You have two months to visit Joslyn Art Museum before it closes for a major building project.
Joslyn, the principal art museum in the state of Nebraska, will shut its doors on May 2 for about two years to facilitate construction of a new $100 million pavilion, said Amy Rummel, Joslyn’s director of marketing and public relations.
The pavilion, set to open sometime in 2024, will be named for philanthropists and longtime museum supporters Rhonda and Howard Hawks. Howard Hawks is a founder of Tenaska, an Omaha-based energy company with offices in several U.S. and Canadian cities. He is also a former member and chairman of the University of Nebraska Board of Regents.
Construction on a new $100 million pavilion at Joslyn Art Museum has already started, but the closure will be necessary as a safety measure for staff, visitors and art.
Work on the project — which will add 42,000 feet to the museum — has already begun. The long closure is necessary as a safety measure for staff, visitors and valuable art, Joslyn executive director and CEO Jack Becker said last year.
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“We will take a temporary hiatus and apply the lessons we learned during the pandemic about how we can be relevant and connected to people online in different ways,” he said.
Rummel said museum leaders are planning a big weekend for visitors prior to the closing, but she wasn’t ready to reveal details about the event.
Heather Akers and her kids, Mira, 5 (far left), Nadia, 8 (third from left) and Isaac, 3 (far right), walk through the Arts of Asia collection at Joslyn Art Museum on Wednesday. The museum’s leaders are planning a big weekend for visitors prior to its temporary closing on May 2.
Special exhibits now at the museum include “Sonadora: Yuyi Morales,” featuring more than 60 artworks from 14 picture books by an award-winning artist and illustrator; “Faces From the Interior: The North American Portraits of Karl Bodmer,” the first Joslyn project to focus exclusively on the artist’s watercolor portraits of Native Americans; and “Ninety Years of Joslyn,” an anniversary exhibit with highlights from across the museum’s permanent collection, architectural renderings and a graphic timeline.
Our best Omaha staff photos & videos of February 2022
Omaha Duchesne's Lia Murray, left, hugs Omaha Marian's Katy Foley after Murray won the 100 Yard Backstroke during the finals of Nebraska state swimming at the UNL Natatorium on Saturday. Foley came in 2nd.
From left: Papillion-La Vista/Papillion-La Vista South's Teresa Cavanaugh, Gracie Cunningham, and Olivia Dendinger cheer with Elizabeth Ford (in water) after the 200 Yard Medley Relay during the finals of Nebraska state swimming at the UNL Natatorium on Saturday.
Millard North's Kalvin Hahn swims the 500 Yard Freestyle during the finals of Nebraska state swimming at the UNL Natatorium on Saturday.
Elkhorn/Elkhorn South/Elkhorn North head coach Chris Jenson cheers on his swimmer, Mattt Uehling, middle, during the 500 yard freestyle in the NSAA boys state swimming championship prelims in Lincoln on Friday.
Omaha Marian's Josie Hood kicks off the 400 yard freestyle relay in the NSAA girls state swimming championship prelims in Lincoln on Friday.
Gibbon's Jose Escandon wrestles Central City's Cole Kunz during their Class C 120 pound semifinal match at CHI Health Center on Friday.
Amherst's Taleah Thomas (left) wrestles Platteview's Kaitlyn Jeffrey during their 120 pound match at CHI Health Center on Friday.
Columbus Lakeview's Owen Bargen celebrates after defeating Wayne's Ashton Munsell in their 138 pound consolation match at CHI Health Center on Friday.
Omaha Central's Angelean Rose celebrates with her coach after winning her 145 pound semifinal match at CHI Health Center on Friday.
Millard West's Noah Blair celebrates with his coach after winning his Class A 182 pound semifinal match at CHI Health Center on Friday.
Central City's Cole Kunz wrestles Gibbon's Jose Escandon during their Class C 120 pound semifinal match at CHI Health Center on Friday.
Nate Germonprez, a junior, poses for a portrait at Omaha Westside pool on Tuesday.
David City Aquinas Head Coach Roy Emory watches Tekamah-Herman's Logan Burt, left, and David City Aquinas's Christopher Nickolite, wrestle during a Class C 152-pound finals match of state wrestling on Saturday.
Norfolk's Lesly Rodriguez is introduced before her match with Amherst's Reagen Gallaway 138 -pound finals match of state wrestling on Saturday.
South Sioux City's Yohaly Quinones reacts to winning the during the 152-pound finals match over McCook's Makayla Pate at state wrestling on Saturday.
