Here's another installment from Barb the Builder about the renovation of the American and American Indian galleries.
I'll build a stairway to Paradise
with a new step ev'ry day!
I'm gonna get there at any price;
Stand aside, I'm on my way!
With apologies to George Gershwin, we could well be singing these very words today. Certainly we’re taking lots of new steps and are on our way toward our latest construction project − the complete renovation of the American and American Indian galleries in the Nelson-Atkins Building. Seen here, standing stalwart while much around it is crumbling away, is the stair in the former collection photography studio, which led to a small mezzanine office. Days after this photo was taken, the stair itself was demolished and faded into oblivion, making way for a new gallery that will feature works dated circa 1776.