DONATE NOW TO THE CRMA FLOOD RELIEF FUND!
Update Monday, August 11, 2008-Museum Store Preview
The CRMA continues to make progress in our flood recovery efforts and we are planning to reopen our doors on Saturday, August 30, 2008.
The Museum Store at the Cedar Rapids Museum of Art (CRMA) is hosting a special One-Day Museum Store Preview on Saturday, August 16 from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. In celebration of this special event, everything in the Museum Store will be 10% off for the entire day. The Store offers a unique variety of items and great creations of Iowa, including books, jewelry, posters, art-related gifts and other creative items. You can be sure to find something for everyone!
The Museum Store will resume regular hours on Saturday, August 30:
Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday: 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Thursday: 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Sunday: noon to 4:00 p.m.
Update Thursday, July 31, 2008
Click here to see a recent video of the flood recovery efforts at the Cedar Rapids Museum of Art created by The Gazette. Listen as Curator of Collections and Exhibitions, Sean Ulmer talks about the CRMA's recovery and plans for the exhibitions that will be on display when the Museum reopens.
Update Thursday, July 17, 2008
In the past, the Museum has used steam as the energy source for dehumidifying the air in the galleries and collection storage of our Museum wing. Alliant Energy's steam utilities were hard hit during the flooding. This has led us to re-evaluate our source of energy for the dehumidification process and we are proceeding to add two natural gas-powered hot water boilers. This will permit us to resume the complete dehumidification process on our own much quicker - getting us much closer to our goal of opening the Museum's first floor galleries by Labor Day. Our existing steam system will remain in place and can be re-engaged in the future as a back-up system.
Update Wednesday, July 9, 2008
The Cedar Rapids Museum of Art continues to make progress in our flood recovery efforts. The majority of the affected artworks have been sent to Chicago for conservation.
The Museum continues to recover its services and water has now been restored to the building. Reopening of the Museum depends heavily on steam service. As a result, steam will need to be restored before the Museum can become fully functional on its own.
Weeks of air quality testing have been conducted to ensure any mold or additional air contaminants left as a result of the flood are gone. We will soon be able to begin the process of cleaning our air handling system.
The Museum is also conducting an analysis of all of the equipment and supplies that were lost in the flood, as nearly all of the frames, tools, vitrines, crates, supplies and other materials housed in storerooms, the woodshop, and the exhibition preparation rooms were unsalvageable.
Also, as many of you know, a part of our permanent collection consists of works by Iowa City printmaker, Mauricio Lasansky. The flood affected approximately 50 of his framed prints. The Museum staff has been able to unframe the works and the prints themselves are safe and have been moved into storage.
Update Friday, June 27, 2008 Grant Wood Studio-Free Admission through Labor Day
We are pleased to announce that the Grant Wood Studio and Visitor Center was unaffected by the flood. The Studio and will be reopening on Saturday, July 12 from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. with FREE ADMISSION FOR EVERYONE! New Studio hours will be every Saturday and Sunday from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. through Labor Day. Free admission will continue through Labor Day as well. Please stop down to see us!
Update Friday, June 20, 2008--CRMA Post-Flood Recovery
CURRENT STATUS OF THE CEDAR RAPIDS MUSEUM OF ART. The Museum is currently closed and all summer events are canceled. We have electricity, telephone service, and email. We hope to reopen in a limited capacity around Labor Day, but it is likely to be many months before the full Museum is open to the public.
THE CHALLENGE AHEAD. The Museum has already begun the lengthy process of carefully drying, cleaning and sanitizing the basement and collection storage areas so that the collection can eventually be returned to storage. The entire exhibition preparation area was destroyed. Nearly all of the frames, tools, equipment, vitrines, crates, supplies and other materials housed in storerooms, the woodshop, and the exhibition preparation rooms were unsalvageable and the entire artwork storage system is in jeopardy. The Museum’s share of the cleanup and replacement costs are likely to exceed $250,000.
BACKGROUND. In the days following June 12, 2008, more than nine square miles of Cedar Rapids lay under the flood waters of the Cedar River. At the height of the flooding, the Cedar Rapids Museum of Art was nearly surrounded by water. While the Museum ultimately did not take in any flood waters, we did receive approximately nine inches of water which backed up into the basement and collection storage area as the flooding overcame the City’s sewage system and created a powerful backwards surge.
THE COLLECTION. Thanks to the hard work of staff and volunteers, nearly all artwork was removed from the art storage collection area into upper floor galleries or was moved to higher places within art storage before there was any danger. Less than 5% of the Museum’s collection has been affected by water and high humidity levels and these items are being examined and monitored by conservators. The remainder of the collection has been moved into temporary storage in the Museum’s galleries.
THE GRANT WOOD STUDIO. The Grant Wood Studio was not affected by the flooding. However it will remain closed until July 12 so that Museum staff can concentrate on work at the Museum itself.
VOLUNTEERS. We have received many gratifying inquiries from friends of the Museum that want to be involved and would like to volunteer. But at this point we are not using any volunteers.
HOW YOU CAN HELP. You can help by making a contribution to the Museum that will aid in the cleanup and recovery efforts. As always, your membership renewal and annual fund contribution will be necessary for our ongoing operational costs. I urge you to consider an extra gift to the annual fund to help with our disaster recovery expenses.
The Cedar Rapids Museum of Art looks forward to being part of a stronger Cedar Rapids and a revitalized downtown district.
Terry Pitts
Executive Director
Update Tuesday, June 17, 2008--A Statement from Executive Directory, Terry Pitts
The situation at the Cedar Rapids Museum of Art is as follows. The flood waters stopped several feet short of the Museum, but we did receive about 9 inches of water which came into the basement of the Museum wing as a result of the powerful water pressure moving back through the city's sewer system.
Thanks to an incredible group of staff and volunteers, nearly all artwork was removed from art storage into upper floor galleries or was moved to higher places within art storage before any water entered the building.
We are currently engaged in the process of drying and cleaning the basement. We have a full conservation crew on hand that is inspecting every work of art.
Currently, we have telephone service and computer access, and half of the Museum has electricity.
I cannot project when the Museum will re-open to the public.
I want to thank everyone for you messages of concern and offers of help. At this point in time we are not seeking any volunteers.
Terry Pitts
Executive Director