Breathing room at last

Portland Art Museum in Oregon shows off new space

The Evan H. Roberts Sculpture Mall

In this story: Native American and Northwest art Project for the Millennium RELATED STORIES, SITES

By Thurston Hatcher
CNN.com Writer

(CNN) -- Things were getting a little crowded around the Portland Art Museum.

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Its collection had grown dramatically over the last half-century, but it hadn't added any new gallery space for more than 60 years. Until now.

On Saturday, the Pacific Northwest's oldest art museum will unveil a 60,000-square-foot expansion that will allow it to better showcase its 32,000-piece collection.

"It is the first time in the history of our museum that our art collections have been allowed to express themselves," said John E. Buchanan Jr., the Oregon museum's executive director.

The key element of the expansion project, designed by Ann Beha Associates of Boston, is a new third wing featuring more than 50,000 square feet of gallery space. The Hoffman wing -- which previously was home to the now-relocated Pacific Northwest College of Art -- will include dedicated space highlighting American Indian art and art from the Northwest.

The Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde Center for Native American Art will enable the museum to highlight works from its extensive collection, which comes from 200 indigenous groups throughout North America.

The Arlene and Harold Schnitzer Center for Northwestern Art will celebrate the history and culture of the American Northwest. It will occupy almost two full floors of the wing and will feature a three-story-tall installation piece by Northwest glass artist William Morris.

The museum's collection also includes European and American painting and sculpture, English silver, Asian art and pre-Columbian art.

The museum -- which will offer free admission through September 17 -- also has added about 9,000 square feet of gallery space for special exhibitions in an existing building. Other improvements include a community education center, a new auditorium and a renovated outdoor sculpture garden.

The expansion is part of the museum's Project for the Millennium campaign, which so far has raised $20 million for the construction work, plus another $25 million for the operating endowment.

Portland's booming economy and growth have played a big role in the 108-year-old museum's monumental effort, Buchanan said. Since 1994, membership has increased from 5,000 households to 20,000.

"It really is a coming of age for the museum, which is really one of the great regional art museums of America," Buchanan said.

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Portland Art Museum

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