Fillmore Central's Alexander Schademann celebrates his victory over Raymond Central's Logan Bryce during a Class C 132-pound finals match of state wrestling on Saturday.
Central City's Drew Garfield jumps into the arm of coach and father Darin Garfield after defeating Valentine's William Sprenger during a Class C 113-pound finals match of state wrestling on Saturday.
Millard South's Christian Nash has cuts on his lips after winning his first match in the 220-pound weight class on the first day of the NSAA state wrestling championship in Omaha on Thursday.
Crofton/Bloomfield's Hudson Barger, left, and Syracuse's Jace Goebel wrestle during the Class C 120 pound match on the first day of state wrestling on Thursday.
Volunteers serve a meal for people experiencing homelessness as a van from the Open Door Mission drops off people outside the W. Dale Clark Library in downtown Omaha earlier this month. The group serves a meal every Wednesday outside the library, which is scheduled to be relocated to make way for Mutual of Omaha's new headquarters.
Sonny, one of two Elephant calves born in January at the Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium made his public debut on Monday.
Kiki caresses her calf, Eugenia, at the Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium on Monday.
Ellis McClintick poses for a portrait next to a photo of him from World War II on Monday. McClintick will turn 100 soon.
Diana Cervantes embodies the spirit of these pioneering girls wrestlers. “When we set our mind to it, we’re going to get that job done.”
Nebraska's Trey McGowens attempts a steal against Minnesota's Payton Willis at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln on Wednesday.
West Point-Beemer 120-pound wrestler Diana Cervantes grew up around the sport, wrestling with her sister on the edge of the mat while her older brother competed. Now, the future Marine wants to help bring her school a state team championship. "We don't have a single banner of any sport," she said. "We're fighting for that."
Janna Ramos, a Bennington junior, warms up in a hallway before a match in the Weeping Water girls only wrestling invite at Weeping Water High School on Saturday, January 22, 2022.
Johnson County Central 103-pounder Jocelyn Prado, left, has the advantage over Schuyler sophomore Yessica Garcia at last month's Weeping Water invitational. Prado later qualified for next weekend's state meet.
Upendra Chalise didn’t need gloves while skating at the University of Nebraska Medical Center ice rink on Monday, when temperatures reached into the 50s. Several more days of warm weather are forecast.
Nebraska's Lat Mayen (right) blocks Northwestern's Elyjah Williams during their game at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln, Nebraska, on Saturday.
Nebraska's Alonzo Verge Jr. (right) battles Northwestern's Boo Buie for the ball during their game at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln, Nebraska, on Saturday.
Nebraska's Alonzo Verge Jr. (right) battles Northwestern's Elijah Williams for the ball during their game at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln, Nebraska, on Saturday.
Nebraska's Jaz Shelley (second from left) and Bella Cravens (right) battle Rutgers' Osh Brown (left) and Jailyn Mason for the ball during their game on Tuesday at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln, Nebraska.
Nebraska's Allison Weidner (left) battles Rutgers' Sayawni Lassiter for the ball during their game on Tuesday at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln, Nebraska.
Nebraska's Isabelle Bourne (center) tries to get past Rutgers' defense during their game on Tuesday at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln, Nebraska.
Dave Brezack takes loaves of challah bread out of the oven at the Bagel Bin on Friday.
Dave Brezack braids a loaf of challah bread he is making at the Bagel Bin on Friday. The restaurant's challah will have a role in the Broadway tour of “Fiddler on the Roof" in Omaha.
Matthew Shrader with some glass pieces he created for Lauritzen Garden's latest exhibit, "Wonders Under Glass."
Rich Ryan walks toward a piece called "3-D Anatomy of a Flower" at Lauritzen Garden.
Stephanie Meadows wears a necklace with the birthstones of all her children, including her daughter Isabella Santiago on Wednesday. Meadows received the necklace as a Christmas gift. Isabella was killed in a shooting Dec. 22.
From left, Spencer Shireman, Mike Homa and Cooper Wilson pose for a portrait in a warehouse at Commerce Park, which is owned by R&R Realty Group. R&R is nearing completion of a fourth warehouse at Commerce Park.
elizabeth.freeman@owh.com, 402-444-1267
Betsie Freeman
Betsie covers a little bit of everything for The World-Herald's Living section, including theater, religion and anything else that might need attention. Phone: 402-444-1267.
