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Milwaukee Art Museum.

The Milwaukee Art Museum began with Layton Art Gallery [1888] and Milwaukee Art Institute [1918]. They joined to form Milwaukee Art Museum in 1957. The latest addition to the museum building is the Quadracci Pavilion, in 2001. So three buildings make up for the 117,000 square feet of gallery space and four floors of art.

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Milwaukee Art Museum can be divided into four components:

[I] The Quadracci Pavilion [2001] Architect: Santiago Calatrava.
It features exhibition, auditorium, cafe, store and other public amenities.

[II] Kahler Building [1975] Architect: David Kahler
Four levels hold more than forty Collection galleries, including the Bradley Collection of Modern Art.

[III] War Memorial Center [1957] Architect: Eero Saarinen
Administrative offices and library occupy the Museum’s original building.

[IV] Cudahy Gardens..
By landscape architect: Dan Kiley
The Museum also has an elegant network of gardens, hedges, plazas and fountains designed by landscape architect Dan Kiley.

This post is specifically on the Quadracci Pavilion.

 

From Milwaukee Art Museum website.. click here..
The graceful Quadracci Pavilion is a sculptural, postmodern addition to the Milwaukee Art Museum completed in 2001, designed by Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava. A 1975 addition had increased space five-fold, but the Museum remained hidden from public view on the lower floors of the War Memorial Center. A $10 million then-anonymous gift from Betty and Harry Quadracci kicked off a capital campaign.

The 142,050-square-foot Quadracci Pavilion was planned to primarily contain public spaces — a reception hall, auditorium, café, store, and parking, plus 10,000 square feet of flexible space for temporary exhibitions. Calatrava later said, “I had clients who truly wanted from me the best architecture that I could do. Their ambition was to create something exceptional for their community…. Thanks to them, this project responds to the culture of the lake: the sailboats, the weather, the sense of motion and change.”

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Quadracci Pavilion: Milwaukee Art Museum
Architect: Santiago Calatrava
Completed in 2001.

The Quadracci Pavilion is an architectural addition to the Milwaukee Art Museum. The name, “Quadracci Pavilion” comes from it’s philanthropic donors, Betty and Harry Quadracci. Their $10 million then-anonymous gift kicked-off a campaign for the extension of the Museum. In 1994, the Museum’s search committee convinced Santiago Calatrava to submit a proposal. They were very impressed by his design, and the project was completed in 2001.

 The Quadracci Pavilion is the Santiago Calatrava’s first building in the US. It was named “Best Design of 2001” by Time magazine.

The Quadracci Pavilion has four major components..
[1] BRISE-SOLEIL: A huge operable wing-like sunscreen.
[II] WINDHOVER HALL: A glass enclosed Reception Hall, “Windhover Hall”, with transparent, boat-like prow over the lake.
[III] BAUMGARTNER and SCHROEDER Galleries: Extending off from the Windhover Hall are two arched promenades, the Baumgartner [east] Galleria and Schroeder [west] Galleria. These flank Feature Exhibition [Baker/Rowland Galleries], Museum Store and Luner Auditorium..
[IV] REIMAN PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE: A cable-stayed pedestrian
OTHER FEATURES: of Quadracci Pavilion includes the underground parking garage, the 100-seat cafe and the Baumgartner Terrace.

 

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 BURKE BRISE SOLEIL

The Museum’s signature wings, the Burke Brise Soleil, form a moveable sunscreen with a 217-foot wingspan. The brise soleil is made up of 72 steel fins, ranging in length from 26 to 105 feet. The entire structure weighs 90 tons. It takes 3.5 minutes for the wings to open or close. Sensors on the fins continually monitor wind speed and direction; whenever winds exceed 23 mph for more than 3 seconds, the wings close automatically.

According to Santiago Calatrava, “in the crowning element of the brise soleil, the building’s form is at once formal (completing the composition), functional (controlling the level of light), symbolic (opening to welcome visitors), and iconic (creating a memorable image for the Museum and the city).”

The “wings” open at 10 a.m. in accordance with regular days of operation, close/reopen at noon, and close at 5 p.m. (8 p.m on Fridays). Schedule is subject to change without advance notice due to weather/maintenance.

 

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Image above: Burke Brise Soleil
Image below: Windhover Hall – directly below the Burke Soleil.

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THE WINDHOVER HALL

Directly below the Burke Soleil, is he huge glass enclosed Reception Hall, “Windhover Hall”. The official website of the Milwaukee Art Museum, describes it as..
It is Santiago Calatrava’s postmodern interpretation of a Gothic Cathedral, complete with flying buttresses, pointed arches, ribbed vaults, and a central nave topped by a 90-foot-high glass roof. An average-sized, two-story family home would fit comfortably inside the reception hall.

The hall’s chancel is shaped like the prow of a ship, with floor-to-ceiling windows looking over Lake Michigan. Adjoining the central hall are two tow-arched promenades, the Baumgartner Galleria and Schroeder Foundation Galleria, with expansive views of the lake and downtown.

 

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ARCHED PROMENADES:  Baumgartner and Schroeder Galleries.

Extending north from the main Reception Hall [Windhover Hall] are two arched promenades: Baumgartner and Schroeder Galleries.
Extending north from the main museum’s Reception Hall / Windhover Hall, and leading to the museum’s collection galleries are two arched promenades –  the Baumgartner [east] Galleria and Schroeder Foundation [west] Galleria.  The gallerias are parallel concourses that flank Lubar Auditorium, the Museum Store, and the Baker/Rowland Galleries. These offer beautiful view of the lake and the city. The gallerias are parallel concourses that flank Lubar Auditorium, the Museum Store, and the Baker/Rowland Galleries. Baumgartner Galleria provides expansive views of Lake Michigan, and Schroeder Galleria looks out onto the Cudahy Gardens, and the city beyond. Baumgartner Gallery has some wonderful collection of modern sculpture

 

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THE REIMAN PEDESTRIAL BRIDGE

It connects the Milwaukee downtown with the waterfront. A 192-foot pylon supports the 10 major spans of the bridge. The bridge leads to a “Burke Soleil Viewing Area”, with really awesome view of the bridge.

“Rather than just add something to the existing buildings, I also wanted to add something to the lakefront. I have therefore worked to infuse the building with a certain sensitivity to the culture of the lake – the boats, the sails and the always changing landscape.”
– Santiago Calatrava..

 

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BURKE SOLEIL VIEWING AREA

The site where the Reiman Pedestrial bridge begins is Burke Soliel Viewing Area.

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 SELECT ARTWORK at MILWAUKEE ART MUSEUM

The Calling – by Mark di Suvero
Argo – by Alexander Liberman
Red, Black, and Blue [Mobile sculpture] – by Alexander Calder
Isola di San Giacomo in Palude – by Dale Chihuly
Kiss – by Auguste Rodin

 

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The Kiss [Paolo and Francesca] – Auguste Rodin.
“The Kiss” is a result of a commission that French sculptor Auguste Rodin received in 1880, for his “Gates of Hell”,
a decorative relief door, for a future Musee des Beaux Arts. It was inspired by Dante’s The Divine Comedy.
But it was removed shortly thereafter and became an independent work.
Many of Rodin’s independent works, were originally made for this door including – The Thinker, Adam & Eve, and The Kiss – among others.
For more on The Kiss.. click here..

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Related Links:

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UNESCO World Heritage Site.. click here..

Home: Public Art in Chicago.. click here..

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