NEW BRITAIN, CONN.- On March 2, a swirling storm system will hover over the New Britain Museum of American Art’s (NBMAA’s) Café on the Park. Created by artists Jill Reynolds and Daniel Spitzer, NOR’EASTER is a permanent installation that represents the weather phenomenon specific to the northern Atlantic coast—a Nor’easter. Approximately 250 glass pieces define the shape of an iconic nor'easter in three ways: the darker denser storm center, the surrounding lighter-colored concentric isobars of barometric pressure, and the droplets of precipitation.

Originally, the installation was modeled for the lobby space of a modernist skyscraper in downtown Pittsburgh. There, 1300 glass droplets were used to create a 160-foot long sculptural version of the city's three iconic rivers and titled Rivers of Glass: Diminuendo and Crescendo in Blue. Similar to the way in which liquid takes the shape of its container, Nor’easter adapted its original shape to its new location and scale. It has been reconfigured to fit the shape and natural environment of the Museum. Coincidentally, during the two weeks that the installation was being designed two nor'easters were forecast for the New Britain area.

The NBMAA would especially like to thank Mr. Roland Vogel, CFO of Hannover Re Group, Hannover Life Reassurance Company of America (HLR America), and GLL Real Estate Partners GmbH (GLL) for donating the installation to the NBMAA.

The Museum will hold an opening reception from 9:30-11 a.m. on Monday, March 2, which is free with Museum admission. Light snacks will be provided.