Cedar Rapids art museum kicking off capital improvements

The Cedar Rapids Museum of Art is getting ready for a facelift.

As the next phase of the $1.3 million 3RD Capital Campaign -- which began in December to reinvent, rejuvenate and revitalize the museum, spurred by a $250,000 matching gift from the Hall-Perrine Foundation -- construction will begin this summer on the museum's Third Avenue entrance.

It has been nearly 25 years -- 1988 is when the modern addition expanded the existing Carnegie Library space -- since the exterior of the museum changed.

"We looked at what else was happening down here in our neighborhood," said Mary Duncan, development director at the museum. "With all this happening we wanted the front of the museum to look as wonderful as the Library and Waypoint and our other neighbors. We want people to feel welcomed on all sides of the park."

Removing the long ramp spanning the museum along Third Avenue will open up the front of the museum.

Now, the ramp "blocks the entrance to the museum and the Charles Moore design," Duncan said.

Demolishing it will give the museum space for outdoor sculpture, landscaping and use of existing small patios hidden by the ramp. A new entrance will be constructed to open sightlines between the museum and the new Cedar Rapids Public Library across Greene Square Park.

Less obvious, but necessary improvements include a new roof and a sewer back flow prevention system.

There will be renovations to the part of the museum that was the original Carnegie Library as well. The Museum Store is being slightly reduced in size to accommodate a new children's art discovery center, which will be modeled after a Grant Wood creation from his years teaching at McKinley Middle School called "Imagination Isle."

"Kids of all ages will be able to come in and create and do activities in this open space," Duncan said.

Patrons can view renderings of the newly designed entrance and the new children's activity center being added during a free event from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday at the museum.

Outside, Des Moines-based artist and Cedar Rapids native Mona Muse will lead participants in a collaborative mural painting on the side of the ramp.

"We will have sidewalk chalk so the little ones can draw on the ramp itself. You are probably never ever going to be able to paint on the walls of the museum again."