Whether you count it as 31 more days of Degas or as a month of Ming-era masterpieces, the summer art season will be a little longer this year.
For the first time since 1990, the Yale University Art Gallery will be open to the public in August, according to an announcement by Helen A. Cooper, acting director of the Yale Art Gallery.
"We are grateful to President Richard Levin and Provost Alison Richard for making it possible to keep the Art Gallery open throughout 1998," says Cooper, noting that in recent years "budgetary constraints have forced us to close in August.
"But with the University's generous financial support, summer tourists, as well as the New Haven community, will be able to enjoy our superb collections," she added.
News of the gallery's decision to open in August was greeted with enthusiasm in many quarters. Patrick McCaughey, director of the neighboring Yale Center for British Art, said, "The British Art Center is thrilled that its older brother will be open in August, especially this year when the younger brother has to be closed to repair the roof."
Shirley Johnson, manager of the Yale Visitor Information Center, said, "This is the best news I've heard in many years. August is our busiest month, and people are always disappointed when we tell them the Yale Art Gallery is closed."
Special exhibitions that will be on view during the month of August include "Saints, Sinners, and Scenery: Genre and Landscape Paintings from the Collection of Dr. Herbert and Monika Schaefer" and "By American!," a selection of 50 notable drawings and sketchbooks. The latter is part of "American Art at Yale: 25 Years of Collecting," which also features a "treasure hunt" of paintings, sculpture and decorative arts that have been acquired in the past quarter century.
The Yale University Art Gallery is located at the corner of Chapel and York streets. Its permanent collection features works from every period in the history of art, and it features many changing exhibits throughout the year. Both the museum and its sculpture garden are open to the public free of charge Tuesday-Saturday 10 a.m.- 5 p.m. and Sunday 1-6 p.m. A museum entrance for persons using wheelchairs is located at 201 York St. For information about access, call 432-0606. For general information, call 432-0600.
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