Today, I was lucky enough to get a tour of the new American galleries with curators Margi Conrads and Catherine Futter.
A total of 8 galleries will display paintings, furniture, sculpture, works on paper and decorative objects from Colonial times to World War II. The collection will be arranged both chronologically as well as geographically.
Six key dates will provide visitors with context and connections to what was happening in both American life/history and in American art at that time. My favorite guiding principle was explained by Margi when she noted that certain paintings or artists needed to be next to each other because you must "obey the paintings."
The new galleries are gorgeous, even without the art. My pictures certainly don't do it justice so make sure you plan a vist next year. The new installation is scheduled to open in April 2009.