The Kresge Art Museum has less than a week left of summer vacation.
The museum, located on MSU's campus, will re-open Tuesday for the 2003-2004 school year with an all-new art exhibition.
The exhibit, "Expanding the Legacy: Kresge Art Museum Collects, 2002-2003," will showcase old master, modern and contemporary paintings as well as prints and drawings, photographs and sculptures.
April Kingsley, curator of the museum, said she's excited about the re-opening.
"We want to show off all the work we've collected," Kingsley said. "We want people to know what we've got."
The exhibit is free to the public, and Kingsley said she expects a large opening night crowd.
"We hope to have a good turn out. We have so many paintings, there is not enough space for them all," Kingsley said.
The paintings featured are from famous and not-so-famous artists - some of whom are local.
A significant portion of the featured art is from the Figurative Expressionism Initiative, which focuses on abstract expression and brushwork while carefully maintaining the intent of not giving up the actual picture, Kingsley said.
A piece that may stand out is a wave physics sculpture called "Doorway For the Blues." The sculpture has cane-like pieces, lying on wires that actually allow the canes to sway in the breeze.
Another eye-catching piece is a Lite-Brite inspired work. The pieces were hand-dyed and a switch illuminates them to reveal the artist.
With so many paintings collected, art museum director Susan Bandes said the selection process for which works would be shown was a hard one.
"It was a difficult choice, we have over 300 pieces," Bandes said. "Pieces that we've previously shown are not up and we just put up one of the pieces that were in groups."
A fund-raising event is soon to come, with proceeds going toward the new museum facility. Construction for the new facility is expected to begin in two phases in 2006, pending funding.
"There will be more space for galleries, educational rooms as well as gathering spots for receptions," Bandes said.
The project's cost, which is expected to be between $11-12 million, will be paid for by private donors, businesses and foundations. It is expected to be completed in time for the museum's 50th anniversary in 2009.
