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North Dakota Museum of Art
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The North Dakota Museum of Art is housed in a transformed gymnasium. In 1985 UND's old West Gym on the south edge of the campus was donated to the Museum. The building with its 30-foot beamed ceilings and its maple floor provided a spectacular shell for the galleries.
The exterior with its carved lintel describing what you might expect on the inside, "GYMNASIUM", belies the interior and its content. As described by Patrice Clark Koelsh... "when I go through the door, I feel like Judy Garland's Dorothy stepping out of the black-and-white Kansas homestead and magically transported to the technicolor Kingdom of Oz." |
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The late Harvey Hoshour, an architect from Albuquerque, NM, designed the 16,000 square-foot space to include three exhibition galleries, a video information room, and a gift shop. The two large exhibition spaces on the main floor stretch the full height of the building. Both spaces have glorious light from two-story, scrim shaded windows and a skylight that runs the length of the building. The third exhibition space is an ample yet intimate second-story loft. Administrative offices and coffee shop are on the lower level, where they too have natural light. There are unexpected touches of whimsy in the mostly serene and unassuming environment: The ceilings of the restrooms have neon sculpture by Minneapolis artist Cork Marcheschi, the gift shop has selections of a variety of artwork, including children's books about the flood. |
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