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    Chihuly Illuminated Opens Today at CMA

    While Dale Chihuly’s artwork is no stranger to Columbus cultural institutions, the new Chihuly Illuminated exhibition at the Columbus Museum of Art is definitely worth a visit. Starting today, six of his large-scale glass pieces will be on display at the CMA, all of which focus on the element of light.

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    As an added incentive for a trip to the museum, the next two weeks will be your last chance to visit the CMA in its current state before a major renovation and expansion project takes place.

    “Beginning October 12th, the historic portion of our building that faces broad Street will be closed to the public because we will begin renovations,” explained Nancy Colvin, the Marketing and Communications Manager at the CMA. “The Museum itself is open the entire time, but this portion of the building is going to be getting a major overhaul.”

    The Derby Court dining area is going to have the floors raised and ceiling vaulted for better accessibility. The auditorium will be overhauled and will include new seating, and a new educational area will be created with additional interactive elements and hands-on activities.

    “The renovations should last approximately a year, and then we’ll have a big re-opening,” said Colvin. “About six months after that we’ll roll into the expansion that will add approximately 45,000 square feet of space to the museum.”

    The expansion will include not only a larger facility, but also a new parking garage structure, new exterior spaces, and a larger endowment. This is the first expansion project at the museum in 35 years.

    “One of the criteria we set for the architects was to develop a master plan that embraces our neighborhood,” said Nannette Maciejunes, Executive Director of the CMA. “We’ve got lots of wonderful collaborations with CCAD, we have a great relationship with State Auto, and Columbus State is a partner that we’re also getting to know better than we ever knew before.”

    New expansion plans are also taking into consideration the changing residential landscape of Downtown.

    “One of the great things about the Neighborhood Launch development on Gay Street is that we’re going to be in walking distance of many new people,” said Maciejunes. “I just love the thought of our neighbors grabbing their morning papers or Kindles and coming over and sitting out on some of the new greenspace on our renovated property. That goes for the new apartments across Broad Street as well.”

    “For many years we’ve been in a sea of parking lots, and now I think we’re really part of a neighborhood, and that’s a good feeling,” she added.

    The Chihuly Illuminated exhibit runs from September 25th, 2009 through July 4th, 2010. More information can be found online at ColumbusMuseum.org.

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