‘A new era for us’ | Rockford Art Museum prepares for reopening after yearlong renovations
By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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ROCKFORD — Rockford Art Museum is preparing to reopen its galleries after a yearlong closure to overhaul its climate control system.
The roughly $8 million project to replace the heating, venting and air conditioning system at Riverfront Museum Park, 711 N. Main St., was needed to ensure the protection of the art collection.
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Artists and collectors may be hesitant to provide a piece if they’re not confident it can be protected in perfect condition, said Carrie Johnson, executive director of the Rockford Art Museum.
“That was very important for the art museum and collectors and artists,” she said.
The museum’s vault was on a separate air conditioning system and had never failed, Johnson said.
“The galleries have gone down before where I’ve had to take entire shows down and put them in the vault,” she said.
The museum will host a homecoming gala on Nov. 9 with live music Rockford-based soul and funk band Too Deep. Then, on Nov. 14, the galleries will reopen to the public. Admission is free thanks to sponsorship from the Dean Alan Olson Foundation. Donations are encouraged.
Most of the fixes made during the yearlong construction project are the type you feel in the temperature of the building but don’t see. However, there are some noticeable changes, too.
There are all new ceilings and lighting tracts, for example.
The main store and entryway to the art museum has been renovated with a brighter, fresh look. The roughly 20-year-old carpet in the space has been ripped up to reveal and restore the original terrazzo floor.
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Half of that storefront space has been converted to what the museum is calling its Young Masters Studio. That will be a free art space for kids, where they can take on activities that correspond with the exhibition on view.
It’s expected to work synergistically with the next door Discovery Center Museum, which is a hands-on learning and activity space for kids.
“We’re collaborating so much with Discovery Center now, just having that dual classroom where our folks can go back and forth is wonderful,” Johnson said. “We’re really excited for more collaborations to come.”
The museum has also moved its permanent collection to the first floor, where Johnson has curated it by color.
The museum has more than 2,000 pieces in its permanent collection, not all of which are on display at a time, and it consists of modern and contemporary American art from the 19th and 20th centuries through today. There is also modern photography, impressionist paintings, African American art from the Black South and signature pieces from artists such as Edward Paschke and Julie Heffernan.
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The downstairs space will be used for rotating exhibits.
The project was funded largely through state grants, including $6 million secured by state Rep. Maurice West. The museum also won other state funding and has $100,000 dedicated from the city to help cover the remainder of the costs.
“I was a proud advocate for this investment because the Rockford Art Museum attracts visitors and provides opportunities for local families to be exposed to diverse and meaningful artwork,” West said. “This investment helps improve the quality of life of our community.”
The art museum is making the final touches to the space as it prepares for reopening, including placing the captions and didactics in the gallery space.
The museum has a small staff with two full-time employees and one part-timer.
“Putting artwork back on the wall, we were all hugging each other,” Johnson said. “We feel like this might be going into a new era for us.”
If you go | Homecoming Gala
What: After a year of being closed for renovations, Rockford Art Museum will host a Homecoming Gala fundraiser. The night features food from Abreo, cocktails, a homecoming court and live music from Too Deep.
When: 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 9 (6-7 p.m. for early entry ticket to Pep Rally)
Where: Rockford Art Museum, 711 N. Main St., Rockford
Donation: $200 or $250 for Pep Rally
Info/tickets: Go HERE
Rockford Art Museum reopening
When: Thursday, Nov. 14
Museum hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday-Sunday
Admission: Free admission sponsored by Dean Alan Olson Foundation
This article is by Kevin Haas. Email him at khaas@rockrivercurrent.com or follow him on X at @KevinMHaas or Instagram @thekevinhaas and Threads @thekevinhaas
