| University of Florida Foundation, Inc. | |
| Christopher Brazda | 352-392-1633 |
| Public Relations | 100 NW 20th St |
| cbrazda@uff.ufl.edu | Gainesville, FL 32603 |
| For immediate release | Wednesday, February 06, 2008 |
SAMUEL P. HARN MUSEUM OF ART ANNOUNCES ADDITION OF ASIAN ART WING
Cofrin family continues generosity, with $10 million gift, funds 22,000 square-foot addition
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Artist renderings of the Asian art wing |
GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- University of Florida President Bernie Machen announced today that Dr. and Mrs. David A. Cofrin have made a commitment of $10 million to the University of Florida to fund the addition of a wing dedicated to Asian art at the Harn Museum of Art. Construction could begin as early as next fall.
Planned on the northwest side of the museum near the corner of Southwest 34th Street and Hull Road, the addition will have two levels and 22,000 square feet, Asian art galleries, a mezzanine suite on the upper level for curatorial and museum activities, and art storage and conservation space for the Asian collections on the lower level. An Asian garden will be accessible from the west side of the new wing.
Kha Le-Huu & Partners of Orlando, Fla., has been selected as the project architect firm. It is headed by UF alumnus Kha Le-Huu who also served as architect for the Harn’s Mary Ann Harn Cofrin Pavilion that opened in 2005 as well as the original Harn building that opened in 1990. The new addition will be Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)-certified by the U.S. Green Building Council, like all construction projects at the University of Florida since 2001. Achieving the LEED certification is a particular challenge for art museums given the exacting climate standards for art preservation and volume of visitorship that they receive.
"The Harn’s Asian art collection has grown dramatically in recent years and we are thrilled that the museum will now have a beautiful new wing for display of the collection as well as much-needed storage space," Harn Museum Director Rebecca Martin Nagy said. "The planned Asian garden will represent a major milestone toward our goal of making the Cultural Plaza and its surrounding land an area of natural beauty and artistic vitality." The Cultural Plaza is comprised of the Harn Museum, the Florida Museum of Natural History and the Phillips Center for the Performing Arts.
The Harn Museum recently announced the appointment of Jason Steuber as Cofrin Curator of Asian Art. He will direct the activities of one of the Harn’s largest collecting areas. The Asian collection includes nearly 1,300 works of art and has expanded in number and quality during the last several years. The greatest strength of the collection is Chinese art, including ceramics, jades, bronzes, sculpture, lacquer, glass and literati paintings. The collection also features important works of art from Japan, Korea, Tibet, and South and Southeast Asia.
"The new wing will enable the Harn to continue to establish itself as a recognized leader for the collection, display and critical study of exceptional works of Asian art," Steuber said. "The Harn’s commitment to further education and understanding of Asian art will continue to prosper thanks to the Cofrin family’s generosity and vision for the future."
The commitment to fund the Asian art wing is one of many transformative gifts that the Cofrin family has made to the University of Florida, and in particular to the Harn Museum.
"Mary Ann and I believe in the Harn’s mission and support its commitment to sustain and transform the museum facilities and grounds," David Cofrin said. "Our gift for an Asian art wing will continue to make the Harn a place where art inspires and educates people of all ages and backgrounds."
The Cofrin’s gift is part of the University of Florida’s comprehensive Florida Tomorrow capital campaign. The campaign is in the third year of a seven-year effort to raise $1.5 billion in private support touching all areas of UF’s teaching, research and service mission.
To find out how you can help support new initiatives at The Harn Museum of Art contact Harn Museum office of development (352) 392-9826
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