The Barry Art Museum Opens to the Public
November 02, 2018
Old Dominion University welcomed the community to its new Barry Art Museum on Wednesday, Nov. 14.
The University hosted a lunchtime reception for faculty and staff from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
A public open house was held from 4 to 7 p.m.
Located on the corner of Hampton Boulevard and 43rd Street, the 24,000-square-foot museum was made possible by a donation of funds and art valued at more than $35 million from Richard and Carolyn Barry - the largest in Old Dominion University's history.
The two-story museum's first exhibition will feature the art given by the Barrys.
Their collection reflects three main areas: international glass sculpture, 20th-century American modernist paintings, historic fashion dolls and European automata.
The Barry Art Museum will focus on glass pieces from internationally renowned artists such as Dale Chihuly, Lino Tagliapietra, Howard Ben Tré, Dan Dailey, Ginny Ruffner, Michael Glancy, Laura Donefer, Stanislav Libensky, Jaroslava Brychtova and Harvey Littleton, the founder of the American studio glass movement.
In addition to art donated by the Barrys, the museum will feature a few works by current and former ODU faculty including A.B. Jackson, Charles Sibley and Fay Zetlin, and gifts by local donors. A gallery space is dedicated to educational activities for children and young adults developed by the ODU's Center for Educational Partnerships.
President John R. Broderick praised the Barrys for their commitment to arts education.
"Their gift will elevate our efforts in the arts and inspire a new generation of artists and creative minds in our community," he said. "Through their generosity, this museum will provide a unique and valuable cultural and interdisciplinary educational resource."
