Aspen Peak - Niche Media - Aspen living at its peak
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continued from page 90 A rendering of the new Aspen Art Museum, which gracefully contrasts and connects with its natural surroundings. " Because our program focuses on the world's best contemporary art, we needed to have a building that was of the same status architecturally." HEIDI ZUCKERMAN JACOBSON Another part of Ban's practice is bringing the outside in and inside out to generate a sense of transparency, which was an important part not just of the design but the function of the institution." The creation of the new museum building was a top priority of the board of trustees as soon as Zuckerman Jacobson took her post more than eight years ago. "I didn't want to build one just because other museums were being built all around the country, but because we deserved one," she says. So before beginning the process, she urged the museum's leadership to build up its board, refine its vision and mission, and increase its staff and attendance. Since making the recommended changes, she says, the museum has expe- rienced an unprecedented jump in attendance over the past few years to the point that the museum had indeed outgrown its previous location in a cramped city building on the outskirts of town and needed the new struc- ture. So the board created a selection committee to undertake an exhaustive exploration and review process before unanimously selecting Ban to design it, his first US museum project. The group also identified its new site in the center of downtown at the corners of South Spring Street and East Hyman Avenue, a location that makes the museum easily accessible to residents and anchors the city with an exciting, new cultural landmark. In addition to cultivating a sense of transparency and connection with the outdoors, Ban created 12,500 square feet of f lexible exhibition space in six primary gallery areas spread over the museum's four levels, more than tri- pling the amount of exhibition space in the museum's current facility. He also infused most galleries with natural light—some with operable skylights. Upon entering the museum, visitors may choose their path through the museum spaces, ascending to upper levels either via Ban's "moving room," a glass elevator in the northeast corner of the new facility, or the grand stair- case on the east side of the facility, which leads to the sculpture garden on the roof deck, where there is also a café with catering by Aspen-based Epicure catering, a bar, and an outdoor screening space. Other features of the muse- um's architecture include education space, a bookstore/museum shop, and an on-site artist apartment on the ground f loor. 637 E. Hyman Ave., 970-925- 8056; aspenartmuseum.org AP SEE THIS, HEAR THIS Events this summer at the Aspen Art Museum. Kicking off the opening activities will be AAM's 10th annual ArtCrush summer benefit on August 1, followed by a members' opening on August 2. The 24-hour public grand opening on August 9 will include a variety of collaborations and programs, including classical and blues concerts, theater for kids, film screenings and lectures, and a silent dance party. Among the museum's six inaugural exhibitions will be a display of works by Yves Klein and David Hammons in an unprecedented coupling of two of the most significant artists of our time. Another exhibition will feature four full-scale examples of Ban's groundbreaking designs for humanitarian relief. Topping off the exhibits of the opening celebration will be works by artist Cai Guo-Qiang in the rooftop sculpture garden, where, says museum board member Larry Marx, "You'll also see the best views of Aspen Mountain and the Rockies." Adds Marx, who served on the museum's building and investment committees, "The new museum is meaningful both as a special setting in which to showcase the museum's art and also as a great place in itself to experience." 92 ASPENPEAK-MAGAZINE.COM ART AT ALTITUDE 090-092_AP_SC_ArtAtAltitude_SUM_FALL_14.indd 92 5/6/14 5:54 PM