NEW LONDON, CONN.- The Lyman Allyn Art Museum announces the largest donation it has ever received, $250,000 given anonymously by a private foundation, which will enable a complete reinstallation of its primary exhibition of American Art. This historic grant has been received just as the museum is about to modernize its HVAC facilities (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) with funding from a $1,500,000 bond issue approved in last year’s Connecticut State budget and administered by the Department of Economic and Community Development. The results of these two complementary efforts “will dramatically improve every aspect of the visitor experience in the galleries of American Art, and help modernize the entire institution,” said Lyman Allyn Director, Sam Quigley.
Downes Construction Company, of New Britain, CT has been chosen as the construction management firm that will oversee the modernization of the climate control systems. Their behind-the-scenes work will update and extend the climate control infrastructure to maintain a stable, museum-quality environment for the care and preservation of the art collection. The facilities modernization project will be implemented while the museum remains open to the public. It will include a switchover to natural gas from oil, the replacement of all components of the HVAC physical plant, a new roof and the installation of new energy-efficient LED lighting throughout the building. In addition, the facilities modernization project will create a new “Open Storage” display for self-directed discovery of selections of the permanent collection that will now be located in the Hendel Library, nearby the American Art galleries on the first floor.
The new installation of American Art in the Palmer Galleries will be planned and implemented by museum personnel along with a recently hired project curator, Tanya Pohrt, Ph.D. of Hamden, CT, and an exhibition design firm, Amaze Design of Boston, MA. The new exhibition will supplant the existing “American Stories,” the mainstay of the Museum’s educational programming. These galleries annually serve more than 4,000 school children on docent-led field trips, and provide enjoyable and educational gallery experience for thousands of adult visitors.
This project will be the first major refurbishment of the primary galleries in more than a decade and will display works of art from Colonial times right up to the 21st century, featuring well-known and beloved paintings alongside furniture and other decorative arts. Special displays drawing attention to art from originating cultures will punctuate the visitor experience and provide opportunities to underscore the contributions of many immigrant groups that make up the pluralistic society America is today.
Planning for the new installation will begin immediately, but the temporary closing of the Palmer Galleries is scheduled for the summer of 2016. According to Jane LeGrow, Registrar and Director of Exhibitions for the Museum, “the timing of the closing is planned to coincide with another engaging Museum offering, our major special exhibition on Connecticut Impressionist, J. Alden Weir, which will be on view throughout the summer of 2016.”
The new American galleries will have informative and accessible multi-layered narratives, delivered via printed panels on the walls as well as printed gallery guides in English and Spanish. Additional context and content will be delivered digitally by a custom-designed app for mobile phones so that the gallery experience will be enhanced and modernized for the 21st century visitor. “Everything – from gallery cosmetics, storylines, exhibition fixtures, lighting and seating – everything will be brought up to best standards. The exhibition experience will be much more complete and enjoyable,” said Quigley.
The new HVAC system will replace the outdated equipment that currently does this. In addition, the Museum will become much more energy efficient by virtue of switching from oil to natural gas, and from tungsten to LED lighting. The project will take the better part of a year to bring it to completion, during which time the museum will remain open.
As a result of the facilities modernization work, about 25% more public space inside the museum will be brought up to gallery conditions. Climate throughout the building will be much more reliably maintained. The Lyman Allyn will improve its ability to properly care for and preserve the artworks the museum holds in trust for the residents of southeastern Connecticut and visitors from all over the world.
With these two major projects happening in the coming months, the Lyman Allyn Art Museum will increase its capability and reaffirm its role as a vitally important art museum providing cultural and educational opportunities for all in the southeastern Connecticut community and to visitors from all over the world.
