From the Director
January/February '07

On September 30, 2006, the Flint Institute of Arts reopened its doors to the public after adding 17,000 square feet of galleries and art storage. The occasion was cause for celebration as visitors gathered with artists, scholars and patrons to explore the collection, recent acquisitions, and works on loan in exciting new gallery settings. The day began with a ribbon cutting ceremony opening the Charles Stewart Mott Gallery Wing, the Herbert H. and Grace A. Dow Gallery and the Donald E. and Alice D. Johnson Galleries. Artist, Hubert Massey unveiled his 88 foot long fresco mural, Earth, Wind, Fire and Water. Renowned art world personalities including Egyptologist, Dr. Peter Lacovara; Director Emeritus of Cranbrook Academy and Museum of Art, Roy Slade; and Editor/Publisher of ARTnews, Milton Esterow spoke about art, museums, and art appreciation. By days end, record crowds had visited.Why did the Institute expand and why at this time? In our case, the easy answer is to house the Museum’s ever expanding art collection. With the new facility, the museum has the opportunity to fulfill its primary objectives to procure, protect, and present outstanding works of art. The collection, over the years, had become too large for existing storage facilities and expansion was necessary if we were going to continue to collect. Cramped storage and overcrowding ultimately would jeopardize the safety of the FIA’s valuable and, in many cases, irreplaceable objects. Also, there was not enough gallery space to adequately present the FIA’s deep and important collection.

In addition to solving collection management problems for years to come, the expansion sends a message about the importance of culture and education to our city. With downtown redevelopment underway, the FIA expansion underscores the city’s resolve to invest in itself and serves as a symbol of progress and hope for the future. Architect Fred Fisher points out that the Institute is designed for large gatherings and can serve as a town square to bring people together for a variety of reasons.Finally, the new FIA, with its spacious galleries, improved visitor services, and easy access has become a better place for people to seek the art experience; that special moment of recognition that an individual, whether alone or in a crowd, can have with a work of art that uplifts the human spirit. The FIA’s collections and programs have always had the depth to provide the experience and now, through its new facility providing easier access for a greater number of people, that special moment is likely to occur more frequently.

I invite you to visit your Museum often to look, wonder, and experience.

John B. Henry III, Director