Dec. 14 party to celebrate new PAC galleries, art

Western Washington University will celebrate the opening of three new gallery spaces in the Performing Arts Center at 4:15 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 14.

The celebration is free and open to the public.

Hosted by Western President Bruce Shepard and Dean Dan Guyette from the WWU College of Fine and Performing Arts, the ceremony will feature a ribbon cutting and a brief program honoring Virginia Wright, whose generous gift made the renovation of the gallery spaces possible. Members of the Safeco Insurance Co. and the Washington Arts Consortium will also be in attendance and recognized for their contributions toward the new galleries.

A recent gift of $250,000 from Seattle art patron Virginia Wright allowed the university to create new gallery spaces in the Mainstage and Concert Hall lobbies to display select pieces from its recently expanded collection of Northwest art, and to renovate a third existing gallery, which houses a rare collection of tapestries by Alexander Calder.

The new PAC Galleries highlight approximately 75 works of the 208 paintings, sculpture and works on paper acquired in 2010 from the joint gift of the Safeco Insurance Co. and the Washington Arts Consortium. The celebration marks the debut of these works to the public in their new home at Western Washington University. Guests and patrons will enjoy exhibited works by prominent Northwest artists including Guy Anderson, Michael Daily, Richard Gilkey, Morris Graves, Paul Horiuchi, William Ivey, Lee Kelly, John Koenig, Alden Mason, Nancy Mee, Carl Morris, and Frank Okada.

Complimentary parking for the celebration will be available from 3:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. in the gravel lots located on the south end of Western’s campus. No permits are required during this time in the gravel lots.

For more information contact WWU Special Events at (360) 650-6825. 

An art restorer works on a rare collection of tapestries from Alexander Calder in advance of their display at Western Washington University in one of three new galleries in the Performing Arts Center. Courtesy photo
Rare tapestries from Alexander Calder have been restored in advance of their display at Western Washington University in one of three new galleries in the Performing Arts Center. Courtesy photo
An art restorer works on a rare collection of tapestries from Alexander Calder in advance of their display at Western Washington University in one of three new galleries in the Performing Arts Center. Courtesy photo
A rare collection of tapestries from Alexander Calder is restored in advance of the tapestries' display at Western Washington University in one of three new galleries in the Performing Arts Center. Courtesy photo