New Grand Rapids Art Museum

[sfloria]

I love this building, but I'm really confused. Where is the art???

[mpchicago]

I love this building, but I'm really confused. Where is the art???

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't know that that addtion actually has much, if any, gallary space. I think it may be just a pretty building.

[dbrok]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't know that that addtion actually has much, if any, gallary space. I think it may be just a pretty building.

A very large new art gallery space was included with the Calatrava expansion and hosts the national touring events like the Pissaro exhibition opening June 9. The expansion then connects directly to the old space which houses the permanent collection.

[mpchicago]

A very large new art gallery space was included with the Calatrava expansion and hosts the national touring events like the Pissaro exhibition opening June 9. The expansion then connects directly to the old space which houses the permanent collection.

I stand corrected. Thanks for the clarification D.

[sparky05]

I love this building, but I'm really confused. Where is the art???

To be perfectly honest, I couldn't have cared less if the building contained any art at all. As far as I'm concerned, the building itself is the most impressive work of art I've seen in a long time.

[joeDowntown]

The cool thing about Calatrava is that people absolutely love his work or hate it, and that is the work the will endure (or be knocked down quickly). Just look at the Chicago Spire. It seems like a 50/50 split. But come back in 20 years and we'll see if it made an impact.

I still think the Art Museum looks great (and again, I absolutely hated it). I think once the landscaping, waterfall and artwork are in place, it will feel much more approachable.

Joe

[tamias6]

Maybe a love/hate poll of the new GRAM ought to be posted to see likes it and who doesn't.

[numstead]

I just got back from festival and the cafe/store space along Monroe was illuminated from inside. It looked great. Sorry, didn't take a picture.

[jbr12]

Maybe a love/hate poll of the new GRAM ought to be posted to see likes it and who doesn't.

I think it would be interesting to have a poll like that now, then do another one once the museum is open to see if people's opinions change

[disconsolate]

To be perfectly honest, I couldn't have cared less if the building contained any art at all. As far as I'm concerned, the building itself is the most impressive work of art I've seen in a long time.

That's what I was thinking...

I can't wait to bring all my friends with me to the GRAM once it's open and done with renovations, etc.

[sparky05]

That's what I was thinking...

I can't wait to bring all my friends with me to the GRAM once it's open and done with renovations, etc.

Just to clarify - I was talking about the Milwaukee Art Museum, not GRAM.

[disconsolate]

no worries.

that last part was a sidenote.

[mpchicago]

Checking the webcam, it looks like they are repairing damaged snow melt along Monroe Center next to GRAM or the museum is tying in? Anyone know for sure?

[sparky05]

A few panos:

And because I can't resist, here's the full pano version of my earlier photo of MAM:

[numstead]

I can't resist either. Here's my MAM...

[Veloise]

...

And because I can't resist, here's the full pano version of my earlier photo of MAM:

Vertigo is my new best friend. And I'm sitting down! Looking at this from a floor's-eye view!!

[GRDadof3]

Speaking of modern architecture (some images are clickable):

We may even start to see landscaping on this soon.

Louvers!

Walking along Monroe Center, starting from the West end:

My guess is the second floor patio will have a glass railing (not plywood ).

Transparent glass on the Eastern gallery stairwell:

Glass, glazing, fenestration,.....and lots of it!

[mpchicago]

Speaking of modern architecture:

The details are coming along nicely. Me likes the Louvers

[Allison Slater]

My opinion on GRAM so far:

From some angles it looks really stunning, yet from other angles it doesn't look very appealing at all. What IS good, is at least from a pedestrian's perspective, the first floor is always good.

[joeDowntown]

Anyone have a picture of where the waterfall (or wall of water) will be?

Joe

[numstead]

this afternoon...

...I can't wait until they get all the flashing coverred up.

[GRDadof3]

Anyone have a picture of where the waterfall (or wall of water) will be?

Joe

Yes, right here Joe. The top portion will be a reflecting pool (I imagine that will be visible from inside the museum) that will cascade over the front side.

That's a sweet shot! Wish I had taken it.

[sparky05]

Well thank goodness that they were able to make the big window on ottawa look like a gigantic exhaust vent. Because this side of the building was shaping up to be not totally brutal:

Monroe side:

Overview:

[mgreven]

Well thank goodness that they were able to make the big window on ottawa look like a gigantic exhaust vent. Because this side of the building was shaping up to be not totally brutal:

What is up with this, I just walked past it and couldn't believe it looked so bad. I'm really starting to like this place until I saw that.

[suydam]

What is up with this, I just walked past it and couldn't believe it looked so bad. I'm really starting to like this place until I saw that.

Isn't this the side that was never revealed in the renderings we saw?

I walked past this at lunch today and gave it the big "WTF".

It's too bad, from nearly every other angle, despite the blockyness I thought I was going to hate, I really like the building.

This side truly looks like a giant exhaust vent. Yuck.