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Photos: Opening of the Art Museum North Entrance and Vaulted Walkway

September 18, 2019 by HughE Dillon Leave a comment

It seems like forever since this project began, but how sweet it is to attend today’s opening of the Art Museum’s North Entrance. I live across the street so I’ve been watching them from the groundbreaking to the opening of the doors. It is magnificent. Now that the West Entrance is closed as part of renovating the building with their Core Project, you’ll need to enter through here or at the East Entrance.

The North Entrance is now open with access to new spaces including an espresso bar, a re-imagined museum store, and education classrooms. You don’t need tickets to access the espresso bar or museum store.

There’s a whole section in the Museum Store dedicated to local artists. Plus I noticed that the Art Museum has embraced the whole love of Rocky with various items including these cute “dolls”, but one of my favorite items is this magnet, which I bought, celebrating the Eagles Superbowl Rally on the Art Museum Steps, scratch that, Rocky Steps, scratch that, the Steps of Glory, yes we have a new all inclusive name for stairway which leads to the East entrance of the Art Museum. I like it!!

At this mornings ceremony Leslie Miller, board chair, Mayor Jim Kenney, Timothy Rub The George D. Widener Director and Chief Executive Officer The Philadelphia Museum of Art, Frank Gehry, legendary architect and not pictured here but to the right of Mr Gehry, schools Superintendent William R. Hite Jr., and Gail Harrity President and Chief Operating Officer of the Art Museum were in attendance and spoke at the ceremony.

28 students from the Bache-Martin school entered the newly restored North Entrance as streamers enveloped them.

The metal sculpture is supposed to mimic the barrel roof of the adjoining hallway. This is the espresso cafe filled with natural light, with plenty of seating. There are also spacious bathrooms just around the corner. 10:00 a.m.–8:45 p.m.: Pay What You Wish admission!! Check out more photos in my column on CBS3Philly.