman Court are being converted to additional gallery space and will be graced by a balcony that will overlook the new Roman Court. Despite the exquisite examples of Roman, Etruscan and Hellenistic artifacts on display at the "Met", the majority of its collection has been kept in storage and is viewed only periodically based on a rotation process. The internal reconstruction process will allow for a much larger portion of the museum's holdings to be placed on permanent display. Other areas of the "Met" undergoing renovation include the Uris Education Center, building stabilization and modernization at the Cloisters and the American Wing (currently considered by some patrons to be an awkwardly tight and confusing area of the building to navigate).

The Frick Museum
Fifth Avenue @ 77th Street
Tuesday-Saturday 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. , Sunday11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Goya's Last Works
February 22 through May 14, 2006

Representing one of the few remaining mansions among the many that once lined Fifth Avenue, The Frick Museum with its illustrious collection of European paintings, small bronze sculptures and 18th Century European furnishings is a pleasure to behold on any given day. Remarkable traveling exhibits that grace its galleries make a visit to this New York City gem even more beguiling. Now through mid May The Frick will showcase an exhibit of over fifty works produced by the renowned Spanish painter, Francisco de Goya
during his final years spent in self exile in Bordeaux.

The exhibit which begins with the portrait of Doña Maria Martinez de Puga, a work obtained by Henry Clay Frick, is assembled from private and public collections throughout the United States and Europe. It is the first exhibit within the United States to focus exclusively on the artist's final years (1824-1828).

This outstanding painter who continued to work through his late seventies and early eighties produced paintings, drawings, miniatures and lithographs all of which are represented here. The artistic quality found in these late works lend testimony to the fact that Goya remained creatively vital throughout his long career despite evidence the he was in ill health and partially deaf. The exhibit is accompanied by a full color catalogue available for purchase in the Museum's gift shop and a series of lectures.
 

The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Fifth Avenue @81st Street
Tues -Thurs 10:00 a.m. to 5:45 p.m., Fri & Sat 10:00 a.m. to 8:45 p.m., Sun
12-noon to 5:00 p.m.

Robert Rauschenberg: Combines
Now through April 2, 2006

Installed in the modern Iris and B. Gerald Cantor exhibition hall located on the museum's 2nd floor, this exhibit of 67 works represents an in-depth look at the artist's repertoire and includes a number of never-before-shown pieces. These mixed media works, which he refers to as "Combines", are three dimensional collages - many of them free standing. Featured in this rare exhibit is Winter Pool, the first Rauschenberg painting to be purchased by The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Displayed in chronological order the works span a ten year period from 1954 to 1964. This exhibit will  travel to Los Angeles in May and from there to Paris and Stockholm. Certain pieces
within the exhibit will only be shown at the "Met".


Renzo Piano: Architect in the Spot Light
A look at some of the current architectural projects taking place in New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, Dallas and London repeatedly unearths the name of one extremely talented and in-demand architect, Renzo Piano. Born in Genoa, Italy to a family of builders, Mr. Piano, following his graduation from the School of Architecture at Milan's Polytechnic, pursued a career in architecture which evolved steadily, culminating in 1980 with the founding of his own architectural firm, Renzo Piano Building Workshop. His projects range from houses and apartments to stadiums, museums, factories, bridges and, rail and airline terminals.

His success in designing museum space has been attributed largely to his keen affinity for the need of museums to create effective exhibit space and his understanding of material and form and the ability to
make them mesh. In 1998 Renzo Piano was awarded
the Pritzker Architecture Prize an annual award given
to living architects whose collection of work is thought
to have made a contribution to humanity.

New York City's architectural face will soon benefit from three major projects undertaken by Renzo Piano Building Workshop - the Pierpont Morgan Library expansion, the Whitney Museum of American Art expansion and the New York Times headquarters building. Other current projects include the London Bridge Tower and the Art Institute of Chicago. Mr. Piano first gained world prominence in 1977
with his design of the Centre Georges Pompidou in Paris.