Beaverbrook Art Gallery celebrates opening of new wing this weekend

The single biggest expansion since the founding of the Beaverbrook Art Gallery in 1959 is set to open this weekend and includes a shrine to Salvador Dali and his painting Santiago el Grande.

The 14,000-square-foot expansion adds galleries,a side-street caf, which will be operatedby Chess Piece Ptisserie, a Bruno Bobak artist-in-residencespace, and an RBC Learning Centre.

The art gallery's new wingbrings light through two expansive windows, and light hardwood floors glisten from the sunlight pouring over them.

TheSt. John River can be seen from either window, andin a space inset from one wall,looking quite small at first, hangs theSalvador Dalipainting.

A long time coming

Bernard Riordon, the interim director of the BeaverbrookArt Gallery, said the expansion was a long time coming.

The biggest obstacle has been securing funding, but the gallery raised enough tofinish a part of the expansion.

The project had a funding goal of$30.5 million when theexpansion plans were unveiledin May 2015. It was able to raise $27 million.

A third phase of theexpansion, a space dedicated to Indigenous art, has not been built.

In the new space, there is the Elizabeth A. CurrieGallery on the Green, thanks to a contribution of more than $2 million from Elizabeth and Richard Currie.

The Jean E. Irving River Gallery was added thanks to a $3.5 million contribution fromthe Irving family.

Both will host new exhibitions for the opening.

Two other gallery spaces were refurbished and painted.

The federal government committed $1.5 million to the project, the provincial government$5 million and the City of Fredericton $500,000.

Riordon said the challenge was to create a space thatwould encourage more conversation about art and culture in Fredericton.

"It's all about bringing art and people together and achieving our vision, which is enriching life through art," he said.

More art on display

The new parts of the Beaverbrook gallery will allow for more works to be exhibited. Pieces that had been moved into storage have been brought out for the opening.

It will also allow the gallery to host more travelling exhibitions.

Indigenous artist Tim Hogan will be the first to use the BrunoBobakartist-in-residencespace. And much of his art is on display in that room.

The expansion opens to the public this weekend.