The Frye Art Museum reopens July 14, 2012 with three new exhibitions celebrating its 60th Anniversary following extensive refurbishment of the galleries, Gallery Café, Museum Store, and public spaces.
Frye Art Museum
Fifteen years after the 1997 architectural renovation of the Museum by Rick Sundberg and Olson Sundberg Kundig Allen Architects, the Frye has been transformed. A stunning, stark white on white palette throughout the building accentuates the cadences of the original architecture and galleries, showcases artworks to their best advantage, and intensifies vistas of the Museum’s courtyard and reflecting pool.
“We are delighted to welcome visitors back to Frye Art Museum following this transformation of the building,” said Jo-Anne Birnie Danzker, Director of the Museum. “The original flow of gallery spaces has been restored by opening passageways that have been closed for years; all of the walls have been skim coated with plaster and, along with the ceilings, painted cloud white. Sanding and clear coating of the original red oak floors has added a heightened sense of light and space throughout the Museum. The renewal of the Frye on the occasion of our 60th anniversary makes manifest Charles Frye’s enduring gift to the people of Seattle.”
To mark the Museum’s 60th Anniversary, Beloved: Pictures at an Exhibition, a handsome catalogue containing full-page color reproductions of more than 30 paintings in the Frye Art Museum collection, will be available for purchase in the Museum Store on July 14. The 112-page book contains essays by Jo-Anne Birnie Danzker including new scholarship on the evolution of the art collection of Charles and Emma Frye which comprises the Museum’s Founding Collection.
The Frye’s newest publication also contains a biographical sketch of Frieda Sondland, co-curator of the Museum’s recent and enormously popular exhibition, Beloved: Pictures at an Exhibition. As part of the 60th Anniversary celebration, Mrs. Sondland will sign copies of the book on Saturday, July 14 at 1 pm. From 3-4 pm, visitors are also invited to attend an Ice Cream Social in the Café Courtyard.
Additional Opening Weekend events include gallery talks by Liu Ding on Saturday July 14 at 2 pm and by Jo-Anne Birnie Danzker on Sunday, July 15 at 2 pm.
Admission to the 60th Anniversary exhibitions and Opening Weekend programs are free for everyone in keeping with the legacy of Charles and Emma Frye and the Museum’s continuing commitment to be of service and value to its community.
Frye Art Museum:
704 Terry Avenue, Seattle
206-622-9250
fryemuseum.org