Slide show: On Exhibit

Expanded Chazen Museum opens to the public Oct. 22–23
Two and a half years in the making, a spectacular expansion of the Chazen Museum of Art opens to the public from noon–5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 22 and 23. The $43 million project, funded by private gifts — including a visionary gift of $25 million from Simona and Jerome A. Chazen, UW–Madison alumni — doubles the size of the museum. The museum, first opened in 1970, features a collection of more than 20,000 artworks. Among the new features are galleries for the permanent collection, a bridge that joins the facility's original and the new sections, a glass-walled lobby and a 160-seat auditorium. The weekend’s events include a variety of performances and docent-led tours.

At left: At last! Jerome and Simona Chazen cut a ceremonial ribbon and celebrate opening the doors to the newly expanded Chazen Museum of Art, kicking off an open house for the campus community, which was to be followed by a weekend public open house. A gift from the Chazens, both alumni of UW–Madison, helped to double the size of the museum.

Words by Cindy Foss

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