They came dressed in jeans and sweatshirts, black tie and diamonds. They were all ages, sizes, backgrounds and interests. They were all curious to see the magnificent addition to the Chazen Museum of Art. They were dazzled.
For an entire weekend, October 20 to October 23, the campus community, city of Madison neighbors and dignitaries, and guests from around the country gathered to celebrate the grand opening of the Chazen Museum. The $43 million expansion was made possible by more than 140 generous donors led by UW-Madison alumni Simona and Jerome A. (’48 BA L&S) Chazen with their visionary gift of $25 million. Two-and-a-half years after the groundbreaking on May 1, 2009, the new building, which doubles the size of the museum and is connected to the original building by a third-floor bridge, is complete. The Chazen Museum of Art continues to be a vital resource for academic study and research and a free and welcoming place for the community to enjoy.
The Chazen Museum of Art is free and open to the public. Visit chazen.wisc.edu for hours, directions and special events.