Dahesh Museum relocates - Front Page - New York City - Brief Article

The Dahesh Museum of Art is in the process of moving to the former IBM Gallery in New York at 580 Madison Ave. between 56th and 57th Streets. The Dahesh, specializing in 19th- and early 20th-century academic art, will occupy 30,000 square feet on three floors of the Edward Larrabee Barnes--designed building. The museum recently lost a bid to redevelop a city-owned property at 2 Columbus Circle. The American Craft Museum will occupy that building [see "Front Page," Sept. '02]. A vast increase in area from its former 1,800-square-foot home at 601 Fifth Ave., the Dahesh's new space is currently being redesigned by Ann Beha Architects of Boston. Exhibitions will be held in galleries located in the underground concourse; the street level will be dedicated to visitor services and a bookstore, while the museum cafe will be situated in the mezzanine overlooking Madison Ave. and the bamboo atrium.

While the Dahesh settles into the new quarters, its fall exhibition, "Against the Modern: Dagnan-Bouveret and the Transformation of the Academic Tradition," is being held at the National Academy of Design Museum [to Dec. 8]. The museum plans to open in the new space late next month or early next year, although no specific dates have been announced.

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